---
name: "Wally Pfister"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/wally-pfister"
fi1m_id: "wally-pfister"
imdb_id: "nm0002892"
tmdb_id: 559
wikidata_id: "Q460144"
roles: ["Cinematographer","Director"]
born: "8 July 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-05T03:13:11.743180+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."
---

# Wally Pfister

## Identity

Wally Pfister

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/wally-pfister
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** wally-pfister
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002892
- **TMDB ID:** 559
- **Wikidata ID:** Q460144
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Pfister, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460144, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002892/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/559

Cinematographer and director. Born 8 July 1961 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer, Director
- **Born:** 8 July 1961, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 1995–2014
- **Also known as:** Walter Pfister
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 1 directing, 10 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Christopher Nolan](https://film.one/person/christopher-nolan.md), [Emma Thomas](https://film.one/person/emma-thomas.md), [Christian Bale](https://film.one/person/christian-bale.md), [Charles Roven](https://film.one/person/charles-roven.md), [Jonathan Nolan](https://film.one/person/jonathan-nolan.md), [Michael Caine](https://film.one/person/michael-caine.md), [Gary Oldman](https://film.one/person/gary-oldman.md), [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://film.one/person/joseph-gordon-levitt.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 3 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 70 (2), 2000s 81 (5), 2010s 70 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 71 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Action 5, Crime 4, Drama 4, Thriller 3, Adventure 2, Comedy 2
- **Screen time:** 21 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,217m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Pfister, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460144, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002892/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/559

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Dark Knight*](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight.md) (85), [*Batman Begins*](https://film.one/film/batman-begins.md) (81), [*The Dark Knight Rises*](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight-rises.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Memento*](https://film.one/film/memento.md) (88), [*Moneyball*](https://film.one/film/moneyball.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Inception*](https://film.one/film/inception.md) (80)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Italian Job*](https://film.one/film/the-italian-job-2003.md) (70)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Transcendence*](https://film.one/film/transcendence.md) (45)

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

## Biography

Wally Pfister is an American cinematographer and film director. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he trained at the AFI Conservatory and began his career working in news and on low-budget films before moving into features.

Pfister is best known for his long collaboration with director Christopher Nolan. He served as director of photography on *Memento* (2000), *Insomnia* (2002), *Batman Begins* (2005), *The Prestige* (2006), *The Dark Knight* (2008), *Inception* (2010) and *The Dark Knight Rises* (2012). He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for *Inception*.

Pfister made his directorial debut with *Transcendence* (2014). He has also directed episodes of television series including *Flaked* and *The Tick*, as well as commercials.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, shotonwhat.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

### Directed (1)

- *Transcendence* (2014), Fi1m 45, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/transcendence.md)

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

- *The Dark Knight Rises* (2012), Fi1m 74, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight-rises.md)
- *Moneyball* (2011), Fi1m 83, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/moneyball.md)
- *Inception* (2010), Fi1m 80, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/inception.md)
- *The Dark Knight* (2008), Fi1m 85, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight.md)
- *The Prestige* (2006), Fi1m 82, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-prestige.md)
- *Batman Begins* (2005), Fi1m 81, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/batman-begins.md)
- *The Italian Job* (2003), Fi1m 70, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-italian-job-2003.md)
- *Memento* (2000), Fi1m 88, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/memento.md)
- *Stuart Little* (1999), Fi1m 66, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md)
- *While You Were Sleeping* (1995), Fi1m 74, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/while-you-were-sleeping.md)

## Complete filmography (58)

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

- *The Tick* (2016), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Transcendence* (2014), Director — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/transcendence.md)
- *Turbo* (2013), as Other
- *The Dark Knight Rises* (2012), Director of Photography, Camera Operator — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight-rises.md)
- *Moneyball* (2011), Director of Photography — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/moneyball.md)
- *Inception* (2010), Director of Photography — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/inception.md)
- *The Dark Knight* (2008), Director of Photography — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight.md)
- *The Prestige* (2006), Director of Photography — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-prestige.md)
- *Slow Burn* (2005), Director of Photography
- *Batman Begins* (2005), Director of Photography — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/batman-begins.md)
- *The Italian Job* (2003), Director of Photography — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-italian-job-2003.md)
- *Laurel Canyon* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Insomnia* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Rustin* (2001), Director of Photography
- *Scotland, PA* (2001), Director of Photography
- *Sanctuary* (2001), Director of Photography
- *Memento* (2000), Director of Photography — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/memento.md)
- *Sharing the Secret* (2000), Director of Photography
- *The Hi-Line* (2000), Director of Photography
- *The Million Dollar Hotel* (2000), "B" Camera Operator
- *Stuart Little* (1999), Camera Operator — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md)
- *Instinct* (1999), Camera Operator
- *Breakfast with Einstein* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Rhapsody in Bloom* (1998), Director of Photography
- *MouseHunt* (1997), Camera Operator, Second Unit Director of Photography
- *A Kid in Aladdin's Palace* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery* (1997), Additional Photography
- *Phenomenon* (1996), Camera Operator
- *Unstrung Heroes* (1995), Camera Operator
- *The Granny* (1995), Director of Photography
- *While You Were Sleeping* (1995), Camera Operator — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/while-you-were-sleeping.md)
- *Object of Obsession* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Stranger by Night* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Secret Games 3* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Animal Instincts 2* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Mirror Images II* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Amityville: A New Generation* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Stepmonster* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Meals on Wheels* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Inside Out 4* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Animal Instincts* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Inside Out 3* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Night Rhythms* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Leather Jackets* (1992), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Inside Out 2* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Secret Games* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Sketch Artist* (1992), Camera Operator, Director of Photography
- *In the Heat of Passion* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Lower Level* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Inside Out* (1991), Director of Photography
- *The Unborn* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Prayer of the Rollerboys* (1991), Additional Camera
- *Naked Obsession* (1990), Additional Photography
- *Slumber Party Massacre III* (1990), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Body Chemistry* (1990), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *Streets* (1990), Additional Director of Photography
- *After Midnight* (1989), Grip

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated

- 2011: Best Cinematography (won), for *Inception*
- 2009: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Dark Knight*
- 2007: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *The Prestige*
- 2006: Best Cinematography (nominated), for *Batman Begins*

*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/wally-pfister