Wondering which Hollywood legends have embraced iPhone filmmaking? From Steven Spielberg and Steven Soderbergh to Zack Snyder and Park Chan-wook, some of the world’s top directors have proven that you don’t need big studio cameras to make cinematic magic. This list highlights 14 surprising directors who shot movies, short films, and music videos on smartphones — inspiring proof that mobile cinematography can be just as powerful as traditional filmmaking.
If you are reading this then you are actually at a definitive list of directors who shot using their mobile phones. A lot of lists are wrong so here are 14 directors you know who’ve gone mobile — and the projects that prove storytelling matters more than the size of your camera.
Unsane behind the scenes
1. Steven Soderbergh – Unsane (2018) & High-Flying Bird (2019)
We are blue in the face talking about him at this point, Soderbergh might as well be the poster child for mobile filmmaking. With Unsane, he shot an entire psychological thriller on an iPhone 7 Plus. Then he doubled down with High Flying Bird, proving you could shoot a slick, dialogue-heavy drama about the NBA without a single “pro” camera.
Takeaway for filmmakers: If Soderbergh can use a phone to get theatrical releases, what’s your excuse?
2. Sean Baker – Tangerine (2015)
We all know about Tangerine, it’s the film that started the festival. This indie gem turned heads at Sundance and made “shot on an iPhone” a marketing flex. Baker’s use of the iPhone 5S gave Tangerine an energy and rawness that matched its story about two trans sex workers on Christmas Eve.
Takeaway: Story and performance shine brighter than pixels.
3. Park Chan-wook – Night Fishing (2011)
Long before it was trendy, the Oldboy director picked up an iPhone 4 and shot this eerie, 30-minute short. It even won the Golden Bear for Best Short at Berlin.
Takeaway: You don’t need a RED to win awards.
4. Steven Spielberg – “Cannibal” Music Video (2022)
Yes Spielberg, A phone, a chair and a big empty room, with his wife as dolly grip and his daughter as producer, Spielberg shot Marcus Mumford’s “Cannibal” entirely on an iPhone. Turns out, even the king of blockbusters likes to play indie sometimes.
Takeaway: If Spielberg is experimenting with phones, there’s no shame in you doing it too.
5. Danny Boyle – 28 Years Later (2025)
The big one, Boyle, who’s never been shy about mixing formats (28 Days Later famously used DV cameras), returned to the franchise with an iPhone. He wanted flexibility to shoot in rural terrian while maintaining a widescreen 276 format. The use of phones adds an immersive grittiness to the whole thing. It’s like no other movie you will see in a cinema this year.
Takeaway: Sometimes the imperfections of mobile make horror feel more real.
6. Ridley Scott – Behold (2017)
The Blade Runner legend partnered with Samsung to shoot a stunning short film on the iPhone. With Scott’s signature visual flair, Behold proved phones could handle cinematic grandeur.
Takeaway: Limitations disappear in the hands of a visual master.
7. Charlie Kaufman – Jackals & Fireflies (2023)
The brainchild behind Eternal Sunshine embraced his Samsung to craft this poetic, contemplative short. The mobile format gave the film an intimacy that matched its meditative tone.
Takeaway: Phones can be deeply personal cameras.
8. Zack Snyder – Snow Steam Iron (2017)
Snyder, known for slow-motion epics and superhero blockbusters, surprised fans by dropping this stylish noir short — shot on an iPhone. Same Snyder look, smaller package.
Takeaway: Style isn’t tied to gear.
9. David Leitch – Snowbrawl (2019)
The John Wick co-director staged an epic snowball fight like it was a Hollywood action sequence — using an iPhone 11 Pro. Choreography, editing, and energy carried the day.
Takeaway: Action works if you commit to the choreography, not the camera.
10. Olivia Wilde – “No Love Like Yours” (2016)
Wilde directed this dreamy music video for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros entirely on an iPhone 6S. It’s proof that phones can capture magic when paired with the right vibe.
Takeaway: Mobile filmmaking loves music videos.
11. Neil Burger – Inheritance (2025)
The director of Limitless and Divergent joined the mobile ranks with parts of his upcoming Inheritance filmed on iPhone. It’s a reminder that pros are mixing mobile into traditional productions.
Takeaway: Hybrid workflows are the future.
12. Jessica Henwick – Bus Girl (2021)
The Glass Onion star made her directorial debut with this Xiaomi M1 11-shot short. It was so good, it made the BAFTA longlist.
Takeaway: Your first film doesn’t need big cameras to get big recognition.
13. Antonio Campos – Homemade: Annex (2020)
As part of Netflix’s lockdown anthology Homemade, Campos embraced iPhone storytelling. The constraints of quarantine became an aesthetic, not a limitation.
Takeaway: Resourcefulness is a filmmaker’s best friend.
14. Michel Gondry – Detour (2017)
The Eternal Sunshine director turned a family road trip into a whimsical iPhone short. With Gondry’s playful style, it felt every bit as imaginative as his studio work.
Takeaway: Whimsy needs ideas, not rigs.
Final Cut
So what’s the lesson here? If Soderbergh, Spielberg, and Park Chan-wook can all grab an iPhone and shoot something powerful, there’s really nothing stopping you. Whether it’s a short, a music video, or even a feature, the best camera is still the one you have with you.
Maybe your masterpiece is already in your pocket.
And it can be screened here at the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival