Most Popular Movies of Germany

Germany's Film Industry dates back to the late 19th century, making notable contributions to early film, radio, and television technologies. Babelsberg, akin to Hollywood later on, gained prominence in the European Cinema Industry of the early 20th century.

Over the 20th and 21st centuries, Germany's Cinematic Identity underwent significant changes, leading to the classification of national film into distinct periods and trends.

The roots of German Cinema can be traced to the late 1800s, with pioneers like Max Skladanowsky and Oskar Messter experimenting with motion pictures. However, it was the 1920s that marked a pivotal moment for German cinema on the global stage. This era, known as "Weimar Cinema," blended expressionism and realism, producing timeless classics like Nosferatu, Metropolis, and Pandora's Box by directors such as F.W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, and G.W. Pabst, establishing a golden era of filmmaking.

 

The Golden Age of German Cinema

The Weimar Cinema era came to an abrupt end with the rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s. The government's strict control over the film industry led to the exile of many talented filmmakers and actors. Nonetheless, this period produced some remarkable films, such as Leni Riefenstahl's controversial Triumph of the Will. After World War II, Germany was divided, leading to the emergence of two distinct cinematic identities in East and West Germany.

East German Cinema

In East Germany, socialist realism influenced the film industry. Filmmakers like Konrad Wolf and Frank Beyer created works that reflected the ideals of the East German state. The 1956 film The Story of a Young Couple and the 1968 classic The Trace of Stones remain iconic pieces of East German cinema.

 

West German Cinema

Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire is the examples of the innovative and influential works that emerged from this era.

 

New German Cinema

The late 1960s and 1970s saw the birth of the New German Cinema movement. Filmmakers like Werner Herzog, Volker Schlöndorff, and Margarethe von Trotta explored themes of post-war trauma, identity, and social change. Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Schlöndorff's The Tin Drum were ground-breaking films that captured the essence of this era.

 

Modern German Cinema

German cinema continued to evolve into the 21st century, with a new generation of filmmakers making their mark on the global stage. Directors like Tom Tykwer, who helmed the internationally acclaimed Run Lola Run, and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, known for The Lives of Others, have gained recognition for their unique storytelling and visual styles.
German cinema has also embraced a variety of genres, from the critically acclaimed Toni Erdmann to the box office hit Good Bye Lenin These films showcase the industry's diversity and appeal to a wide range of audiences.

Top 20 Highest Grossing Movies of Germany:

• Downfall:  Downfall is a 2004 historical war Drama film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel from a screenplay by its producer, Bernd Eichinger. It is set during the Battle of Berlin in World War II, when Nazi Germany is on the verge of defeat, and depicts the final days of Adolf Hitler (portrayed by Bruno Ganz).

• Das Boot: Das Boot is a 1981 West German War film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, It has been exhibited both as a theatrical release (1981) and a TV miniseries (1985). Also, several different home video versions, as well as a director's cut (1997) supervised by Petersen, have been released.

• Nosferatu: Nosferatu a Symphony of Horror is a 1922 silent German Expressionist horror film directed by F. W. Murnau. The story is about a vampire who preys on the wife of his estate agent and brings the plague to their town.

• Fitzcarraldo: Fitzcarraldo is a 1982 West German epic adventure-drama film written, produced, and directed by Werner Herzog, who is determined to transport a steamship over a steep hill to access a rich rubber territory in the Amazon basin.

• The Captain: The Captain is a 2017 international co-produced historical drama film written and directed by Robert Schwentke. It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It tells the story of German war criminal Willi Herold, who assumed a stolen identity as a German officer and orchestrated the killing of deserters and other prisoners at one of the Emslandlager camps.

• The White Ribbon: The White Ribbon is a 2009 German-language mystery drama film, written and directed by Michael Haneke. Released in black-and-white, the film offers a dark depiction of society and family in a northern German village just before World War I.

• Wings of Desire: is a 1987 romantic fantasy film directed by Wim Wenders. The film is about invisible, immortal angels who populate Berlin and listen to the thoughts of its human inhabitants, comforting the distressed. Even though the city is densely populated, many of the people are isolated or estranged from their loved ones.

• Land of Mine: Land of Mine is a 2015 historical war drama film directed by Martin Zandvliet. It was shown in the Platform section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. It was selected and nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards.

• Who Am I: It is a 2014 German techno-thriller film directed by Baran bo Odar. It is centred on a computer hacker group in Berlin geared towards global fame. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

• The Wave: The Wave is a 2008 German socio-political thriller film directed by Dennis Gansel and starring Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Jennifer Ulrich and Max Riemelt in the leads. It is based on Ron Jones' social experiment The Third Wave and Todd Strasser's novel The Wave.

• Never Look Away: Never Look Away is a 2018 German epic coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It was nominated for a Golden Lion at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.

• Aguirre, the Wrath of God: Aguirre, the Wrath of God German Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes; is a 1972 epic historical drama film produced, written and directed by Werner Herzog. The title role of Spanish soldier Lope de Aguirre, who leads a group of conquistadores down the Amazon River in South America in search of the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. The accompanying soundtrack was composed and performed by kosmische band Popol Vuh. The film is an international co-production between West Germany and Mexico.

• Grave Decisions: Directed by Marcus H. Rosenmüller, the film is about an 11-year-old Bavarian boy (Sebastian Schneider) who feels responsible for his mother's death, who died during his birth, and naively attempts multiple ways to reach immortality (procreation, reincarnation, sanctification, rockstardom) to prevent his tenure in hell.

• The Marriage of Maria Braun: The Marriage of Maria Braun is a 1978 West German drama film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The film stars Hanna Schygulla as Maria, whose marriage to the soldier Hermann remains unfulfilled due to World War II and his post-war imprisonment. Maria adapts to the realities of post-war Germany and becomes the wealthy mistress of an industrialist, all the while staying true to her love for Hermann.

• Bang Boom Bang: Directed by Peter Thorwarth Bang Boom Bang – A Sure Thing is a German comedy film from 1999. The movie is set in Unna, Westphalia. It was filmed in Unna as well as in Dortmund.

• Four Minutes: Four Minutes, is a 2006 German existentialist drama film directed by Chris Kraus starring Hannah Herzsprung, as a disturbed piano-playing genius imprisoned for murder and Monica Bleibtreu, as her 80-year-old piano teacher, with Richy Müller and Sven Pippig as prison wards.

• The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser: The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Bruno Schleinstein, and Walter Ladengast. The film closely follows the real story of foundling Kaspar Hauser, using the text of actual letters found with Hauser.

• My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done: My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done is a 2009 crime drama film directed by Werner Herzog, and written by Herbert Golder. The film follows a hostage situation resulting from the murder, while also showing the events of McCullam's life leading up to the murder in flashback, with Willem Dafoe appearing as the lead detective, and Chloë Sevigny as McCullam's fiancée.

• Kings of the Road: Kings of the Road is a 1976 German road movie directed by Wim Wenders. It was the third part of Wenders' "Road Movie trilogy" which included Alice in the Cities (1974) and The Wrong Move (1975). It was the unanimous winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.

• A Coffee in Berlin: Directed by Jan-Ole Gerster. The movie is about an aimless university dropout attempts to make sense of life as he spends one fateful day wandering the streets of Berlin.

As Germany hosts several notable film festivals that attract filmmakers and film-enthusiasts from around the world, the Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale, is one of the most prestigious and notable platform for international premieres. The Munich Independent Film Festival is another significant event, which celebrate a wide array of genres and emerging talents. Additionally, the Filmfest Hamburg, Brandenburg International Film Festival etc contribute to Germany's vibrant cinematic culture, fostering the exchange of ideas and promoting the global appreciation of film.

Germany's cinematic journey has been marked by artistic exploration, political impact, and a steadfast dedication to storytelling. From the expressionist movies of the Weimar era to the intellectually stimulating New German Cinema movement and the current achievements of contemporary German filmmakers, the nation's film history is both rich and captivating.

Presently, German cinema continues to engage global audiences with its inventive narratives, talented filmmakers, and its capacity to tackle both local and universal themes. Looking ahead, the enduring legacy of German cinema stands strong, and the world anticipates the forthcoming developments in this cinematic narrative.