The 10 Best Photography Movies Ever
As a photography enthusiast, I've compiled a list of my favorite photography-related films spanning the last few decades for your entertainment.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, you will find this collection of films with photography as a central theme or featuring a photographer as a main character enjoyable. You may even find some of them relatable! These are my recommendations, but please leave them in the comments below if you have any suggestions.
Also, please note that none of these listed are documentaries. I'll make another list for those another day. Binge until your heart is content.
Nightcrawler (2014)
Thriller/Crime
Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes. When he catches the eye of a shopworn news director (Rene Russo) who welcomes the chance to raise her station’s ratings, Louis goes to increasingly greater lengths to catch the “money shot.”
Why I Enjoyed It: Even though it has morbid view of the work cameramen and journalists do every single day, I found it to be oddly relatable as an image-maker.
Neon Demon (2016)
Thriller/Horror
Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles just after her 16th birthday to launch a career as a model. The head of her agency tells the innocent teen that she has the qualities to become a top star. Jesse soon faces the wrath of ruthless vixens who despise her fresh-faced beauty. On top of that, she must contend with a seedy motel manager and a creepy photographer. As Jesse starts to take the fashion world by storm, her personality changes in ways that could help her against her cutthroat rivals.
Why I Enjoyed It: What it lacks in story, Neon Demon makes up for in production value. The production of this movie is simply remarkable. The composition is beautiful. The color tones are vibrant. It’s a gorgeous movie.
One Hour Photo (2002)
Thriller/Drama
Sy Parrish (Robin Williams) runs a one-hour photo developing lab in a small mall. He's a perfectionist about his work and generous to his regular customers, including a typical family headed by Will Yorkin. Over the years, he's seen their family grow through their photographs, but when he sees evidence of Yorkin being unfaithful, coupled with a threat to his position, his already precarious mental state tips over the edge.
Why I Enjoyed It: Thought-provoking, to say the least. Watching the late Robin Williams act in a serious film is always a breath of fresh air!
Closer (2004)
Romance/Drama
Alice (Natalie Portman), an American stripper who has moved to London, meets Dan (Jude Law) on the street. While looking at him, a taxi hits her. After taking her to the hospital, Dan begins dating Alice. A year later, Dan -- who has written a novel about Alice -- is bored. He flirts with photographer Anna (Julia Roberts). Pretending to be her in a chat room, he leads dermatologist Larry (Clive Owen) to an accidental meeting with Anna. As the years pass, both relationships disintegrate.
Why I Enjoyed It: An all-star cast, fascinating characters, and a great story, what's not to love? p.s. It's definitely not for kids!
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Adventure/Comedy
Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an employee at Life magazine, spends day after monotonous day developing photos for the publication. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. Walter fancies a fellow employee named Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) and would love to date her, but he feels unworthy. However, he gets a chance to have a real adventure when Life's new owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.
Why I Enjoyed It: A fantastic feel-good film that I can watch it over and over. I highly recommend this movie if you have to stay in on a dreary day - it'll make it all the better.
Momento (2000)
Thriller/Mystery
Leonard (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty, however, of locating his wife's killer is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.
Why I Enjoyed It: This is one of those critically acclaimed movies that everyone should watch at some point in their life regardless if they like photography. It keeps the audience consistently guessing the outcome and therefore keeps things interesting.
Harrison’s Flowers (2000)
War/Drama
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Harrison Lloyd (David Strathairn) is missing on assignment and presumed dead in a far-off country. Refusing to accept this, his wife Sarah (Andie MacDowell) embarks on a perilous journey to find him and bring him home. Armed with a camera, her determination, and a group of Harrison's peers, Sarah enters a world that shocks her to her core.
Why I Enjoyed It: Real. Raw. In your face. It shows the realness of war in a way other movies haven't been able to do so.
The Bang Bang Club (2010)
Adaptation/Drama
Photojournalists (Ryan Phillippe, Taylor Kitsch, Frank Rautenbach) put themselves in harm's way as they shoot evidence of atrocities committed in the final days of South African apartheid.
Why I Enjoyed It: A great film to watch, especially when you consider the fact that all the characters are based on real people. It shows how journalism is arguably one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and the great lengths journalists will go to document their world.
City of God (2002)
Crime/Drama
In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood. José "Zé" Pequeno (Leandro Firmino da Hora) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Seu Jorge). The film was shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods.
Why I Enjoyed It: The film was one of the best movies I have ever seen. The story, the direction, the cinematography, the editing, and the acting all contribute to a masterpiece.
Polaroid (2017)
Horror/Thriller
High school loner Bird Fitcher finds a vintage Polaroid camera that holds dark and mysterious secrets. She soon realizes that those who get their picture taken by it meet a tragic and untimely death.
Why I Enjoyed It: This reminded me of watching a full-length feature of RL Stine’s Say Cheese and Die when I was a kid. Call it a guilty pleasure.
BONUS MOVIE!
(Because You Have to Respect the Classics!)
Rear Window (1954)
Thriller/Mystery
The story of a recuperating news photographer who believes he has witnessed a murder. Confined to a wheelchair after an accident, he spends his time watching the occupants of neighboring apartments through a telephoto lens and binoculars and becomes convinced that a murder has taken place.
Why I Enjoyed It: A must watch. This film should arguably be included in the list as one of the best 10 of all-time, but it’s such a staple that it was time for it to stand out on its own.