---
name: "Steven Poster"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/steven-poster"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "1 March 1944"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-19T15:40:39.329868+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."
---

# Steven Poster

Cinematographer. Born 1 March 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 1 March 1944, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 1977–2001
- **Also known as:** Steven Barry Poster, Steven B. Poster, Steve Poster, Steven Poster, ASC
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 85 (1), 1980s 85 (1), 1990s 54 (1), 2000s 83 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 75 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Science Fiction 2, Action 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $476m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Poster, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28868021, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0692925/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1590

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Donnie Darko*](https://film.one/film/donnie-darko.md) (83)
- **AMC+:** [*Rocky V*](https://film.one/film/rocky-v.md) (54)

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

## Biography

Steven Poster, ASC, is an American cinematographer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he studied at Southern Illinois University, the ArtCenter College of Design and the Illinois Institute of Technology. He began his career in Chicago working on commercials and documentaries, later serving as second-unit director of photography on *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977) and contributing additional photography to *Blade Runner* (1982).

Poster joined the American Society of Cinematographers in 1987. As director of photography his credits include *Donnie Darko* (2001), *Rocky V* (1990), *Stuart Little 2* (2002), *Daddy Day Care* (2003) and *The Box* (2009). He collaborated with director Richard Kelly on three features. Poster served as president of the ASC (2002–2003) and as national president of the International Cinematographers Guild (2006–2019). He received an ASC Award nomination for *Someone to Watch Over Me* (1987) and an Emmy nomination for *Mrs. Harris* (2006).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theasc.com, britishcinematographer.co.uk, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Donnie Darko* (2001), Fi1m 83, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-darko.md)
- *Rocky V* (1990), Fi1m 54, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-v.md)
- *Blade Runner* (1982), Fi1m 85, Additional Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner.md)
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), Fi1m 85, Second Unit Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)

## Complete filmography (59)

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

- *Scared to Death* (2026), Executive Producer, Director of Photography
- *'Round Miles: A Miles Davis Documentary* (2022), Director of Photography
- *For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close* (2020), Director of Photography
- *Amityville: The Awakening* (2017), Director of Photography
- *Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D* (2014), Cinematography
- *Hemlock Grove* (2013), series, Director of Photography
- *Flypaper* (2011), Director of Photography
- *Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore* (2010), Director of Photography
- *The Box* (2009), Director of Photography
- *Spread* (2009), Director of Photography
- *Southland Tales* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Daddy Day Care* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Stuart Little 2* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Donnie Darko* (2001), Director of Photography — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-darko.md)
- *Mission to Mars* (2000), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *The Rage: Carrie 2* (1999), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Half a Chance* (1998), Director of Photography
- *A Midwife's Tale* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Eye of God* (1997), Thanks
- *RocketMan* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Color of Justice* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Once You Meet a Stranger* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Nunzio's Second Cousin* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Roswell* (1994), Director of Photography
- *The Cemetery Club* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Life Stinks* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Rocky V* (1990), Director of Photography — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/rocky-v.md)
- *Madonna: The Immaculate Collection* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Shangri-La Plaza* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Opportunity Knocks* (1990), Cinematography
- *Next of Kin* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Big Top Pee-wee* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Aloha Summer* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Someone to Watch Over Me* (1987), Director of Photography
- *I'll Take Manhattan* (1987), series, Director of Photography
- *Courage* (1986), Director of Photography
- *The Boy Who Could Fly* (1986), Director of Photography
- *Blue City* (1986), Director of Photography
- *The Heavenly Kid* (1985), Director of Photography
- *The New Kids* (1985), Director of Photography
- *Starman* (1984), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *The River* (1984), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Testament* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Strange Brew* (1983), Director of Photography
- *The Cradle Will Fall* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Spring Break* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Blade Runner* (1982), Additional Photography — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner.md)
- *Mysterious Two* (1982), Director of Photography
- *Coward of the County* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Dead & Buried* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Blood Beach* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Gallagher: An Uncensored Evening* (1980), Camera Operator
- *Beggarman, Thief* (1979), series, Camera Operator
- *The Night Rider* (1979), Director of Photography
- *The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank* (1978), Director of Photography
- *A Wedding* (1978), Camera Operator
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), Second Unit Director of Photography — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *Monster a Go-Go!* (1965), Additional Photography

---
© 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/steven-poster