---
name: "Michael Chapman"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-chapman"
fi1m_id: "michael-chapman"
imdb_id: "nm0152469"
tmdb_id: 1044
wikidata_id: "Q487094"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "21 November 1935"
died: "20 September 2020"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-04T21:15:59.223162+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 Chapman

## Identity

Michael Chapman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-chapman
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-chapman
- **IMDb ID:** nm0152469
- **TMDB ID:** 1044
- **Wikidata ID:** Q487094
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chapman_(cinematographer), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q487094, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152469/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1044

Cinematographer. Born 21 November 1935 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 20 September 2020.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 21 November 1935, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 20 September 2020
- **Active:** 1971–1996
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 12: 2 acting, 10 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Ivan Reitman](https://film.one/person/ivan-reitman.md), [Bill Murray](https://film.one/person/bill-murray.md), [Herschel Weingrod](https://film.one/person/herschel-weingrod.md), [Martin Scorsese](https://film.one/person/martin-scorsese.md), [Paul Schrader](https://film.one/person/paul-schrader.md), [Robert De Niro](https://film.one/person/robert-de-niro.md), [Timothy Harris](https://film.one/person/timothy-harris.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscar nominations
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 89 (5), 1980s 72 (4), 1990s 75 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 77 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 4, Thriller 4, Comedy 2, Fantasy 2, Horror 2
- **Screen time:** 21 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,552m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chapman_(cinematographer), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q487094, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152469/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1044

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Invasion of the Body Snatchers*](https://film.one/film/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers.md) (86), [*Primal Fear*](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md) (71), [*Kindergarten Cop*](https://film.one/film/kindergarten-cop.md) (65)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Raging Bull*](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md) (91), [*The Fugitive*](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md) (88)
- **Tubi:** [*Ghostbusters II*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md) (60)

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

## Biography

Michael Chapman (21 November 1935 – 20 September 2020) was an American cinematographer. He served as director of photography on Martin Scorsese’s *Taxi Driver* (1976) and *Raging Bull* (1980).

Chapman began his career as a camera operator, working on *The Godfather* (1972) and *Jaws* (1975). He went on to shoot more than forty feature films, including frequent collaborations with directors Hal Ashby and Ivan Reitman, as well as *The Last Waltz* (1978) and *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (1978).

He received Academy Award nominations for best cinematography for *Raging Bull* and *The Fugitive* (1993). Chapman was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and received its lifetime achievement award. He died in Los Angeles.

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

## On Fi1m (12)

### Performed in (2)

- *Kindergarten Cop* (1990), Fi1m 65, as Firefighter — [page](https://film.one/film/kindergarten-cop.md)
- *The Abyss* (1989), Fi1m 71, as Dr. Berg — [page](https://film.one/film/the-abyss.md)

### Crew (10) — the average rests on these

- *Primal Fear* (1996), Fi1m 71, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md)
- *The Fugitive* (1993), Fi1m 88, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md)
- *Ghostbusters II* (1989), Fi1m 60, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md)
- *Scrooged* (1988), Fi1m 66, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/scrooged.md)
- *Raging Bull* (1980), Fi1m 91, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md)
- *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (1978), Fi1m 86, as Health Dept. Floor Cleaner (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers.md)
- *Taxi Driver* (1976), Fi1m 92, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/taxi-driver.md)
- *Jaws* (1975), Fi1m 93, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/jaws.md)
- *The Godfather* (1972), Fi1m 93, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *Klute* (1971), Fi1m 82, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/klute.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

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

- *The Rapist* (2021), as Retired Filmmaker
- *Walking on Sunshine* (2014), as Holiday Maker
- *Peter Gabriel: Live in Athens 1987* (2013), Director
- *Youssou N'Dour et Le Super Etoile de Dakar - Fatteliku* (2013), Director
- *Bridge to Terabithia* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Hoot* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Eulogy* (2004), as Adult Film Cameraman · Director of Photography
- *Suspect Zero* (2004), as Prosecutor #1 · Director of Photography
- *House of D* (2004), Director of Photography
- *Evolution* (2001), as Sheriff Long · Director of Photography
- *The Watcher* (2000), Director of Photography
- *The Story of Us* (1999), as Waiter · Director of Photography
- *The White River Kid* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Six Days Seven Nights* (1998), as Mechanic · Director of Photography
- *Space Jam* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Primal Fear* (1996), Director of Photography — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md)
- *The Viking Sagas* (1995), Director, Story
- *The Fugitive* (1993), Director of Photography — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md)
- *Rising Sun* (1993), as Fred Hoffman · Director of Photography
- *Whispers in the Dark* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Doc Hollywood* (1991), as Shooting Gallery Operator · Director of Photography
- *Peter Gabriel - POV* (1991), Director
- *Kindergarten Cop* (1990), as Firefighter · Director of Photography — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/kindergarten-cop.md)
- *Quick Change* (1990), Director of Photography
- *The Abyss* (1989), as Dr. Berg — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-abyss.md)
- *Ghostbusters II* (1989), Director of Photography — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md)
- *Third Degree Burn* (1989), as Dan Rourke
- *Scrooged* (1988), Director of Photography — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/scrooged.md)
- *Gotham* (1988), as Landlord · Director of Photography
- *Shoot to Kill* (1988), as Lawyer · Director of Photography
- *The Lost Boys* (1987), Director of Photography
- *Annihilator* (1986), Director
- *The Clan of the Cave Bear* (1986), Director
- *All the Right Moves* (1983), Director
- *The Man with Two Brains* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid* (1982), Director of Photography
- *Personal Best* (1982), Director of Photography
- *The Howling* (1981), as Man at End of Bar (uncredited)
- *Raging Bull* (1980), Director of Photography — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md)
- *Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty* (1980), Director of Photography
- *The Wanderers* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Hardcore* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (1978), as Health Dept. Floor Cleaner (uncredited) · Director of Photography — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers.md)
- *American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Shoot the Sun Down* (1978), Director of Photography
- *The Last Waltz* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Fingers* (1978), Director of Photography
- *King* (1978), series, Director of Photography
- *The Next Man* (1976), Director of Photography
- *The Front* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Taxi Driver* (1976), Director of Photography — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/taxi-driver.md)
- *Jaws* (1975), Camera Operator — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/jaws.md)
- *Death Be Not Proud* (1975), Director of Photography
- *The White Dawn* (1974), Director of Photography
- *The Last Detail* (1973), as Taxi Driver · Director of Photography
- *Up the Sandbox* (1972), Camera Operator
- *The Godfather* (1972), Camera Operator — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *Klute* (1971), Camera Operator — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/klute.md)
- *Little Murders* (1971), Camera Operator
- *The People Next Door* (1970), Camera Operator
- *The Landlord* (1970), Camera Operator
- *Loving* (1970), Camera Operator
- *The Thanksgiving Visitor* (1968), Assistant Camera
- *Who Killed Teddy Bear?* (1965), Assistant Camera

## Gallery

- ![Michael Chapman](https://film.one/media/person/59507/gallery-8d8ef6af48da.jpg) Michael Chapman — Twelvetides, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/First_pressing.jpg/1280px-First_pressing.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Chapman](https://film.one/media/person/59507/gallery-e4b256df60f6.jpg) Michael Chapman — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Chapman](https://film.one/media/person/59507/gallery-945ceee1b7b1.jpg) Michael Chapman — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 1994: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Fugitive*
- 1981: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *Raging Bull*

*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-chapman