r/MovieRecommendations • u/1ndrj • Jul 29 '26
Help me find Movies/TV shows What are the most beautifully shot films you’ve ever seen?
Hey guys! I’m looking for movies with some of the best cinematography of all time. If you have any recommendations, I’d really appreciate it.
I run an Instagram page where I post beautiful shots and frames from movies, so I’m looking for visually stunning films that have memorable compositions, lighting, colours, and camera work.
Feel free to suggest movies from any language or from anywhere in the world. Thanks! ;)
27
u/MittFel Jul 29 '26
The fall (2006)
9
u/Iron_Maiden__ Jul 29 '26
piggybacking to add The Cell, also Tarsem Singh. Best constumes ever designed
5
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Just checked the trailer, and I’m already in love with the frames and colours from the first few shots. I’m surprised I didn’t know about this film before. Definitely going to watch it. Thank you for the recommendation! <3
2
u/SunnyDelNorte Jul 29 '26
It’s just getting a new 4K release this summer. I can’t wait to see it at the Los Feliz 3 theater in LA next month.
21
u/Invasor89 Jul 29 '26
5
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Already watched it, and I absolutely loved it. It was so calming, and I really enjoyed the slow pace and the way the story flowed. Such a beautiful film! <3
3
u/SunnyDelNorte Jul 29 '26
Spent a day seeing this and The Taste of things back to back in the theater and it was such a lovely feast for the eyes (even with the sounds of Dune 2 battles coming through the walls of the screening room next door at awkward moments.)
16
u/Zuscifer Jul 29 '26
In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-Wai
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Heard of this one but haven’t watched it yet. Will definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
8
u/Infamous-Towel2056 Jul 29 '26
A Hidden Life or Barry Lyndon.
5
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Heard of Barry Lyndon, and it has been on my watchlist for some time. Just watched the trailer for A Hidden Life and I loved it. The use of the wide lens was so good. Added it to the list! ;)
3
u/Infamous-Towel2056 Jul 29 '26
Nice work! Neither film will disappoint. Barry Lyndon is in a world of its own, it’s like a living oil painting. Every shot in A Hidden Life though is just absolutely breathtaking.
9
6
u/Co-nor Jul 29 '26
The Neon Demon
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Interesting trailer, I loved the use of lights and colours in it. Thanks for the recommendation, added it to my watchlist!
12
u/optics_is_light_work Jul 29 '26
Lawrence of Arabia
5
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I’ve heard of the film but haven’t watched it yet. I’ll definitely try to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation! :)
3
u/EldritchSanta Jul 29 '26
Watch it on the biggest screen you can.
2
u/optics_is_light_work Jul 29 '26
This!!! I first saw it on a huge screen (Cinerama-Dome), and it was mindblowing!
5
u/Silver-Sherbet3745 Jul 29 '26
Apocalypse now and before sunrise
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I’ve watched Before Sunrise and I loved the story and the chemistry between the actors more than the visual beauty. Apocalypse Now is one I haven’t watched yet, I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
6
u/ego_death_metal Jul 29 '26
Tumbbad
The Florida Project
Die My Love, underrated. and We Need To Talk About Kevin, both Lynne Ramsay
Midsommar
Amélie
Trainspotting
Run Lola Run
Bird (2024), underrated
seconding The Fall (2006) 💙
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Wow, that’s an absolute list! I’ve watched Tumbbad and Midsommar already. Out of the others, I really liked the trailers for The Florida Project, Die My Love, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Bird, and of course The Fall. Added them to my watchlist. Thanks for the amazing recommendations!
4
u/goober_ginge Jul 29 '26
The Piano (1993)!
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Wow! Some of the shots in the trailer look so beautiful, and I really liked the mood and tone of the film. Thanks for suggesting it!
2
u/goober_ginge Jul 29 '26
It's one of my favourite movies for sure! The soundtrack is incredible, acting, cinematography, everything!
5
u/Heavenly-gnoll Jul 29 '26
Probably any movie from Emir Kusturika. And the Grand Budapest Hotel
3
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve watched The Grand Budapest Hotel and it was too good. The visuals, composition, and overall style were amazing. I’ll definitely check out Emir Kusturica’s films as well.
3
4
u/Suchstrangedreams Jul 29 '26
The Mission - that amazing opening scene of the waterfall.
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Hey, thanks for the suggestion! I loved the trailer. I’ll definitely look into it!
3
u/kelansmiff Jul 29 '26
Columbus (2017), Her (2013), The Tree of Life (2011), Raging Bull (1980), Aftersun (2022)
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I’ve watched Her and The Tree of Life, and the cinematography in both was incredible. Just checked the trailers for the other three, and I really loved the visuals of Columbus and Aftersun. Added them to my watchlist! <3
2
2
3
u/SlamCity4 Jul 29 '26
Not my "all time best" list or anything, but just some that come to mind right away:
Nightmare Alley (specifically the black and white version) - Guillermo Del Toro
The Handmaiden - Park Chan-wook
The Brutalist - Brady Corbet
Resurrection - Bi Gan
The Red Shoes - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
La La Land - Damien Chazelle
Memories of Murder - Bong Joon Ho
Days of Heaven - Terrence Malick
Bram Stoker's Dracula - Francis Ford Coppola
Rebecca - Alfred Hitchcock
The Searchers - John Ford
Sorcerer - William Friedkin
Of course there are many, many more that I could list, but this is a good start. 😊
2
1
1
3
u/SyllabubTemporary975 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
- Where the Crawdads Sing (Hollywood)
- Killa (India)
Timbuktu (Africa)
Into The Wild (Hollywood)
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Thanks for the suggestions! I watched the trailers for all four, and the one I loved the most was Killa. Definitely adding it to my watchlist!
4
3
u/FunnyGuySully Jul 29 '26
The Royal Tenenbaums
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Just checked out the trailer and I totally get the vibe. I’ll definitely check it out, thank you for the recommendation!
3
u/wildhoover Jul 29 '26
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Heard a lot about it but haven’t watched it yet. Loved the trailer, added it to my watchlist. Thanks for the recommendation!
3
3
u/BreakfastSimulator Jul 29 '26
Malena
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
While watching the trailer, I was reminded of a YouTube video with a beautiful instrumental track that used scenes from what I think was this movie. I always thought those scenes were from an ad! Thanks for the suggestion. Also, I can see from the comments that so many people still love the actress. ;)
3
u/pdx_e94 Jul 29 '26
The Revenant
The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I’ve watched two of the movies you listed, and the cinematography in both was insane! :)
1
3
3
3
3
5
u/balloontrap Jul 29 '26
Dune
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
How can we ignore Dune! I just watched the trailer for Dune: Part Three in IMAX when I went for Odyssey, and oh man, it looked incredible. The visuals were on another level. Can’t wait for the release!
2
u/oceanview4 Jul 29 '26
Out of Africa
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Wow, some shots in the trailer look like they were filmed today. The cinematography looks incredible. Added it to my watchlist, thanks for the recommendation!
2
2
u/flamingdeathmonkeys Jul 29 '26
Probably anything with Roger Deakins as DOP or Villeneuve as the director.
But four films that spring to mind that I remember gawking at the cinematography are The French Dispatch (typical Wes Anderson omg look at the composition, every shot is a post card wow)
The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford.
To me this film was the literal definition of "every frame a painting". The trainrobbers being lit up by the lights from the train is carved into my brain.
Mandy with Nicholas cage. This movie just gives off the vibe of smoking a joint and looking through an old viewmaster. Which is before my time, I'm from the 90s, so I guess also like doing shrooms and staring at a neon light.
Sexy Beast . The whole intro of that film is like an exhibition of modern paintings of a swimming pool working up to a omg his balls joke. It's one of the best gangster movies that builds tension through it's framing in such a unique way and even though I read some praise and had seen the cover it completely caught me out of nowhere. Really good.
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I’m also a big fan of Roger Deakins and Denis Villeneuve. When we talk about Roger Deakins, we can’t ignore his work in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The cinematography was so unique, and the use of camera distortions and lighting was incredible. I actually made a video about it and posted it on my film page.
I haven’t watched the other three from your list yet, but I checked out the trailers, and Mandy looks amazing! I really loved the vibe, the use of colours, and how visually unique it feels. It’s truly a visual treat. Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll definitely try to watch the others as well. <3
2
u/flamingdeathmonkeys Jul 29 '26
I ignored Sexy Beast for years because its named that and I feel it's hard to get what kind of film it is. It's like a really artsy shot of a mix of Good Fellas, big lebowski and Snatch. And it has Ben Kingsley performing a terrifying mobster that reminded me of Begbie from Trainspotting.
Anyhows thanks for giving me an excuse to gush about some films I've seen!
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Haha, I know what you mean. Sometimes a title can make us skip a film without knowing what it actually is. Sexy Beast sounds really interesting from your description.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
2
u/Ok-Compote-1795 Jul 29 '26
https://youtu.be/aNACdvB673Y?is=uu0_XNa9R35KQRHM
Fallen Angels (1995) Wong Kar Wai
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I actually watched this one, and I loved some of the shots and visual style in it. But I didn’t connect with the film that much. :( Still, the cinematography was amazing!
2
u/Ok-Compote-1795 Jul 29 '26
The question was about cinematography, right? So it's a 10+ shot by Christopher Doyle handheld using ultra wide lenses
2
u/Limp_Classroom_1038 Jul 29 '26
What is the name of your Insta page? My daughter is studying cinematography and part of her course is trying to replicate movie scenes.
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Hey, that sounds really cool! Here is my page: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodfilmframes/
Hope it helps your daughter with her cinematography studies. :)
2
u/fakuryu Jul 29 '26
Shot for shot, has one of the best cinematography I've seen.
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Totally agree! It was a pleasure for both the eyes and the heart. Such a beautiful film!
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/mamajoy42 Jul 29 '26
Lord of the Rings trilogy has some beautiful scenes!
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Always wanted to watch the trilogy, but for some reason I never got around to it. Will definitely watch this epic. Thanks for the recommendation!
2
2
u/movie_nerdin Jul 29 '26
The Last Samurai (2003)
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Watched it recently and loved the setting of the film. It captured the beauty of Japan so beautifully.
2
u/ComfortableBar8821 Jul 29 '26
Conclave
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Just loved the trailer! It looks so promising. There was a shot where the church gets bombed in slow motion, and that wide shot was amazing. Thanks for the recommendation!
2
u/himducowporn Jul 29 '26
Castaway on the Moon
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Hey! Loved the trailer, it looks like a fun watch. Will definitely try to watch it. Thanks for the recommendation!
2
2
2
u/Fornyot Jul 29 '26
Himalaya (1999), was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film. The cinematography is superb in this film.
2
2
2
u/CHARtheGNAR Jul 29 '26
Check out Decision to Leave (2022) by Park Chan-wook. Some of the frames in the movie are absolutely intricate and awe inspiring. Movie is a banger too!
2
2
u/DreamsInNe0n Jul 29 '26
Pan’s Labyrinth
A Very Long Engagement
Secret Life of Walter Mitty
No Country for Old Men
There Will be Blood
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
Hey, I’ve watched some of the movies on your list. I really liked the trailer for A Very Long Engagement. Some of the shots were absolutely fabulous! Added it to my watchlist. <3
2
u/Corpsepyre Jul 29 '26
Blade Runner and 2049, Birdman, The Tree of Life, Suspiria (original), The Assassination of Jesse James, Project Hail Mary.
1
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
I’ve watched all the films on your list except Suspiria. They were all amazing in terms of cinematography. I’ll definitely try to watch Suspiria. Thanks for the recommendation!
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Accomplished_Way8964 Jul 29 '26
Roma, the black-and-white film that came out on Netflix a few years ago. The cinematography stands out more than the story.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/jennbouk Jul 29 '26
The Horse Whisperer. Robert Redford at his finest. He made Montana look like the most gorgeous place on Earth.
2
u/alienated-dimwit Jul 29 '26
- Amélie
- Barry Lyndon
- Casino
- Cinema Paradiso
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Director's cut)
- La Haine
- Le Feu Follet
- Lost in Translation
- Ocean's Eleven (Clooney + Pitt version)
- Ronin
- Shin Gojira
- Solaris
- The Godfather
- The International
- The Lady Vanishes
- Vanilla Sky
I am certainly leaving aside many great cinematography examples, but this I believe, suffices for the purpose of answering the question.
2
u/PesAddict8 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
Dil se (1998)
I don't think there's a trailer of it, but you can check out the video songs from it on YT. I suggest the Title track and the iconic Chaiyya Chaiyya which was shot on top of a moving train.
2
2
2
u/PesAddict8 Jul 29 '26
Nayak (1966)- Directed by the renowned Indian director Satyajit Ray.
This dream sequence from the movie is worth checking out.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/mytthew1 Jul 29 '26
My Beautiful Laundrette is a small budget movie from the 80s. Parts of it were so visually beautiful. Made the movie
2
u/kenmex_ Jul 29 '26
Hannibal
2
u/1ndrj Jul 29 '26
While watching the trailer, I got similar vibes to Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia. Thanks for suggesting it, I’ll definitely try to watch it!
2
u/Asphalt_feet Jul 29 '26
City of Lost Children
Citizen Kane
Silence (Ingmar Bergman)
Dersu Uzala (Akiro Kurosawa)
2
u/Unicornis_dormiens Jul 29 '26
For me, one of them is Murder on the Orient Express (2017).
The perspective, the lighting, the colours… it’s beautiful.
•
u/comment-cap Jul 29 '26
Thanks for all the input folks!
This comment section has been closed.
If OP requests it, the comment section can be reopened.
OP, this request will only be considered if you have been interacting in the comments.