---
name: "Walter Murch"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/walter-murch"
fi1m_id: "walter-murch"
imdb_id: "nm0004555"
tmdb_id: 154
wikidata_id: "Q1394956"
roles: ["Editor"]
born: "12 July 1943"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_over: 14
updated: "2026-10-07T04:24:25.568773+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."
---

# Walter Murch

## Identity

Walter Murch

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/walter-murch
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** walter-murch
- **IMDb ID:** nm0004555
- **TMDB ID:** 154
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1394956
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Murch, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1394956, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004555/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/154

Editor. Born 12 July 1943 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Editor
- **Born:** 12 July 1943, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1970–2010
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 15: 1 writing, 14 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Anthony Minghella](https://film.one/person/anthony-minghella.md), [Francis Ford Coppola](https://film.one/person/francis-ford-coppola.md), [Jude Law](https://film.one/person/jude-law.md), [Juliette Binoche](https://film.one/person/juliette-binoche.md), [Saul Zaentz](https://film.one/person/saul-zaentz.md), [Tom Sternberg](https://film.one/person/tom-sternberg.md), [William Horberg](https://film.one/person/william-horberg.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 3 Oscars (3 won · 5 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 85 (8), 1980s 74 (1), 1990s 78 (5), 2000s 62 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 74 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Crime 5, Romance 4, Thriller 3, War 3, Documentary 2
- **Screen time:** 33 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,852m across 14 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Murch, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1394956, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004555/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/154

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Apocalypse Now*](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md) (92), [*The Black Stallion*](https://film.one/film/the-black-stallion.md) (87), [*Ghost*](https://film.one/film/ghost.md) (80)
- **Hulu:** [*The Talented Mr. Ripley*](https://film.one/film/the-talented-mr-ripley.md) (80)
- **Apple TV:** [*The English Patient*](https://film.one/film/the-english-patient.md) (78)
- **Paramount+:** [*The Godfather Part III*](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-iii.md) (63)

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

## Biography

Walter Murch is an American film editor, sound designer and director. Born in New York City in 1943, he graduated from the University of Southern California film school and began working in sound and editing in the late 1960s.

He collaborated extensively with Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas on films including *THX 1138* (1971), *The Conversation* (1974), *The Godfather Part II* (1974) and *Apocalypse Now* (1979). On the latter he received the first credit as sound designer and won an Academy Award for sound. He later won Oscars for both editing and sound on *The English Patient* (1996).

Murch has edited many other films, among them *The Godfather Part III* (1990), *Ghost* (1990), *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999) and *Cold Mountain* (2003). He directed *Return to Oz* (1985), restored Orson Welles’s *Touch of Evil* (1998) and wrote the book *In the Blink of an Eye* on film editing.

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

## On Fi1m (15)

### Wrote (1)

- *The Black Stallion* (1979), Fi1m 87, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/the-black-stallion.md)

### Crew (14) — the average rests on these

- *Cold Mountain* (2003), Fi1m 62, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/cold-mountain.md)
- *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999), Fi1m 80, Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-talented-mr-ripley.md)
- *The English Patient* (1996), Fi1m 78, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-english-patient.md)
- *Crumb* (1995), Fi1m 87, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — [page](https://film.one/film/crumb.md)
- *Ghost* (1990), Fi1m 80, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost.md)
- *The Godfather Part III* (1990), Fi1m 63, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-iii.md)
- *The Unbearable Lightness of Being* (1988), Fi1m 74, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being.md)
- *Apocalypse Now* (1979), Fi1m 92, Editor, Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — [page](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md)
- *Julia* (1977), Fi1m 60, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/julia.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Designer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *The Godfather Part II* (1974), Fi1m 92, Sound Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-ii.md)
- *American Graffiti* (1973), Fi1m 84, Sound Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — [page](https://film.one/film/american-graffiti.md)
- *The Godfather* (1972), Fi1m 93, Post Production Consulting — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *Gimme Shelter* (1970), Fi1m 78, Sound — [page](https://film.one/film/gimme-shelter.md)

## Complete filmography (40)

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

- *Megalopolis* (2024), Thanks — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/megalopolis.md)
- *Her Name Was Moviola* (2024), Writer
- *The Cinema Within* (2024), Actor
- *Coup 53* (2019), Writer, Editor
- *Tomorrowland* (2015), Editor
- *Particle Fever* (2013), Editor
- *Hemingway & Gellhorn* (2012), Editor
- *The Wolfman* (2010), Editor
- *Tetro* (2009), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* (2008), series, Director
- *Youth Without Youth* (2007), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- *Jarhead* (2005), Editor
- *Cold Mountain* (2003), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/cold-mountain.md)
- *K-19: The Widowmaker* (2002), Editor
- *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-talented-mr-ripley.md)
- *The Apostle* (1997), Thanks
- *The English Patient* (1996), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-english-patient.md)
- *First Knight* (1995), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- *Crumb* (1995), Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/crumb.md)
- *I Love Trouble* (1994), Editor
- *Romeo Is Bleeding* (1993), Editor
- *House of Cards* (1993), Editor
- *The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980* (1992), Editor
- *The Godfather Part III* (1990), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-iii.md)
- *Ghost* (1990), Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost.md)
- *Call from Space* (1989), Editor
- *The Unbearable Lightness of Being* (1988), Editor — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being.md)
- *Captain EO* (1986), Editor
- *Return to Oz* (1985), Director, Screenplay
- *Dragonslayer* (1981), Sound Recordist
- *The Black Stallion* (1979), Screenplay — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-black-stallion.md)
- *Apocalypse Now* (1979), Editor, Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md)
- *Julia* (1977), Editor — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/julia.md)
- *The Godfather Part II* (1974), Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Editor — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-ii.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *American Graffiti* (1973), Sound Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/american-graffiti.md)
- *The Godfather* (1972), as Post Production Consulting — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *THX 1138* (1971), Sound Editor, Screenplay
- *Gimme Shelter* (1970), Sound — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/gimme-shelter.md)
- *The Rain People* (1969), Sound Editor

## Gallery

- ![HK zh:港島東區 Eastern District 西灣河 Sai Wan Ho zh:鯉景道 Lei King Road Hong Kong Film Archive Library in August 2021](https://film.one/media/person/59526/gallery-a77ccadec1b3.jpg) HK zh:港島東區 Eastern District 西灣河 Sai Wan Ho zh:鯉景道 Lei King Road Hong Kong Film Archive Library in August 2021 — Ting Yuet Tsang 08, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/HK_%E6%B8%AF%E5%B3%B6%E6%9D%B1%E5%8D%80_Eastern_District_%E8%A5%BF%E7%81%A3%E6%B2%B3_Sai_Wan_Ho_%E9%AF%89%E6%99%AF%E9%81%93_Lei_King_Road_%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99%E9%A4%A8_Hong_Kong_Film_Archive_Library_%E5%9C%96%E6%9B%B8%E9%A4%A8_August_2021_SS2_04.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Joshua Oppenheimer, Walter Murch, and Annette Insdorf at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival during the Saturday Noon Seminar panel discussion.](https://film.one/media/person/59526/gallery-f37f4cdff984.jpg) Joshua Oppenheimer, Walter Murch, and Annette Insdorf at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival during the Saturday Noon Seminar panel discussion. — Kevin Payravi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Joshua_Oppenheimer%2C_Walter_Murch%2C_and_Annette_Insdorf_at_the_2024_Telluride_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Joshua_Oppenheimer%2C_Walter_Murch%2C_and_Annette_Insdorf_at_the_2024_Telluride_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Walter Murch working on Tetro in Buenos Aires, Argentina taken by Beatrice Murch (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/59526/gallery-19bf91a9760d.jpg) Walter Murch working on Tetro in Buenos Aires, Argentina taken by Beatrice Murch (2008) — Beatrice Murch, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/WalterMurchWorking.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Portrait of Walter Murch at work on Tetro in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/59526/gallery-72a2d0bc645d.jpg) Portrait of Walter Murch at work on Tetro in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2008) — Beatrice Murch, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Walter_Murch.jpg/1280px-Walter_Murch.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Walter Murch](https://film.one/media/person/59526/gallery-d93967c2ec80.jpg) Walter Murch — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Walter_Murch_%2833906703628%29.jpg/1280px-Walter_Murch_%2833906703628%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 3 won, 5 nominated

- 2004: Best Film Editing (nominated), for *Cold Mountain*
- 1997: Best Sound (won), for *The English Patient*
- 1997: Best Film Editing (won), for *The English Patient*
- 1991: Best Film Editing (nominated), for *Ghost*
- 1980: Best Sound (won), for *Apocalypse Now*
- 1980: Best Film Editing (nominated), for *Apocalypse Now*
- 1978: Best Film Editing (nominated), for *Julia*
- 1975: Best Sound (nominated), for *The Conversation*

*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/walter-murch