Tom Zelinsky
15 films about photographers and the art (and obsession) of capturing life. From iconic thrillers like Rear Window to hidden gems like Photograph, this list spans drama, horror, comedy and powerful documentaries. Whether you're a photographer yourself or just fascinated by the view from behind the lens, these movies reveal what happens when real life meets the frame. Add your favourite below!
Inspired by my passion for photography, both in weddings and on screen.
Genre: Drama / Mystery
Antonioni’s iconic exploration of perception, voyeurism and maybe... murder. A fashion photographer accidentally captures something he can’t unsee. Still a must-watch for every photo-lover with a brain and a magnifying glass.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
A dark urban tale of a photographer chasing truth (and maybe a serial killer) in the subway. Stylish, brutal, oddly philosophical. Not for the faint-hearted — or the vegan.
Genre: Thriller / Mystery
Hitchcock. James Stewart. A broken leg. A camera. And the neighbour who may or may not have killed his wife. This is the film about observation — and the ethics of watching.
Genre: Crime / Drama
A brutal but brilliant coming-of-age story of a boy who escapes crime through photography. Raw, powerful, unforgettable — and based on true events. Features some of the best handheld work in modern cinema.
Genre: Comedy / Satire
John Waters takes on the art world with this hilarious indie film about a teenager who becomes an overnight sensation with his quirky snapshots of Baltimore life. You’ll laugh, cringe, and maybe question the art world a bit.
Genre: Drama / Romance
An intense portrait of a reclusive photographer and her unexpected muse. Darkroom meets desire. For lovers of moody lighting and complicated relationships.
Genre: Documentary
A gripping look into the life and work of photojournalist James Nachtwey. Stunning and sobering — it’s what happens when photography becomes a form of witnessing.
Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Drama
Okay, not about photography exactly — but Sean Penn as a globe-trotting, mountain-sitting photojournalist makes this worth it. That scene with the snow leopard? Iconic.
Genre: Road Movie / Drama
A dying photographer, a box of undeveloped Kodachrome, and a strained father-son relationship. Nostalgia, legacy, and the beauty of analogue all wrapped in one quiet road trip
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Robin Williams in a chilling role as a photo lab technician who gets a little too involved in his customers’ lives. A study in loneliness, obsession and colour grading.
Genre: Documentary
A mysterious nanny who secretly took over 100,000 photographs — discovered only after her death. A fascinating dive into privacy, genius, and artistic recognition.
Genre: Historical Drama
Set in early 20th-century Sweden, it tells the story of a woman who wins a camera in a lottery and finds power, freedom and purpose behind the lens. Poetic and underrated.
Genre: War Drama
Nick Nolte plays a photojournalist caught in the Nicaraguan revolution. Gritty, atmospheric, and politically charged — a solid entry into the genre of photographers in conflict zones
Genre: Romantic Drama
Julia Roberts plays a photographer in this tangled web of love, betrayal and portraits. More about intimacy and exposure than F-stops, but still with a lens on human connection.
Genre: Indian Indie Romance
A street photographer in Mumbai asks a stranger to pose as his fiancée to satisfy his grandmother. Quiet, beautiful, and full of photographic longing.
Cardiff wedding photographer capturing real, unposed moments in a documentary style. South Wales and beyond.
