Savides was the cinematographer for a total of six films directed by Gus Van Sant: "Gerry", "Elephant", "Last Days", "Milk", "Finding Forrester", and "Restless". Savides also shot two films for David Fincher: "The Game" and the mostly digital "Zodiac", and the footage that was used in the opening title sequence of Fincher's "Seven". With Noah Baumbach Savides was director of photography on "Greenberg" and "Margot at the Wedding", and under Martin Scorsese, the short film "The Key to Reserva" and with Wong Kar Wai, "The Follow," another short film. He was also the director of photography for Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" and Woody Allen's "Whatever Works". He was additionally the director of photography on a film directed by John Turturro, "Illuminata".