A recursive filter system and method is provided. A weighted value of luminance and chrominance of a stored picture element is generated by summing weighted values of luminance and chrominance of a picture element and neighboring picture elements. A first proportional parameter for the stored picture element is generated with a sum of differences between the luminance and chrominance of the stored picture element and surrounding picture elements. A weighted picture element is generated from a proportion of the stored picture element and a complimentary proportion of the weighted value. Picture elements of the next image and a second proportional parameter are inputted. A filtered image is generated by combining a proportion of each input picture element of the next image with a complementary proportion of the weighted stored picture element of the first image. The filtered image is stored for corresponding combination with a succeeding image.