Why are German films often so formulaic even though Germany is a European culture? I love them but they follow formula very closely like Hollywood. What are the best German films?
Last Updated: 03.07.2025 04:05
Lola rennt
Zur Sache, Schätzchen (and its sequel)
Die Feuerzangenbowle
Google can now generate a fake AI podcast of your search results - Ars Technica
Es geschah am helllichten Tag
What is of absolutely horrible quality is the “movies” that are produced for TV. They are famously bad.
Didi - alles im Eimer
Bats don't get cancer, now scientists think they know the reason - Earth.com
And many I can't think of at the moment.
I have seen some very good German movies. It is not that they don't exist, but they hardly ever achieve much fame. Especially since people have been accustomed to the dominance of US popular culture.
Here is a list of some (by no means all) German movies that are considered Classics (and a few that should be, in my opinion):
Miley Cyrus Reveals What Caused Her Estrangement from Dad Billy Ray for the First Time - instyle.com
In Wirtschaftswunder times, most Western German movies were junk but the GDR produced some very good ones, e.g. Western movies and Spur der Steine; in the 70s Paul und Paula. I definitely recommend both!
Man spricht Deutsh
In jenen Tagen
Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht
Nackt
Besides these, there are some really good children's movies: More recently, the Bibi und Tina series as just one example. Looking back into the 80s and 70s, as well as into the present, I would even say that movies for children are what the German Film industry excels at. There is much less screaming and cake throwing and slimy monsters and much more discussing of matters that affect children in real life (even in phantasy plots) than in most US children's movies as far als I know them. The GDR was particularly well known for excellent children's movies but the west was and is good at it, too.
Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt
Das Haus in Montevideo
Metropolis
Pac-12’s new media rights deal will feel familiar to San Diego State fans - San Diego Union-Tribune