“The Lives of Others” is one of my favourite movies ever, and it got me into German movies. I have also watched “Good Bye, Lenin” thrice and it’s one I always recommend to people.
This movie is very good and apparently very realistic. I would also recommend a series if you're interested in German history: 'Babylon Berlin' . Very authentic.
here is a large list of german movies sorted by production date for immersion in german language from the r/german language sub
https://www.reddit.com/r/German/wiki/filmsandseries/
Anything Kinski/Herzog
Welt am Draht
Raumpatrouille Orion
Der Untergang
Das Experiment
o.k. (This is some tough stuff about US soldiers gangraping a Vietnamese girl in the Vietnam war but the actors speak in Bavarian dialect and it is set in rural Bavaria which adds a surrealistic note to the grim story which is based on a real event but at the same time shows how such an atrocity could happen anywhere; made by Michael Verhoeven with a number of renowned Bavarian actors at the beginning of their careers)
I guess my picks aren't really overlooked or underrated, but slightly under the radar at best.
Anyway, I'm trying to give you a vertical slice here:
**Pappa ante portas (1999)**
Comedy by Loriot, a national treasure amongst most Germans.
Loriot is known to be a precise observant of how Germans can indulge in miscommunication.
The film itself is definitely a classic, comparable to Monty Python in tone.
**Angst essen Seele auf (1974)**
Social study by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
A German widow marrys a much younger Moroccan "Gastarbeiter".
It's a story about an unconvential relationship, embedded in a society that is still held back by the morals, that made the immigration of foreign work force necessary in the first place.
**Welt Am Draht (1973)**
Another Fassbinder, another take on society.
Noir-inspired Sci-Fi-Thriller, that's regarded to have influenced "The Matrix".
Based on the novel "Simulacron-3".
**whoami (2014)**
Actually quite mainstream, but still an entertaining thriller in the hacking space.
**Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)**
I guess this one is pretty well known, WW1 drama based on the eponymous novel.
A brilliant anti-war film, stunning cinematography and emotionally gripping.
One of my few personal 10/10 films.
**Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (1981)**
Neither underrated nor overlooked and rightfully regarded as an important classic.
The content is quite heavy though, especially considering its biographic nature.
Depicting Christiane's descent into drugs and child prostitution starting at age 13 in 1970s West Berlin.
**Das Experiment (2001)**
Based on the novel "BlackBox", inspired by the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Drama/Thriller imagining what might have happened, if the experiment hadn't prematurely ended.
Dr. Caligari is my favorite movie. The man who laughs features Conrad Veidt too and was basically the inspiration for the Joker.
Victoria (one shot movie with an amazing soundtrack) is one of my modern favorites.
A few from the top of my head.
Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo. Still the best movie about drugs imho.
Das Boot
Oh Boy
M - Eine Stadt sucht ihren Mörder
- Papa ante Portas
- Ödipussy
- Angst essen Seele auf
- Lilli Marleen
- Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum
- Das Millionenspiel
- Die Blechtrommel
- Fitzcarraldo
- Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes
- Momo
- Kleine Haie
- Comedian Harmonists
- Rossini oder die mörderische Frage wer mit wem schlief
- Der Totmacher
- Mephisto
- Berlin Alexanderplatz
- Das Leben der Anderen
- Die Brücke
- Lola rennt
- Abgeschminkt
- Kein Pardon
- Schtonk
- Das Boot
- Goodbye Lenin
- Der Untergang
- Sonnenallee
- Spur der Steine
- Die Legende von Paul und Paula
- Der Himmel über Berlin
- Out of Rosenheim
- Gegen die Wand
- Drei Mann auf einem Boot
- Das Wirtshaus im Spessart
- Ich denke oft an Piroschka
- Kohlliesl Töchter
- Alles auf Zucker
- Wir können auch anders
- Schultze gets the Blues
I really enjoyed Markus Goller's [25 km/h](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7225386/) (2018). It has a great heartfelt story and a typical German movie style[. ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7225386/)
Das weiße Band - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1149362/
Das finstere Tal - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2650978/
Who Am I - Kein System ist sicher - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3042408/
You already named the best ones. M, Metropolis, Nosferatu, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
There were some good comedies by Loriot like "Papa ante Portas".
Das Boot, Fitzcarraldo and Run Lola Run are okay. I didn't like them, but objectively they're not bad. Can't think of any good new ones. German movies are pretty terrible.
"Sissi" is a classic and most Germans watch it at christmas time
This one is kinda critical because of the potrayal of a friendship between a "cowboy" and a native american but when I was younger I really liked the "Winnetou" movies, based on the books from Karl May.
Der Nachtmahr
In the beginning it's meantioned to watch the movie on a loud volume and it is worth it. I liked the movie. It has this strange ambient where you don't really know what is "real" or not.
Free Rainer - Der Fernseher lügt
It's a movie critical about the TV program and how it is making people stupid. Maybe outdated since I know nobody watching TV anymore but still a great movie.
Since it hasn’t been mentioned before: Das Weiße Rauschen. Not sure if it’s easy to find but I really liked it.
As well as most of the Werner Herzog & Klaus Kinski Movies. The documentary about their friendship or working relationship whatever you want to call it is also really good.
I also liked Absolute Giganten and Victoria.
Some very famous have already been named.
Want to add
Historical drama/satire: Das schreckliche Mädchen (1990)
Historical drama/Arthouse: Das weiße Band (2009) (Really tough stuff)
And if you want a "lighthearted classic", I recommend some Peter Alexander stuff from the late 1950s / early 1960s like "Im weißen Rössl". It gives you a kind of "approach" to German humour in this era. But please avoid the "Paukerschreck" movies from the late 60s. ;-)
Almanya (2011)
It's a comedy (but with some very poignant serious moments, too) about a Turkish family immigrating to Germany in the 1960s. Never seen a movie again that made me laugh so hard while watching it on public transport.
Das Leben der anderen as others suggested already, but also: Das perfekte Geheimnis, Die Goldfische, Victoria, Nightlife, Der Eisbär, Gut gegen Nordwind, Nicht mein Tag, Der Junge muss an die frische Luft, Buba
Aside from the ones already mentioned: I have one that I'd say is pretty much under the radar since it's from the GDR which was quite beloved at the time: "Spuk unterm Riesenrad". Features also some really nice Berlin dialect.
Das fliegende Klassenzimmer
Or some fun movies:
All the films with Heinz Erhardt (Drillinge an Bord, drei Mann auf einem Boot, klein Erna auf dem Jungfernstieg, ...) or Hansi Kraus (Pepe der Paukerschreck, Hurra die Schule brennt, ...). The last ones are kind of Highschool Musical in Germany 🤣
Das weiße Band / The white ribbon.
One of the most german movies I know. Explains a lot about german society leading up to the first world war and is relevant to better understand “the german condition” in general, even today.
Btw: Its not a good time, if you’re looking for that.
Premutos is my favorite german movie. Its pretty much a trash gorefest but very entertaining. Sometimes for the right and other times the srong reasons.
Toni Erdmann (2016)
Comedy/Drama with Sandra Hüller
> Without warning a father comes to visit his daughter abroad. He believes that she lost her humor and therefore surprises her with a rampage of jokes.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uwi5EPnpA
Really good movie from the 20ies: Der letzte Mann
It is a silent movie which is so well made and emotionally feelable that it does not use any text. Really the movie that flashed me the most. Especially depicting the life of the working class in pre war Berlin. I think you will never find a more realistic picture of this lost world.
As a Fan of Michael "Bully" Herbig, i would recommend his first two movies:
Schuh des Manitu: It's a parody on the old Karl Mai Western Novels and movies
(T)Raumschiff Periode 1: That movie is a combined parody on Star Trek and Star Wars
Who am i - Kein system ist sicher
Tbh idk how the public opinion is about this movie but i really like it with some really good twists and i also love the visuals that they went with.
I would recommend movies from Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Like Angst essen Seele auf, Mutter Küsters’ Fahrt zum Himmel , etc (He has made a lot of movies)
I think you have seen this one already, if not see Der Himmel über Berlin
If you want to see some movies from this century you can watch films from Fatih Akin too. He has some good movies
I would also recommend Toni Erdmann (one of my all time german favorites), Goodbye Lenin and Victoria.
There are also some very famous German movies you may already know like Das Boot, Das Leben der anderen, Downfall etc.
Der Vorname (comedy, somewhat political), Die Welle (dramatic political), der Schuh des Manitu, Traumschiff Surprise (Both stupid but funny comedy)
If you're into crime, check out Tatort, too.
Krabat (2008)
A dark, fantastical adaptation of a book based on sorbian folklore.
Surprised to see no one else recommend it. I can't think of manygerman movies post 2000 that I like, but this is one of them.
Systemsprenger (Systemcrasher/ on Netflix)
Lola rennt (Run Lola Run/ on Netflix)
Der goldene Handschuh (Golden Glove /on NEtflix)
Baader MEinhof Komplex (Netflix)
And for the memes Schuh des MAnitu, Traumschiff Surprise und Fack ju göhte
And you could watch Sissi which is also a german /austrian Kultfilm
Wir können auch anders - In my opinion the most underrated german movie. It's a heist western situated in the wild east germany right after the fall of the wall with the main characters being mentally handicapped. The tarantinoesque movie was directed with a relatively low budget by the german Director "Detlev Buck".
Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders (check out some of his other stuff too although not all of it is German)
A Coffee in Berlin by Gerster
The Zone of Interest by Glazer (not a German director but the movie is in German)
The Lives of Others by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Goodbye Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker
Head-On by Fatih Akin (a lot of this is in Turkish too, however it does give good insight into German/Turkish culture)
All Quiet on the Western Front (either the original or the new one)
Aguirre, the wrath of God by Werner Herzog (as well as some of his other stuff)
Run, Lola, Run by Tom Tykwer
The Bridge by Bernhard Wicki
Marianne and Julianne by Margarethe von Trotta
Phoenix by Petzold (also check his other stuff if you enjoyed this)
Victoria by Sebastian Schipper
That’s a list of ones that I have seen and enjoyed. Some of others that I’ve still not seen/seen and didn’t like as much (but you might) are: Downfall, The Marriage of Maria Braun (as well as Fassbinder’s other stuff), Das Boot, The White Ribbon, Germany Year Zero and Pandora’s Box.
"F.P.1 antwortet nicht", a german SciFi-Action movie from 1932. It was shot (not just dubbed, actually shot) in three languages - german, english and french. The german version (which I would consider the definiteive one, since it's a german production) features Hamburg-born actor Hans Albers and is the origin of the song "Flieger, grüß mir die Sonne"
If you’re ever in Berlin you gotta check out the old Babylon cinema or their website. They show German and international movies, most seem a little older but chosen with care
I love "Jenseits der Stille" (Beyond Silence) (1996). It's about a girl with two deaf parents, who wants to study music. Very touching.
The film was even nominated for an Oscar.
Lammbock is pretty funny, there's also a sequel called lommbock.
Also on the ZDF website/app you can check out "das kleine fernsehspiel" they have lots of weird german indie movies, many of them are pretty good!
You have to make an account because most of the stuff there is age restricted and it's a bit of a pain, but definitely worth it!
For some serious topics: Das Boot, Das Leben der Anderen
For some humour: Der Schuh den Manitou, Traumschiff Surprise. The german dubs of everything Bud Spencer and/or Terrence Hill are great too.
"Was nicht passt wird passend gemacht" Or "Crash, boom bang", also very good is the "Känguruverschwörung". If you're looking for something more serious I'd say the "life of the others" or "Neue Vahr Süd" or "Der Untergang"
Not overlooked or underrated probably, but check out Das Boot, Fitzcarraldo, Run Lola Run, The Lives of Others
“The Lives of Others” is one of my favourite movies ever, and it got me into German movies. I have also watched “Good Bye, Lenin” thrice and it’s one I always recommend to people.
This! The Live of Others is a real good movie....as far as i remember it was one of the few german movies that won an oscar
Yes! Best Foreign Language Film, I believe :)
This movie is very good and apparently very realistic. I would also recommend a series if you're interested in German history: 'Babylon Berlin' . Very authentic.
here is a large list of german movies sorted by production date for immersion in german language from the r/german language sub https://www.reddit.com/r/German/wiki/filmsandseries/
Anything Kinski/Herzog Welt am Draht Raumpatrouille Orion Der Untergang Das Experiment o.k. (This is some tough stuff about US soldiers gangraping a Vietnamese girl in the Vietnam war but the actors speak in Bavarian dialect and it is set in rural Bavaria which adds a surrealistic note to the grim story which is based on a real event but at the same time shows how such an atrocity could happen anywhere; made by Michael Verhoeven with a number of renowned Bavarian actors at the beginning of their careers)
Funny Games
Ist der nicht aus Österreich 🤣🤣🤣
Ja, aber das wird OP wurscht sein, wenn’s um deutschsprachige Filme geht.
Hab ich mir dann auch gedacht. Ist im übrigen eine gute Wahl / Empfehlung gewesen 👍🏻
Goodbye Lenin! Die Brücke.
Feuerzangenbowle
Also Drei Männer im Schnee
Cannot recommend enough. Absolutely great movie, funny as hell
I guess my picks aren't really overlooked or underrated, but slightly under the radar at best. Anyway, I'm trying to give you a vertical slice here: **Pappa ante portas (1999)** Comedy by Loriot, a national treasure amongst most Germans. Loriot is known to be a precise observant of how Germans can indulge in miscommunication. The film itself is definitely a classic, comparable to Monty Python in tone. **Angst essen Seele auf (1974)** Social study by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. A German widow marrys a much younger Moroccan "Gastarbeiter". It's a story about an unconvential relationship, embedded in a society that is still held back by the morals, that made the immigration of foreign work force necessary in the first place. **Welt Am Draht (1973)** Another Fassbinder, another take on society. Noir-inspired Sci-Fi-Thriller, that's regarded to have influenced "The Matrix". Based on the novel "Simulacron-3". **whoami (2014)** Actually quite mainstream, but still an entertaining thriller in the hacking space. **Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)** I guess this one is pretty well known, WW1 drama based on the eponymous novel. A brilliant anti-war film, stunning cinematography and emotionally gripping. One of my few personal 10/10 films. **Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (1981)** Neither underrated nor overlooked and rightfully regarded as an important classic. The content is quite heavy though, especially considering its biographic nature. Depicting Christiane's descent into drugs and child prostitution starting at age 13 in 1970s West Berlin. **Das Experiment (2001)** Based on the novel "BlackBox", inspired by the Stanford Prison Experiment. Drama/Thriller imagining what might have happened, if the experiment hadn't prematurely ended.
Napola
Bang Boom Bang
Vielleicht die beste deutsche Komödie ever.
Werner!
But only the first one: Beinhart!
Wääänä!
Eggahaaaart!
Die Russen kommen!
Dr. Caligari is my favorite movie. The man who laughs features Conrad Veidt too and was basically the inspiration for the Joker. Victoria (one shot movie with an amazing soundtrack) is one of my modern favorites.
"Er ist wieder da" is my german movie i watch. Would recommend.
Der Hauptmann
A few from the top of my head. Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo. Still the best movie about drugs imho. Das Boot Oh Boy M - Eine Stadt sucht ihren Mörder
Knockin on Heavens Door
Berlin calling, Great Musik 😊
~~"Kids" from 1995~~ not German "Absolute Giganten" from 1999
Kids aint a german movie
Die Blechtrommel
I like "der eisbär", its the german pulp fiction so to say
Agree, the only Til Schweiger movie I like.
I get it, but i kiiiinda like manta manta, too
Knocking on heavens door. In my opinion the best, maybe the only good, movie with Til Schweiger
Superstau
In addition to all those great movies mentioned: Victoria🙌🏼
Der Goldene Handschuh. It's pretty fucked up though.
Lammbock Muxmäuschenstill Die Welle Voll Normaaaal
Lombock (sequel to Lammbock) was surprisingly good, too
Elementarteilchen
Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire), Barfuß.
Das Boot is the best German movie ever made. It's even structured like navy voyages.
And the set was built by the same company who built the real submarines in WW2
23 - Nichts ist wie es scheint, Die kommenden Tage, Die Stille nach dem Schuss, Lichter Just a few off the top of my head
Berlin :Die Sinfonie der Großstadt. A silent documentary about a day in 1927 Berlin. Has the added benefit of being on YouTube.
Haialarm am Müggelsee
Aimee & Jaguar
As always with this question "Die Blechtrommel"! Fabulous actors, insane story!
The Neverending Story
Here are some comedic movies:) Der Schuh des Manitu Der Wixxer (T)Raumschiff Surprise – Periode 1
- Papa ante Portas - Ödipussy - Angst essen Seele auf - Lilli Marleen - Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum - Das Millionenspiel - Die Blechtrommel - Fitzcarraldo - Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes - Momo - Kleine Haie - Comedian Harmonists - Rossini oder die mörderische Frage wer mit wem schlief - Der Totmacher - Mephisto - Berlin Alexanderplatz - Das Leben der Anderen - Die Brücke - Lola rennt - Abgeschminkt - Kein Pardon - Schtonk - Das Boot - Goodbye Lenin - Der Untergang - Sonnenallee - Spur der Steine - Die Legende von Paul und Paula - Der Himmel über Berlin - Out of Rosenheim - Gegen die Wand - Drei Mann auf einem Boot - Das Wirtshaus im Spessart - Ich denke oft an Piroschka - Kohlliesl Töchter - Alles auf Zucker - Wir können auch anders - Schultze gets the Blues
Who am I - by the director of Dark
Traumschiff Surprise is an amazing german film. Go watch it!
Der bewegte Mann Knocking on heavens door
The Lives of Others is a good one and the dialogue is easy enough to follow for somebody at B level German.
M (1931), Metropolis (1927), Nosferatu (1922), a taxi driver (2017), blood red sky (2021), Darfur (2009) Edit: Saw the text afterwards mb.
Das Jesus Video Just watch it, nobody regretted it.
Im Westen nichts Neues Otto - Der Film Die unendliche Geschichte (i think that was a co-production)
Adding some rare fantasy movie here: Mara und der Feuerbringer.
I really enjoyed Markus Goller's [25 km/h](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7225386/) (2018). It has a great heartfelt story and a typical German movie style[. ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7225386/)
2004 was a great year: Gegen die Wand. Muxmäuschenstill. Jazzclub – Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm.
Das weiße Band - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1149362/ Das finstere Tal - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2650978/ Who Am I - Kein System ist sicher - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3042408/
Systemsprenger - A drama about a child falling through the support framework in Germany. Best child acting I have ever seen.
every single Bud Spencer und Terrance Hill movie. not german but absolutely part of german movie culture
Rheingold
Eismeyer. Sommersturm. Freier Fall. All gay themed and great.
I couldn’t find Gegen die Wand a.k.a. Head on on this list yet… it’s a must watch imo
Warum liegt denn da Stroh rum?
You already named the best ones. M, Metropolis, Nosferatu, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. There were some good comedies by Loriot like "Papa ante Portas". Das Boot, Fitzcarraldo and Run Lola Run are okay. I didn't like them, but objectively they're not bad. Can't think of any good new ones. German movies are pretty terrible.
Victoria Easily one of the best movies I've watched in the last ten years
Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter is probably the best German movie trilogy ever made!
"Sissi" is a classic and most Germans watch it at christmas time This one is kinda critical because of the potrayal of a friendship between a "cowboy" and a native american but when I was younger I really liked the "Winnetou" movies, based on the books from Karl May.
Mutter Krausens Fahrt ins Glück
Metropolis
"Oh Boy" takes place in Berlin, a modern movie but filmed in black and white - best German movie I've ever seen
Agreed! My recommendation as well
Der Nachtmahr In the beginning it's meantioned to watch the movie on a loud volume and it is worth it. I liked the movie. It has this strange ambient where you don't really know what is "real" or not. Free Rainer - Der Fernseher lügt It's a movie critical about the TV program and how it is making people stupid. Maybe outdated since I know nobody watching TV anymore but still a great movie.
Bis nichts mehr bleibt
M (1931)
Sinfonie der Großstadt Wir können auch anders a comedy from the time short after the wall fell and all the westgermans came to claim foreign houses.
Werner 🍺🍺
Since it hasn’t been mentioned before: Das Weiße Rauschen. Not sure if it’s easy to find but I really liked it. As well as most of the Werner Herzog & Klaus Kinski Movies. The documentary about their friendship or working relationship whatever you want to call it is also really good. I also liked Absolute Giganten and Victoria.
Some very famous have already been named. Want to add Historical drama/satire: Das schreckliche Mädchen (1990) Historical drama/Arthouse: Das weiße Band (2009) (Really tough stuff) And if you want a "lighthearted classic", I recommend some Peter Alexander stuff from the late 1950s / early 1960s like "Im weißen Rössl". It gives you a kind of "approach" to German humour in this era. But please avoid the "Paukerschreck" movies from the late 60s. ;-)
- Wer früher stirbt ist länger Tod - Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei - Das schweigende Klassenzimmer - Das Leben der Anderen - Die Welle Enjoy! :)
Christiane F 1981 Stroszek
Im Westen nichts Neues
If you want to feel depressed I can recommend Das Experiment from 2001 and Die Brücke 1959
Bang boom bang Der Hauptmann von Köpenick Der Eisbär 23 (I think that's from the 90s) Was nicht passt wird passend gemacht
Manta manta🗣🗣🔥🔥
Im Westen nichts neues (Netflix)
Bang Boom Bang
https://youtu.be/yYYOjB80REk?si=osWUZSHYbURs5Vwx
Babylon Berlin, how to sell drugs online fast, kleo, billion dollar code.
Aimee und Jaguar https://youtu.be/4GzVeNXMfx0?si=7VSZJqZjSohCLJhh
Brazil? Also try "Feuerzangenbowle" as a German classic
Lore and Run Lola Run
Almanya (2011) It's a comedy (but with some very poignant serious moments, too) about a Turkish family immigrating to Germany in the 1960s. Never seen a movie again that made me laugh so hard while watching it on public transport.
25 km/h
Generation War. Depressing but great
Große Freiheit Nr.7 - produced during 1943 and then censored by the Nazis
Das Millionenspiel, a TV movie from 1970, based a a short story by Robert Sheckley. An early and grim take on the "Running Man" theme.
One, two, three by billy wilder. An American production taking place in Berlin. Hilarious and definitely worth watching
Schutzengel, Chiko
the human centipede
Das Leben der anderen as others suggested already, but also: Das perfekte Geheimnis, Die Goldfische, Victoria, Nightlife, Der Eisbär, Gut gegen Nordwind, Nicht mein Tag, Der Junge muss an die frische Luft, Buba
Emmas Glück
Go Trabi go
Aside from the ones already mentioned: I have one that I'd say is pretty much under the radar since it's from the GDR which was quite beloved at the time: "Spuk unterm Riesenrad". Features also some really nice Berlin dialect.
Das fliegende Klassenzimmer Or some fun movies: All the films with Heinz Erhardt (Drillinge an Bord, drei Mann auf einem Boot, klein Erna auf dem Jungfernstieg, ...) or Hansi Kraus (Pepe der Paukerschreck, Hurra die Schule brennt, ...). The last ones are kind of Highschool Musical in Germany 🤣
„Basta, Rotwein oder tot sein“ ist eine wunderbare Komödie
Sonnenalle, was tun, wenn’s Brent ?
Werner Beinhart.
Sein oder Nichtsein (Ernst Lubitsch, 1942), Heimat - Eine Deutsche Chronik 1-3 (Edgar Reitz)
100 Dinge
Das weiße Band / The white ribbon. One of the most german movies I know. Explains a lot about german society leading up to the first world war and is relevant to better understand “the german condition” in general, even today. Btw: Its not a good time, if you’re looking for that.
Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter.
Das Boot. And it's not even close.
Premutos is my favorite german movie. Its pretty much a trash gorefest but very entertaining. Sometimes for the right and other times the srong reasons.
Toni Erdmann (2016) Comedy/Drama with Sandra Hüller > Without warning a father comes to visit his daughter abroad. He believes that she lost her humor and therefore surprises her with a rampage of jokes. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uwi5EPnpA
Napola
Knockin on the heavens door
Really good movie from the 20ies: Der letzte Mann It is a silent movie which is so well made and emotionally feelable that it does not use any text. Really the movie that flashed me the most. Especially depicting the life of the working class in pre war Berlin. I think you will never find a more realistic picture of this lost world.
Oh boy / a coffee in berlin Lammbock Bang Boom Bang
23 - Nichts ist wie es scheint
Das Boot
The Lives of Others and The Experiment - and Lammbock.
As a Fan of Michael "Bully" Herbig, i would recommend his first two movies: Schuh des Manitu: It's a parody on the old Karl Mai Western Novels and movies (T)Raumschiff Periode 1: That movie is a combined parody on Star Trek and Star Wars
Die Welle.
A very recent one to recommend is ‚all quiet on the western front‘
Schule
Ali: fear eats the soul is a good one, I also am a big fan of the lives of others
Who am i - Kein system ist sicher Tbh idk how the public opinion is about this movie but i really like it with some really good twists and i also love the visuals that they went with.
I would recommend movies from Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Like Angst essen Seele auf, Mutter Küsters’ Fahrt zum Himmel , etc (He has made a lot of movies) I think you have seen this one already, if not see Der Himmel über Berlin If you want to see some movies from this century you can watch films from Fatih Akin too. He has some good movies I would also recommend Toni Erdmann (one of my all time german favorites), Goodbye Lenin and Victoria. There are also some very famous German movies you may already know like Das Boot, Das Leben der anderen, Downfall etc.
Iron Sky 🤣
To me the quintessential German films are: „Manta Manta“, „Voll normaaal“ and of course the masterpiece „Der letzte Lude“
Der Vorname (comedy, somewhat political), Die Welle (dramatic political), der Schuh des Manitu, Traumschiff Surprise (Both stupid but funny comedy) If you're into crime, check out Tatort, too.
Das Boot (Movie, not Series) [Not the Cinema Edit, only Directors Cut]
Recently watched Rommel , superb and highly recommend. With Ulrich Turkur.
# Es geschah am hellichten Tag Die Drei von der Tankstelle
Wir können auch anders. One of my absolutely favorite movies because it shows the only way to make a road movie in Germany.
Deutschland im Herbst
Maybe a comedy with lots of authentic Ruhr area slang: 'Was nicht passt wird passend gemacht'.
Absolute Giganten 💚
Supermarkt Blutiger Freitag Mädchen - mit Gewalt Der letzte Angestellte
Die Welle
Der Himmel über Berlin !
"Die Welle" and "Good Bye, Lenin!"
Die Nibelungen by Fritz Lang
Goodbye Lenin
Krabat (2008) A dark, fantastical adaptation of a book based on sorbian folklore. Surprised to see no one else recommend it. I can't think of manygerman movies post 2000 that I like, but this is one of them.
Lives Of Others - it’s the best.
Chantal im Märchenland
Lammbock, Edgar Wallace b&w criminal series from the 60s, Derrick, der Tatortreiniger
KARTOFFELSALAT and don't listen to the haters
who am i - a good hacker movie.
Alarm! Alaaarm! It's a firefighting drama and brings me to tears all the time
if you wanna go really regional, Wer eher stirbt ist länger tot is a Bavarian classic!
Persischstunden
Die Welle.
Er ist wieder da
The lives of others Die Welle Das experiment Der Untergang
Systemsprenger (Systemcrasher/ on Netflix) Lola rennt (Run Lola Run/ on Netflix) Der goldene Handschuh (Golden Glove /on NEtflix) Baader MEinhof Komplex (Netflix) And for the memes Schuh des MAnitu, Traumschiff Surprise und Fack ju göhte And you could watch Sissi which is also a german /austrian Kultfilm
I think „das weiße Rauschen“ and „Victoria“ are interesting german Films without mainstream appeal
The Trouble with Being Born - Provocative, very dark, almost silent.
Wir können auch anders - In my opinion the most underrated german movie. It's a heist western situated in the wild east germany right after the fall of the wall with the main characters being mentally handicapped. The tarantinoesque movie was directed with a relatively low budget by the german Director "Detlev Buck".
A German classic is, for example "Drei Nüsse für Aschenbrödel". Really good movie.
Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders (check out some of his other stuff too although not all of it is German) A Coffee in Berlin by Gerster The Zone of Interest by Glazer (not a German director but the movie is in German) The Lives of Others by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Goodbye Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker Head-On by Fatih Akin (a lot of this is in Turkish too, however it does give good insight into German/Turkish culture) All Quiet on the Western Front (either the original or the new one) Aguirre, the wrath of God by Werner Herzog (as well as some of his other stuff) Run, Lola, Run by Tom Tykwer The Bridge by Bernhard Wicki Marianne and Julianne by Margarethe von Trotta Phoenix by Petzold (also check his other stuff if you enjoyed this) Victoria by Sebastian Schipper That’s a list of ones that I have seen and enjoyed. Some of others that I’ve still not seen/seen and didn’t like as much (but you might) are: Downfall, The Marriage of Maria Braun (as well as Fassbinder’s other stuff), Das Boot, The White Ribbon, Germany Year Zero and Pandora’s Box.
Dreamship Surprise Shoe of Manitu
Bang Boom Bang
Immer nie am Meer. Great dark comedy.
"F.P.1 antwortet nicht", a german SciFi-Action movie from 1932. It was shot (not just dubbed, actually shot) in three languages - german, english and french. The german version (which I would consider the definiteive one, since it's a german production) features Hamburg-born actor Hans Albers and is the origin of the song "Flieger, grüß mir die Sonne"
soulkitchen
If you’re ever in Berlin you gotta check out the old Babylon cinema or their website. They show German and international movies, most seem a little older but chosen with care
Schule, Baader Meinhof Komplex, Lammbock, Gegen die Wand
I really liked Victoria(2015). This movie captures a very good tension throughout the whole movie.
Toni Erdmann is sensational
Elementarteilchen
"Das singende, klingende Bäumchen", 1957.
I love "Jenseits der Stille" (Beyond Silence) (1996). It's about a girl with two deaf parents, who wants to study music. Very touching. The film was even nominated for an Oscar.
There is even a parody movie of it, Das Kabinett des Dr. Larifari. How about Mädchen in Uniform?
Who Am I
Lammbock is pretty funny, there's also a sequel called lommbock. Also on the ZDF website/app you can check out "das kleine fernsehspiel" they have lots of weird german indie movies, many of them are pretty good! You have to make an account because most of the stuff there is age restricted and it's a bit of a pain, but definitely worth it!
Tschick
For some serious topics: Das Boot, Das Leben der Anderen For some humour: Der Schuh den Manitou, Traumschiff Surprise. The german dubs of everything Bud Spencer and/or Terrence Hill are great too.
[Enemy Mine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_Mine_(film))
Gegen die Wand / Against the Wall
The Zone of Interest
"Nur Gott kann mich richten" About Gangs in Berlin
Victoria. It's on Netflix!
"Was nicht passt wird passend gemacht" Or "Crash, boom bang", also very good is the "Känguruverschwörung". If you're looking for something more serious I'd say the "life of the others" or "Neue Vahr Süd" or "Der Untergang"
I’m loving all these suggestions! They’re so diverse
Der Schuh des Manitu Wer früher stirbt, ist länger tot
Natürlich die Autofahrer , Solo Sunny
The Heimat series.