List of films shot on digital video prior to 2012

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Main article: Digital cinematography

Starting in the 1990s, films had been shot on digital video and videotape rather than film stock. Some of them are independent, low-budget productions, while others are major studio productions. Since the mid-2010s, most films are captured and distributed digitally.[1] Among the 200 highest grossing theatrically released films each year, a majority of films were shot on digital video for the first time in 2013, in 2014 over 80% were shot digitally, and by 2016 over 90% of films were shot digitally.[2]

Notable firsts[edit]

List of films[edit]

The movies listed are shot mainly digitally. The list includes films released before 2012.

Title Cinematographer Camera type Lens type Year Notes
Setup Mike Gunther Red One 2011
Catch .44 Aaron Harvey Red One MX Hawk V-Lite
V-Plus Lenses 		2011
Albert Nobbs Michael McDonough Red One MX 2011
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Chris Menges Arri Alexa 2011
11-11-11 Joseph White Arri Alexa 2011
The Wholly Family Nicola Pecorini Arri Alexa 2011
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Gökhan Tiryaki Sony CineAlta F35 2011
Wild Bill George Richmond Arri Alexa 2011
This Is 40 Phedon Papamichael Arri Alexa 2011
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Jeff Cronenweth Red One MX, Red Epic MX Zeiss Master Prime 2011 Red Epic was used to shoot scenes in both the US and Sweden. The film was also the first to employ a workflow higher than 4K resolution from production to presentation.
The Darkest Hour Scott Kevan Sony CineAlta F35 2011
Final Destination 5 Brian Pearson Arri Alexa 2011
Young Adult Eric Steelberg Arri Alexa 2011
The Muppets Don Burgess Red One MX, Red Epic MX Zeiss Ultra Prime 2011
Hugo Robert Richardson Arri Alexa 2011 Winner of the 2011 Academy Award for Best Cinematography
Immortals Brendan Galvin Panavision Genesis 2011
Jack and Jill Dean Cundey Arri Alexa Cooke S4 2011
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Michael Barrett Panavision Genesis 2011
The Three Musketeers Glen MacPherson Arri Alexa 2011
Vicky and the Treasure of the Gods Christian Rein Arri Alexa 2011
Rampart Bobby Bukowski Arri Alexa 2011
Killer Joe Caleb Deschanel Arri Alexa 2011
Headshot Chankit Chamnivikaipong Red One MX 2011
Dolphin Tale Karl Walter Lindenlaub Red One MX 2011
Our Idiot Brother Yaron Orbach Red One MX 2011
Anonymous Anna Foerster Arri Alexa 2011 The first feature-length film to be shot with Alexa
Contagion Steven Soderbergh Red One MX Red Pro Prime 2011
Margin Call Frank DeMarco Red One MX 2011
The Inbetweeners Movie Ben Wheeler Arri Alexa 2011
The Devil's Double Sam McCurdy Red One MX 2011
Drive Newton Thomas Sigel Arri Alexa 2011
In Time Roger Deakins Arri Alexa 2011
Captain America: The First Avenger Shelly Johnson Panavision Genesis 2011 Underwater sequences and epilogue shot with Arri Alexa
Zookeeper Michael Barrett Panavision Genesis 2011
Horrible Bosses David Hennings Panavision Genesis 2011
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star Michael Barrett Panavision Genesis 2011
Bellflower Joel Hodge Custom based on Silicon Imaging SI-2K 2011
Melancholia Manuel Alberto Claro Arri Alexa 2011 Phantom HD Camera used for high-speed photography
Mr. Popper's Penguins Florian Ballhaus Arri Alexa 2011
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Amir Mokri Sony CineAlta F35 2011 Most non-action scenes/close-ups shot with 35mm film
Return of the Moonwalker Mike Maria Red Epic MX 2011
Pina Hélène Louvart
Jörg Widmer 		Sony HDC-1500 2011
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Dariusz Wolski Red One MX 2011
Prom Byron Shah Arri Alexa 2011
TT3D: Closer to the Edge Thomas Kürzl Red One MX 2011
The Lincoln Lawyer Lukas Ettlin Red One MX 2011
Shark Night 3D Gary Capo Fusion Camera System, Sony CineAlta F35 2011
Sanctum Jules O'Loughlin Fusion Camera System 2011
Drive Angry Brian Pearson Red One MX, Silicon Imaging SI-2K 2011
Cedar Rapids Chuy Chávez Arriflex D-21 2011
Like Crazy John Guleserian Canon EOS 7D 2011
The Future (film) Nikolai von Graevenitz Red One M 2011
Sick Boy Sean C. Cunningham Canon EOS 7D 2011 Canon EOS L-Series lenses, StickyPod, Redrock Micro "Captain Stubling" rig and Lensbaby Muse
Sound of My Voice Rachel Morrison Canon EOS 7D 2011
Tron: Legacy Claudio Miranda Sony CineAlta F35 2010 Phantom HD Camera used for high-speed photography
Blue Valentine Andrij Parekh Red One M Cooke S4 2010 Present-day scenes shot on Red, flashback scenes shot on 16mm
Red State David Klein Red One MX, Canon EOS 7D 2010 Canon 7D used only for 'running with camera' shots
Winter's Bone Michael McDonough Red One M Zeiss Master Prime 2010
Sarah's Key Pascal Ridao Red One M Cooke S4 2010
Jackass 3D Dimitry Elyashkevich Red One M 2010
Hubble 3D James Neihouse IMAX Cargo Bay 3-D Camera 2010
The Devil's Rock Paul Campion Red One M 2010
Fair Game Doug Liman Red One M 2010
Resident Evil: Afterlife Glen MacPherson Fusion Camera System 2010
The Social Network Jeff Cronenweth Red One MX Zeiss Master Prime 2010 First film to feature a 2K pipeline, from production to presentation.
127 Hours Anthony Dod Mantle
Enrique Chediak 		Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 7D, Silicon Imaging SI-2K 2010
Machete Jimmy Lindsey Panavision Genesis 2010
Certified Copy Luca Bigazzi Red One M 2010
Casino Jack Adam Swica Red One M 2010
Date Night Dean Semler Panavision Genesis 2010
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Dante Spinotti Sony CineAlta F23 2010
Rosario Carlo Mendoza Arri Alexa 2010 First Filipino film to be shot with the Arri Alexa
Yogi Bear Peter James Fusion Camera System 2010
Step Up 3D Ken Seng Fusion Camera System 2010
Death at a Funeral Rogier Stoffers Panavision Genesis 2010
Film Socialisme Fabrice Aragno
Paul Grivas 		Sony PMW-EX1, Sony HDR-TG1E, JVC Everio, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Samsung NV24HD, Archos 404 Camcorder 2010
Killers Russell Carpenter Arriflex D-21 2010
Grown Ups Theo van de Sande Panavision Genesis 2010
Rabbit Hole Frank G. DeMarco Red One M 2010
Rubber Quentin Dupieux Canon EOS 5D Mark II 2010
twelve Steven Fierberg Red One M 2010
Avatar Mauro Fiore Fusion Camera System Fujinon 6.3-101mm T2 and 7-35mm T1.8 2009 First 100% digitally photographed film to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Informant! Steven Soderbergh Red One M Red Pro prime 2009
Youth in Revolt Chuy Chávez Sony CineAlta F35 2009
The Box Steven Poster Panavision Genesis 2009
Zombieland Michael Bonvillain Panavision Genesis 2009
The Final Destination Glen MacPherson Fusion Camera System 2009
District 9 Trent Opaloch Red One M 2009
The Secret in Their Eyes Félix Monti Red One M 2009
Valhalla Rising Morten Søborg Red One M 2009
Public Enemies Dante Spinotti Sony CineAlta F23 2009 Some car interiors during chases shot on Sony XDCAM EX-1
The Girlfriend Experience Steven Soderbergh Red One M Panavision C-series anamorphic 2009
Gamer Ekkehart Pollack Red One M 2009
Antichrist Anthony Dod Mantle Red One M 2009 Phantom HD Camera used for high-speed photography
Samantha Darko Chris Fisher Red One M 2009
Surviving Evil Mike Downie Thomson Viper 2009
Tetro Mihai Mălaimare Jr. Sony CineAlta F900 2009
Crank: High Voltage Brandon Trost Canon XH-A1 2009 Fifteen Canon HF10 were used as Crash-Cams
The Book of Eli Don Burgess Red One M Panavision Primo 2009
Knowing Simon Duggan Red One M 2009
Achchamundu! Achchamundu! Arthur Wilson Red One M 2009
Like You Know It All Kim Hoon-kwang Sony PMW-EX1 2009
My Bloody Valentine 3D Brian Pearson Red One M, Silicon Imaging SI-2K 2009
Leaves of Grass Roberto Schaefer Red One M 2009
neighbor Marc Jeff Schirmer Red One M 2009
The Spirit Bill Pope Panavision Genesis 2008 Phantom HD Camera used for high-speed photography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Claudio Miranda Thomson Viper Zeiss DigiPrime 2008 Among the first two predominantly digitally photographed films, along with Slumdog Millionaire, to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography
Slumdog Millionaire Anthony Dod Mantle Silicon Imaging SI-2K 2008 The first predominantly digitally photographed film to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Shot on multiple formats, including 35mm and digital stills.
Rachel Getting Married Declan Quinn Sony CineAlta F23 2008
You Don't Mess With The Zohan Michael Barrett Panavision Genesis 2008
Chemical Wedding Brian Herlihy Thomson Viper 2008
Che: Part Two Steven Soderbergh Red One M Red Pro prime 2008
Che: Part One Steven Soderbergh Red One M Red Pro prime 2008 The first feature-length film shot with Red One cameras
Get Smart Dean Semler Panavision Genesis 2008
Speed Racer David Tattersall Sony CineAlta F23 2008
Three Monkeys Gökhan Tiryaki Sony CineAlta F900 2008
Deception Dante Spinotti Panavision Genesis 2008
21 Russell Carpenter Panavision Genesis 2008
Journey to the Center of the Earth Chuck Shuman Fusion Camera System 2008
Cloverfield Michael Bonvillain Sony CineAlta F23 2008 Segments, other shots include the Panasonic HVX-200, as well as the Thomson Viper
RocknRolla David Higgs Arriflex D-21 2008
The Bank Job Michael Coulter Arriflex D-21 2008
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Ron Fortunato Panavision Genesis 2007
Reign Over Me Russ Alsobrook Panavision Genesis 2007
Youth Without Youth Mihai Mălaimare Jr. Sony CineAlta F900 2007
Zodiac Harris Savides Thomson Viper Zeiss DigiPrime 2007
Balls of Fury Thomas E. Ackerman Panavision Genesis 2007
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Uta Briesewitz Panavision Genesis 2007
Superbad Russ Alsobrook Panavision Genesis 2007
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Dean Semler Panavision Genesis 2007
Next David Tattersall Panavision Genesis 2007
Chronicle of Purgatory: The Waiter Jason Konopisos Panasonic AG-DVX100 (Andromeda Modification) 2007 The Andromeda Modification bypasses the DV compression to get uncompressed 4:4:4 10-bit RGB data straight from the CCD block
Planet Terror Robert Rodriguez Panavision Genesis 2007
Apocalypto Dean Semler Panavision Genesis 2006
Once Tim Fleming Sony HVR-Z1 2006
Inland Empire David Lynch Sony DSR-PD150 2006
Miami Vice Dion Beebe Thomson Viper 2006
Superman Returns Newton Thomas Sigel Panavision Genesis 2006
Borat Anthony Hardwick
Luke Geissbühler 		Panasonic AJ-HDC27 Varicam 2006 Shot with two VariCams with occasional use of a Panasonic AG-DVX100[11]
Click Dean Semler Panavision Genesis 2006
Climates Gökhan Tiryaki Sony CineAlta F900 2006
Colossal Youth Pedro Costa
Leonardo Simões 		Panasonic AG-DVX100 2006
Crank Adam Biddle Sony CineAlta F950 2006 Some scenes shot with Canon XL-2
Flyboys Henry Braham Panavision Genesis 2006
Them (Ils) David Moreau
Xavier Palud 		Panasonic AG-DVX100 2006
Still Life Zhangke Jia Sony HVR-Z1 2006
Me and You and Everyone We Know Chuy Chávez Sony CineAlta F900 2005
Il vento fa il suo giro Roberto Cimatti Panasonic AG-DVX100 2005
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith David Tattersall Sony CineAlta F950 2005
The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl Robert Rodriguez Sony CineAlta F950 2005
Bubble Steven Soderbergh Sony CineAlta F900/F950 2005
Manderlay Anthony Dod Mantle Sony CineAlta F900 2005 Some scenes shot with Sony DSR-PD100
Sin City Robert Rodriguez Sony CineAlta F950 2005
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow Eric Adkins Sony CineAlta F900 2005
Collateral Paul Cameron
Dion Beebe 		Sony CineAlta F900, Thomson Viper 2004 35mm used for some scenes
Land of Plenty Franz Lustig Panasonic AG-DVX100 2004
The World Yu Lik-wai Sony CineAlta F900 2004
Dogville Anthony Dod Mantle Sony CineAlta F900 2003 Some scenes shot with Sony DSR-PD100
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Robert Rodriguez Sony CineAlta F900 2003
Once Upon A Time In Mexico Robert Rodriguez Sony CineAlta F900 2003 Was filmed in 2001 but released theatrically in 2003
Pieces of April Tami Reiker Sony DSR-PD150 2003 Filmed in 2002 and released in 2003[12]
Virgin Benjamin Wolf Sony DSR-PD150 2003 Shot in 2002 and released in 2003[13]
Unknown Pleasures Yu Lik-wai Sony DSR-PD150 2002 Other scenes shot in Digital Betacam
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams Robert Rodriguez Sony CineAlta F900 2002
Russian Ark Tilman Büttner Sony CineAlta F900 Canon ENG 2002
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones David Tattersall Sony CineAlta F900 2002 Cited by the British Film Institute as "the first digitally shot blockbuster to hit cinemas."[14]
9 Songs Marcel Zyskind Panasonic AG-DVX100 2002 Other scenes shot with Sony DSR-PD150
Full Frontal Steven Soderbergh Canon XL-1s 2002
Personal Velocity: Three Portraits Ellen Kuras Sony DSR-PD150 2002
Tadpole Hubert Taczanowski Sony DSR-PD150 2002 Shot with three digital cameras[15]
24 Hour Party People Robby Muller Sony DSR-PD150 2002
28 Days Later... Anthony Dod Mantle Canon XL-1s 2002 Some shots in 35mm
Xuxa e os Duendes Cezar Moraes Sony CineAlta F900 2001
All About Lily Chou-Chou Noboru Shinoda Sony CineAlta F900 2001
The Anniversary Party John Bailey Sony DSR-500 2001
By Hook or By Crook Ann T. Rossetti Sony vx2000 2001
The King Is Alive Jens Schlosser Sony DSR-PD150 2001
The Center of the World The Chau Ngo Sony DSR-PD100Sony DVW-700 2001 Used Digital Betacam for some scenes and the Sony DRV-100 for others[16]
The Wager Arnar Thor Thorisson Sony CineAlta F900 2001 Shot in 2001, released in 2004
Vidocq Jean-Pierre Sauvaire
Jean-Claude Thibaut 		Sony HDW-F900 CineAlta 2001
You Got Nothin' Cliff Hsui
Jonathan Zames 		Sony HDW-F900 CineAlta 2001 Shot in 2001, released in 2002.
Xtracurricular J.P. Lipa Sony HDW-F900 CineAlta 2001 Some scenes shot on Panasonic AJ-HDC27 Varicam and Sony DSR-500WS. Shot in 2001, released in 2003
Tortilla Soup Xavier Pérez Grobet Panasonic AJ-HDC27 Varicam 2001 Home video release from 35mm Interpostive
Bamboozled Ellen Kuras Sony DCR-VX1000 2000 Some scenes shot in 16mm
Chuck & Buck Chuy Chávez Sony DCR-VX1000 2000
Dancer in the Dark Robby Müller Sony DXC-D30WS 2000 Musical numbers shot with 100 Sony DSR-PD100s
Our Lady of the Assassins Barbet Schroeder Sony HDW-700 2000 Premiered September 1, 2000 (Telluride Film Festival)
Ivans Xtc Bernard Rose Sony HDW-700A 2000 Premiered September 12, 2000 (Toronto International Film Festival)
Everything Put Together Roberto Schaefer Sony DCR-VX1000 2000 Shot entirely on HD in the summer of 1999, premiered in 2000[17]
Solid Ones Matthew W. David Sony HDW-700A 1999 Shot entirely on HD in the summer of 1999, premiered in 2000
God Wears My Underwear Leslie Streit Canon XL-1 Canon EOS zoom 1999 Shot in 1999, released in 2005
The New Women Larra Anderson Canon XL-1 Canon EOS zoom 1999 Shot in 1999, released in 2001
The Book of Life Jim Denault Sony DCR-VX1000 1998
Festen Thomas Vinterberg Sony DCR-PC3 1998
The Celebration Anthony Dod Mantle Sony DCR-PC3 1998
The Idiots Lars von Trier Sony DCR-VX1000 1997
Hope Pete Anderson Canon GL1 1997
Windhorse Steve Schecter Sony DVW-700WS

Sony DCR-VX1000

1996 Premiered 1998 at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
The Demons in My Head Grant Hoy Sony DVW-700WS 1996 Premiered 15 June 1997 at the Sanctuary Cove Village Theater, Queensland, Australia.[18] Also first feature film to be online edited in a computer and projected digitally[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hurley, Michael (2 January 2014). "Studios Abandon Film, Small Theaters Struggle -- And There's a Happy Ending". Indiewire. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01.
  2. ^ Follows, Stephen (2019-02-11). "The use of digital vs celluloid film on Hollywood movies". Stephen Follows. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  3. ^ "Oscar Breakdown: Best Cinematography". Archived from the original on 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  4. ^ "Steven Soderbergh featurette on shooting Che with RED by Matthew Jeppsen". provideocoalition.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10.
  5. ^ "Fincher's Social Network to be First Movie Shot & Shown in 4K | FirstShowing.net". 15 April 2010.
  6. ^ "ARRI Group: News". www.arri.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
  7. ^ "David Fincher's "Gone Girl" 1st Feature Film Shot Entirely in 6K | 4K Shooters". 13 August 2014.
  8. ^ "ALEXA XT and ALEXA 65 on "The Revenant"". arri.com.
  9. ^ "Marvel's 'Avengers: Infinity War' to Be Filmed Using the IMAX/ARRI Digital Camera". Marvel. May 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.
  10. ^ "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be first film shot in 8K". Wired UK.
  11. ^ Department, CWB News (2007-02-16). "Borat & Panasonic's AJ-HDC27 VariCam HD". Cinema Without Borders. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  12. ^ "Pieces of April (2003)". shotonwhat.com. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  13. ^ Meyer, Andrea (2003-10-22). "'Virgin' makes its own miracle". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  14. ^ "10 great early digital films". BFI. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  15. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (2002-07-09). "Digital's 'Tadpole' Phase". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  16. ^ "INTERVIEW: Wayne Wang Journeys to "The Center of the World"". IndieWire. 2001-04-20. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  17. ^ Rochlin, Margy (2001-12-23). "FILM; From Switzerland With Lots of Buzz". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  18. ^ "The Demons In My Head: A New Hope? A film by Neil Johnson". frompage2screen. October 4, 2021.
  19. ^ IMDB[better source needed]

External links[edit]

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