---
name: "Michael Ballhaus"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-ballhaus"
fi1m_id: "michael-ballhaus"
imdb_id: "nm0000841"
tmdb_id: 3769
wikidata_id: "Q62547"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "5 August 1935"
died: "11 April 2017"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_over: 17
updated: "2026-10-05T02:54:51.613094+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Ballhaus

## Identity

Michael Ballhaus

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-ballhaus
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-ballhaus
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000841
- **TMDB ID:** 3769
- **Wikidata ID:** Q62547
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ballhaus, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62547, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000841/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3769

Cinematographer. Born 5 August 1935 in Berlin, Germany. Died 11 April 2017.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 5 August 1935, Berlin, Germany
- **Died:** 11 April 2017
- **Active:** 1955–2006
- **Frequently works with:** [Martin Scorsese](https://film.one/person/martin-scorsese.md), [Rainer Werner Fassbinder](https://film.one/person/rainer-werner-fassbinder.md), [Barbara De Fina](https://film.one/person/barbara-de-fina.md), [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://film.one/person/daniel-day-lewis.md), [Dustin Hoffman](https://film.one/person/dustin-hoffman.md), [Gail Katz](https://film.one/person/gail-katz.md), [Gary Oldman](https://film.one/person/gary-oldman.md), [Hanna Schygulla](https://film.one/person/hanna-schygulla.md)
- **Berlin International Film Festival:** 1 Berlin prize (1 won)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 81 (1), 1970s 78 (1), 1980s 81 (4), 1990s 71 (8), 2000s 77 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 70 across 16 titles
- **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 13, Romance 6, Comedy 5, Thriller 5, Crime 4, Action 3
- **Screen time:** 37 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,201m across 15 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ballhaus, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62547, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000841/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3769

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Age of Innocence*](https://film.one/film/the-age-of-innocence.md) (86), [*Air Force One*](https://film.one/film/air-force-one.md) (72), [*Outbreak*](https://film.one/film/outbreak.md) (66)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*After Hours*](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md) (80)
- **HBO Max:** [*Fox and His Friends*](https://film.one/film/fox-and-his-friends.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Gangs of New York*](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Something's Gotta Give*](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md) (72)
- **Tubi:** [*Sleepers*](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) (57)
- **Hulu:** [*Wild Wild West*](https://film.one/film/wild-wild-west.md) (34)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Michael Ballhaus was a German cinematographer. Born in Berlin in 1935, he began his career as a television camera operator and stage photographer in Germany before moving into feature films.

He collaborated extensively with Rainer Werner Fassbinder on 16 films and with Martin Scorsese on seven, including *After Hours* (1985), *GoodFellas* (1990), *The Age of Innocence* (1993), *Gangs of New York* (2002) and *The Departed* (2006). Other credits include *Broadcast News* (1987), *The Fabulous Baker Boys* (1989), *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992) and *Air Force One* (1997).

Ballhaus received three Academy Award nominations for cinematography. He was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and the Academy of Arts, Berlin. His son Florian Ballhaus is also a cinematographer. He died in Berlin in 2017.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, variety.com, hollywoodreporter.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (17)

- *The Departed* (2006), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-departed.md)
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), Fi1m 72, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *Gangs of New York* (2002), Fi1m 74, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md)
- *Wild Wild West* (1999), Fi1m 34, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-wild-west.md)
- *Air Force One* (1997), Fi1m 72, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/air-force-one.md)
- *Sleepers* (1996), Fi1m 57, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md)
- *Outbreak* (1995), Fi1m 66, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/outbreak.md)
- *Quiz Show* (1994), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/quiz-show.md)
- *The Age of Innocence* (1993), Fi1m 86, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-age-of-innocence.md)
- *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), Fi1m 79, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/bram-stokers-dracula.md)
- *GoodFellas* (1990), Fi1m 93, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/goodfellas.md)
- *Working Girl* (1988), Fi1m 80, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/working-girl.md)
- *Broadcast News* (1987), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *The Color of Money* (1986), Fi1m 80, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-color-of-money.md)
- *After Hours* (1985), Fi1m 80, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Fox and His Friends* (1975), Fi1m 78, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/fox-and-his-friends.md)
- *Lola Montès* (1955), Fi1m 81, Still Photographer — [page](https://film.one/film/lola-montes.md)

## Complete filmography (106)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *3096 Days* (2013), Director of Photography
- *Rainer Werner Fassbinder's World on a Wire: Looking Ahead to Today* (2010), Thanks
- *Max Raabe: Heute Nacht Oder Nie - Live in Berlin* (2009), Director
- *In Berlin* (2009), Director, Writer, Editor
- *The Departed* (2006), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-departed.md)
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), Director of Photography — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *Uptown Girls* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Gangs of New York* (2002), Director of Photography — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md)
- *The Legend of Bagger Vance* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Gone Underground* (2000), Director of Photography
- *What Planet Are You From?* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Wild Wild West* (1999), Director of Photography — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-wild-west.md)
- *The Thirteenth Floor* (1999), Executive Producer
- *Primary Colors* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Boogie Nights* (1997), as Cameraman (uncredited) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/boogie-nights.md)
- *Air Force One* (1997), Director of Photography — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/air-force-one.md)
- *Sleepers* (1996), Director of Photography — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md)
- *Outbreak* (1995), Director of Photography — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/outbreak.md)
- *Quiz Show* (1994), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/quiz-show.md)
- *I'll Do Anything* (1994), Director of Photography
- *The Age of Innocence* (1993), Director of Photography — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-age-of-innocence.md)
- *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), Director of Photography — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/bram-stokers-dracula.md)
- *The Mambo Kings* (1992), Director of Photography
- *What About Bob?* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Guilty by Suspicion* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Madonna: The Immaculate Collection* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Postcards from the Edge* (1990), Director of Photography
- *GoodFellas* (1990), Director of Photography — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/goodfellas.md)
- *The Fabulous Baker Boys* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Working Girl* (1988), Director of Photography — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/working-girl.md)
- *Dirty Rotten Scoundrels* (1988), Director of Photography
- *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), Director of Photography
- *The House on Carroll Street* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Baja Oklahoma* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Broadcast News* (1987), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *The Glass Menagerie* (1987), Director of Photography
- *The Color of Money* (1986), Director of Photography — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-color-of-money.md)
- *Under the Cherry Moon* (1986), Director of Photography
- *After Hours* (1985), Director of Photography — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Death of a Salesman* (1985), Director of Photography
- *Heartbreakers* (1984), Director of Photography
- *Old Enough* (1984), Director of Photography
- *The Magic Mountain* (1984), series, Director of Photography
- *The Autograph* (1984), Director of Photography
- *Reckless* (1984), Director of Photography
- *Edith's Diary* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Baby It's You* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Sheer Madness* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Dear Mr. Wonderful* (1982), Director of Photography
- *Der Auslöser* (1982), Director of Photography
- *The Magic Mountain* (1982), Director of Photography
- *Today We're Playing Boss* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Malou* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Lili Marleen* (1981), Additional Photography
- *Looping* (1981), Director of Photography
- *The Uprising* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Big and Little* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Trilogie des Wiedersehens* (1979), Director of Photography
- *The Marriage of Maria Braun* (1979), as Counsel · Director of Photography
- *The First Polka* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Bourbon Street Blues* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Venedig - Die Insel der Glückseligen am Rande des Untergangs* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Spiel der Verlierer* (1978), as Dr. Müller
- *Der Gehilfe* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Despair* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Little Godard* (1978), Actor
- *Germany in Autumn* (1978), Director of Photography
- *The Stationmaster’s Wife* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Women in New York* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Curd Jürgens - Der Filmstar, der vom Theater kam* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Auf dem Chimborazo* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Adolf and Marlene* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Portrait of Valeska Gert* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Chinese Roulette* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Die Alpensaga* (1976), series, Director of Photography
- *Satan’s Brew* (1976), as Director of Photography
- *Dorothea Merz* (1976), Director of Photography
- *I Only Want You to Love Me* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Summer Guests* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Cold Blood* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Fox and His Friends* (1975), Director of Photography — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/fox-and-his-friends.md)
- *From the Family of Reptiles* (1974), Director of Photography
- *The Island* (1974), Director of Photography
- *Made in Germany and USA* (1974), Director of Photography
- *Martha* (1974), as Restaurant Patron (uncredited) · Director of Photography
- *The Sinful Bed* (1973), Director of Photography
- *World on a Wire* (1973), series, Director of Photography
- *Chetan, Indian Boy* (1973), Director of Photography
- *The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant* (1972), Director of Photography
- *Adele Spitzeder* (1972), Director of Photography
- *Der Held* (1972), Director of Photography
- *Beware of a Holy Whore* (1971), Director of Photography
- *Whity* (1971), Director of Photography
- *Fassbinder Produces: Film No. 8* (1971), Director, Director of Photography, Producer
- *Sand* (1971), Director of Photography
- *We Two* (1970), Director of Photography
- *Der Kidnapper* (1969), Director of Photography
- *Your Caresses* (1969), Director of Photography
- *Several Times Daily* (1969), Director of Photography
- *Gold für Montevasall* (1968), Director of Photography
- *Abschied* (1966), Director of Photography
- *Das Martyrium des Peter OHey* (1964), Director of Photography
- *Dreamland of Desire* (1961), Director of Photography
- *Die Kassette* (1961), Director of Photography
- *Lola Montès* (1955), Still Photographer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/lola-montes.md)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 2003: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *Gangs of New York*
- 1990: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Fabulous Baker Boys*
- 1988: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *Broadcast News*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 1994: Berliner Bär (won)

### Other awards — 3 won

- Honorary Golden Bear 2016: Honorary Golden Bear (won)
- European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award 2007: European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award (won)
- Lucky Strike Designer Award 2001: Lucky Strike Designer Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-ballhaus