There are so many elements that make a film great, but as photographers, visuals are always top of mind. Lately, we’ve been on the hunt for the most visually stunning movies.
So what makes a beautiful movie? We focussed on three main components: composition, color, and lighting – just like photography. Besides being a treat to the eyes, all three components in harmony make cinematography a key storytelling device: setting the tone for every scene.
After countless hours of movie-watching and scouring the web, we’ve handpicked our top 32 most visually stunning movies, along with the most beautiful frames from each.
Are you a movie lover? Don’t miss our guides on the best entertainment center setups, and the best Notion watch list templates.
Looking for the best way to organize and journal your movies and shows? Our Ultimate Movie & TV Show Watch List Dashboard for Notion has it all!
1. La La Land (2016)
Genre: Musical/Romance
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cinematographer: Linus Sandgren
Images courtesy of Lionsgate
2. The Joker (2019)
Genre: Drama/Crime
Director: Todd Phillips
Cinematographer: Lawrence Sher
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
3. Drive (2011)
Genre: Action/Crime
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cinematographer: Newton Thomas Sigel
Images courtesy of FilmDistrict
4. Bladerunner (1982)
Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller
Director: Ridley Scott
Cinematographer: Jordan Cronenweth
Images courtesy of Warner Bros.
5. Bladerunner 2049 (2017)
Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures & Sony Pictures Releasing
6. Interstellar (2014)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cinematographer: Hoyte van Hoytema
Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures & Warner Bros. Pictures
7. Gravity (2013)
Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki
Images of courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
8. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: George Miller
Cinematographer: John Seale
Images courtesy of Roadshow Films & Warner Bros. Pictures
9. Life of Pi (2012)
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Director: Ang Lee
Cinematographer: Claudio Miranda
Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox
10. The Fall (2006)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Tarsem Singh
Cinematographer: Colin Watkinson
Images courtesy of Roadside Attractions
11. The Revenant (2015)
Genre: Western/Adventure
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki
Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox
12. TRON: Legacy (2010)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cinematographer: Claudio Miranda
Images courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
13. Her (2013)
Genre: Romance/Sci-fi
Director: Spike Jonze
Cinematographer: Hoyte van Hoytema
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing International, Stage 6 Films
14. Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Wes Anderson
Cinematographer: Robert Yeoman
Images courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
15. 1917 (2019)
Genre: War/Drama
Director: Sam Mendes
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Images courtesy of Entertainment One, Universal Pictures
16. Only God Forgives (2013)
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cinematographer: Larry Smith
Images courtesy of RADiUS-TWC
17. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018)
Genre: Animation/Action
Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Cinematographer: N/A
Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
18. Mulholland Drive (2001)
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Director: David Lynch
Cinematographer: Peter Deming
Images courtesy of Universal Pictures, BAC Films
19. The Tree of Life (2011)
Genre: Drama/Fantasy
Director: Terrence Malick
Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki
Images courtesy by Fox Searchlight Pictures
20. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Genre: War/Drama
Director: Francis Coppola
Cinematographer: Vittorio Storaro
Images courtesy by United Artists
21. Dark Knight (2008)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cinematographer: Wally Pfister
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
22. Oblivion (2013)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cinematographer: Claudio Miranda
Images courtesy of Universal Pictures
23. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Cinematographer: Geoffrey Unsworth
Images courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
24. American Graffiti (1973)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: George Lucas
Cinematographer: Ron Eveslage, Jan D’Alquen
Images courtesy of Universal Pictures
25. Roma (2018)
Genre: Drama
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Cinematographer: Alfonso Cuarón
Images courtesy of Espectáculos Fílmicos El Coyúl, Netflix
26. Enemy (2013)
Genre: Thriller/Psychological Thriller
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cinematographer: Nicolas Bolduc
Images courtesy of Entertainment One, Alfa Pictures
27. Arrival (2016)
Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cinematographer: Bradford Young
Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures
28. Saint Laurent (2014)
Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Bertrand Bonello
Cinematographer: Josée Deshaies
Images courtesy of EuropaCorp Distribution
29. Spirited Away (2001)
Genre: Animation/Fantasy
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cinematographer: Atsushi Okui
Images courtesy of Toho
30. Skyfall (2012)
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Sam Mendes
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
31. Prisoners (2013)
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, Summit Entertainment
32. Fargo (1996)
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Director: Joel Coen
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Images courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
Have a suggestion for other most visually stunning movies? Leave a comment below and let us know which films with great cinematography deserve to be added!
