20 Films with the Most Beautiful Use of Natural Light

Filmmakers often use sunlight and existing natural light to create realistic and beautiful scenes. This approach takes careful planning and timing to capture the perfect mood. Here are twenty films that showcase how important natural light can be in telling a story.

‘Days of Heaven’ (1978)

I was absolutely captivated by the visuals in this film. Director Terrence Malick really leaned into shooting during that beautiful, fleeting ‘magic hour,’ and cinematographer Néstor Almendros made the Texas wheat fields glow with a warmth that reminded me of old master paintings. The story centers around three farm workers and a heartbreaking love triangle that unfolds during the harvest. Honestly, the film shows you the story far more than it tells it – the changing seasons beautifully mirror what the characters are feeling inside. It’s a stunning, emotionally resonant experience.

‘The Revenant’ (2015)

Emmanuel Lubezki, the film’s cinematographer, shot the movie using only natural light, beautifully capturing the rugged and icy landscapes of the American frontier. Filming was incredibly difficult, as the crew had to constantly move to follow the sun and keep the lighting consistent. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a rugged man struggling to stay alive after a vicious bear attack. By using only natural light, the film really puts the audience into the harsh, cold, and lonely world of the 1820s.

‘Barry Lyndon’ (1975)

Stanley Kubrick aimed for a realistic 18th-century look in his film by avoiding typical studio lights. He used a modified NASA lens to film scenes using only candlelight. The story follows an Irish man’s journey as he tries to climb the social ladder in England. This innovative filming technique gives the movie a beautiful, soft look reminiscent of paintings from that time period.

‘Nomadland’ (2020)

I was completely captivated by Chloé Zhao’s film. She really brought the American West to life, filming during those beautiful, golden hours with natural light. The story follows Fern, a woman traveling across the badlands in her van, living this incredible, free life. What struck me most was how the film felt so personal, staying close to Fern, but also showing off the stunning, ever-changing skies. It really highlighted how connected we are to nature, and how temporary our own lives can be in comparison to the world around us.

‘The Tree of Life’ (2011)

Terrence Malick’s film beautifully blends the story of a Texas family with big questions about where everything came from. The camera drifts and flows, and natural light is used to create a feeling of awe and spirituality. It contrasts tiny details in nature with the vastness of the universe, presenting the story like a flowing, dreamlike experience where sunlight represents something sacred.

‘Call Me by Your Name’ (2017)

As a total movie buff, I was completely captivated by how beautifully this film used the Italian summer. The director really leaned into that intense Mediterranean light – it felt like it was mirroring the way Elio and Oliver’s relationship was unfolding. And inside, the shadows weren’t just about darkness, they were showing how complicated things were for these characters. Honestly, the way the film captured the heat and colors of the Italian countryside felt so real, it was like being there.

‘The New World’ (2005)

This historical film offers a new look at the first encounters between English colonists and the Powhatan tribe near Jamestown. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki used dramatic backlighting to create striking silhouettes, making the natural landscape feel like a key character. The film’s visuals highlight the contrast between the structured world of the Europeans and the free-flowing lifestyle of the native people, and the lighting choices help to emphasize this difference.

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)

Claire Mathon was the cinematographer for this close-up love story, filmed on a remote island in Brittany. The film beautifully uses the strong sunlight on the coast and the gentle glow of candles indoors to highlight the connection between the two main characters. Marianne is commissioned to paint Héloïse’s wedding portrait, but must do so secretly while they walk together. By avoiding artificial lighting, the film captures subtle details and expressions with remarkable clarity.

‘Into the Wild’ (2007)

Christopher McCandless gave up his belongings and traveled to Alaska, seeking a life in the wild. Director Sean Penn and cinematographer Eric Gautier filmed under actual weather conditions to capture McCandless’s challenging journey. The lighting shifts dramatically, moving from the warm hues of the Southwest to the chilly blues of the North. Nature is portrayed as both stunning and uncaring, with the sunlight heavily influencing the feeling of struggle and resilience.

‘Y Tu Mamá También’ (2001)

A young woman and two teenage boys travel across the Mexican countryside searching for a beach that may not even exist. The film feels realistic thanks to the director’s choice to use handheld cameras and natural lighting. The bright sunlight emphasizes the dusty landscapes and the challenges faced by the people they encounter along the way. This gritty visual approach enhances the film’s exploration of both personal discovery and social issues.

‘The Witch’ (2015)

For his historical drama set in 17th-century New England, director Robert Eggers was committed to using lighting that accurately reflected the period. This creates a dark and unsettling mood, filled with feelings of fear and loneliness. The story follows a family exiled to a remote forest who begin to distrust each other as strange events unfold. Because it’s often difficult to see clearly, the characters become increasingly paranoid, unsure of what dangers might be hidden in the surrounding woods.

‘Badlands’ (1973)

This crime drama marked the beginning of Terrence Malick’s distinctive filmmaking style. It follows a young couple as they go on a violent crime spree, set against the beautiful, yet desolate, landscapes of South Dakota. Malick uses soft lighting and wide shots of the badlands, creating a striking contrast between the couple’s detached behavior and the shocking nature of their crimes. The film’s stunning scenery ironically highlights their desperate escape.

‘Roma’ (2018)

As a critic, I was immediately struck by the deeply personal feel of this film. Alfonso Cuarón didn’t just direct, he shot it himself, and it feels like we’re looking directly into his memories of Mexico City, beautifully rendered in black and white. He really lets the natural light do the work, especially in the intimate scenes within the family home. The story centers on Cleo, the housekeeper, and we follow her through a really tough time, both in her personal life and with everything happening politically around her. Cuarón’s use of stark, high-contrast lighting isn’t just visually striking – it really highlights the grit of the city and, more importantly, Cleo’s incredible strength.

‘Moonlight’ (2016)

As a film lover, I was completely captivated by the way James Laxton shot Moonlight. He really used Miami’s atmosphere – the humidity and those incredible colors – to tell Chiron’s story across all three stages of his life. What struck me most was the lighting; it was so high-contrast, it made the dark skin tones absolutely luminous, creating a look I honestly haven’t seen much of in movies. And the use of moonlight wasn’t just pretty; it felt like a character itself, highlighting Chiron’s most vulnerable moments. The camera just stays on faces, letting you see every nuance softened by the city and beach light – it’s truly beautiful.

‘Winter Sleep’ (2014)

Set against the stunning, rocky backdrop of Cappadocia in winter, this Turkish film explores complex ideas. The story unfolds in a hotel built into the stone, where conversations are lit by soft, natural light. Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan uses the muted winter sunlight to emphasize the emotional distance between the characters. The coldness outside sharply contrasts with the warm, yet claustrophobic, atmosphere within the cave interiors.

‘Ida’ (2013)

The film uses black and white cinematography and a classic screen shape to capture the atmosphere of 1960s Poland. The filmmakers used mostly natural gray light to create a serious and stark tone. The story centers on a young nun who uncovers a troubling family secret just as she’s about to take her permanent vows. Visually, the film frequently shows characters small at the bottom of the screen, emphasizing the large, empty space above them.

‘City of God’ (2002)

As a huge fan, what really struck me about this film was how it captured the raw energy of Rio’s favelas. The director of photography, Cesar Charlone, made a brilliant choice using mostly natural sunlight, which made everything feel so real and immediate. The story jumps across years, showing how the crime in this neighborhood grew over time, and the changes in the lighting – the colors and how bright things were – were a really clever way to show us when we were in a different era. It wasn’t just a story, it felt like you were living through those decades with the characters.

‘Biutiful’ (2010)

Alejandro González Iñárritu and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto filmed Barcelona’s rougher side, showcasing a city far removed from typical tourist views. The film’s dark, muted colors – gray skies and shadowy indoor scenes – mirror the main character Uxbal’s declining health and inner turmoil. Instead of beautiful landmarks, the filmmakers focused on the city’s decay and the realities of immigrant life and the hidden world of underground commerce, using natural light to create a stark and realistic feel.

‘Zama’ (2017)

Lucrecia Martel’s film focuses on a colonial officer stuck at a distant, isolated post, awaiting reassignment. The intense heat and humidity are powerfully conveyed through realistic sunlight. The characters feel confined by the dense, overgrown plants and the bright, expansive sky. This lighting emphasizes the officer’s sense of being stuck and their increasingly troubled mental state.

‘Ad Astra’ (2019)

Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema made a unique choice for this science fiction film: he primarily used natural light. The story centers on an astronaut’s journey to the far reaches of the solar system in search of his father. When filming on the moon and Mars, he emphasized the strong, direct light of the sun to create a sense of realism. This technique helps make the futuristic story feel more believable and relatable.

2025-11-29 09:21