Best German family series
Get ready to binge. We've found a collection of must-watch family shows from Germany, now streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
Master Eder and his Pumuckl 1982
Pumuckl is a Kobold from a German radio play series for children. He is a descendant of the Klabautermänner. He is invisible to people around him except for the master carpenter Eder with whom Pumuckl lives. Pumuckl was invented by Ellis Kaut for a radio play series of the Bavarian Radio in 1961. Later on it was turned into a very successful TV series. Three movies and a musical also deal with the adventures of the little kobold. Pumuckl is one of the most popular characters in children's entertainment in Germany and several generations have now grown up with the cheeky but funny little Kobold.
71Simsala Grimm 1999
SimsalaGrimm is a German television series, consisting of stories based on fairy tales by Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Anderson and other notable authors.
77Gestern waren wir noch Kinder 2023
76Wer stiehlt mir die Show? 2021
Three celebrities and a wildcard candidate quiz their way through this show to win the ultimate prize: the show itself.
77Mein Leben & Ich 2001
Mein Leben & Ich is a German situation comedy produced by Sony Pictures in association with RTL Television for RTL. The series was created by Paula A. Roth and loosely based on ABC's 1994 teen drama My So-Called Life. The series focuses on the life of student Alex Degenhardt, who deals with everyday life and sometimes frustrating friends, Claudia and Niko, as well as her family; her little brother Basti and her Hippie-parents Hendrik and Anke. A sixth Season was produced in 2006 but not shown until late 2009. It is also telecast in Finland by Nelonen, in France and in Spain.
77Familie Heinz Becker 1992
Familie Heinz Becker is a German television series that aired from 1992 through 2004. The show revolves around the lives of Heinz Becker and his family, as well as those of neighbors and onlookers, although the focus of the series changed over the course of the series. In the first season, much of the humor was derived from Heinz's petty behavior; the character of his wife, Hilde, was not played for laughs. During seasons 2-4, Hilde's character became more naive but was devoted; much of the humor came from family dialogues. After Season 4, the focus shifted more to public life. Seasons 6 and 7 are not as well esteemed by critics as they repeat a number of older jokes and much of the comedy came from awkward situations, misspeaking, and other more mainstream comedic elements.
76Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl 2023
In the carpenter shop of his uncle Master Eder, Florian Eder encounters the small goblin Pumuckl, who never leaves his side after that.
79Löwenzahn 1981
Each 30 minute episode is dedicated to a separate issue or theme and consists mainly of related short featurettes, which explain, explore and educate how things of everyday life and even complex systems work. It spans a wide variety of topics from technology and industry to something as mundane as how the postal service works.
67Die Sendung mit der Maus 1971
The children's show has been a fixed Sunday morning ritual in German living rooms since 1971. Not only children, but also many adults sit in front of the television every week when the clever orange mouse, his blue elephant buddy and the yellow duck lead the way with short, funny cartoon clips between the "funny and factual stories".
69Rivals Forever - The Sneaker Battle 2017
The life and struggle of the Dassler brothers. Founders of the brands of Adidas and Puma.
69Treasure Island 2007
A terrible storm is raging the night it all begins - with a knock on the door. 17-year-old Jim Hawkins helps his widowed mother run their little tavern on the coast of 19th century England. When the door is opened they are startled by a sight that makes their blood run cold...
53The Three Detectives 2023
Kim, Franzi, and Marie have what other girls can only dream of: their very own detective club!
70H2O: Mermaid Adventures 2015
The lives of teenagers Emma, Cleo and Rikki are forever changed when a magical, forbidden island gives them the power to turn into mermaids.
56Ich heirate eine Familie 1983
65The Peppercorns 1999
Die Pfefferkörner is a German television series produced by Der Kinderkanal. The peppercorns are five friends from Hamburg: Jana Holstein Coutre, Natasha "Tascha" Jaonzäns, Philip "Fiete" Overbeck, Cem Gülec and Vivien "Vivi" Overbeck, Fiete's eight year old sister. After school, the young detectives meet at a high level of a spice warehouse of the company Overbeck & Associates, which belongs to Fiete and Vivi's parents in the first part, but is later given to Fiete and Vivi to look after. Here, in the historic warehouse district, the five friends have their headquarters. With smarts, combined delivery and support of the Internet, they find their cases here. The detectives convict polluters, animal dealers and drug smugglers. They also help each other with personal problems they encounter. Cem has lost his parents in a car accident and sometimes feels sad and lonely. Jana lives with her divorcee mother, a lawyer who is rarely at home. Natasha comes from Latvia. Her parents initially have very strict rules in terms of her education, that make Natasha unhappy. Fiete has problems showing his feelings and hides them behind grumpiness and hostility towards girls, until he falls in love with Natasha. Vivi is suffering from her role of the youngest member of the group. She believes that she must constantly struggle for recognition.
62The Masked Singer 2019
German version of the reality singing competition where celebrities battle it out with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, concealing their identity from the audience and the viewers at home.
63Schloss Einstein 1998
Schloss Einstein is a long-running, popular German television series which is designed as a teenage soap opera. It portrays the lives of teenagers in Schloss Einstein, a fictional boarding school. The intended audience is 10- to 14-year-olds. The series combines the genres of comedy, action, drama, and natural science. Scripts for the series are written by prominent television script writers.
58Frühling 2011
68The Black Forest Hospital 1985
Against the background of one of today's most up-to-date hospitals in Germany's spectacular Black Forest, the working and private lives of the patients and staff are played out in a riveting human drama.
55Der letzte Song aus der Bohne 2022
83For Heaven's Sake 2002
"For heaven's sake" is a German television series. The protagonists are Kaltenthal mayor Wolfgang Woller, who wants to turn the town's convent into a modern convention centre and drive the nuns out, Sister Lotte (Jutta Speidel) and the other nuns, who fight to save the old monastery.
7013 Hours: Race Against Time 2010
A bunch of terrorists take over a school to get to an instructor who has access to an advanced scientific device. A core group of youngsters fight back to try and stop the bad guys.
68Buying Blind Germany 2021
100Silas 1981
Silas was a 1981 ZDF Adventure TV mini-series based on the Danish children's book „Silas og den sorte hoppe“ by Cecil Bødker who kept on writing instalments until 2001. The series was Patrick Bach's debut and because the series did so well he also starred the very next year in another adventure series about a young orphan: Jack Holborn Silas was a German production and filmed solely in German. Still it received attention beyond German-speaking countries and consequently the successor Jack Holborn involved international producers and was filmed in English.
61Das Traumschiff 1981
The series is about a cruise ship that travels to places around the world.
51Jack Holborn 1982
Jack Holborn was a 1982 ZDF Adventure TV mini-series. The story is based on the book by Leon Garfield. It was shown in the United Kingdom by ITV.
61The Way Out Germany 2025
Germany's first comedy escape room show. Comedians versus creators. In each episode, one duo from each team must prove themselves in identically designed escape rooms. The team with the best overall time wins the season.
78Ghosts under the Ferris Wheel 1979
Two kids suddenly call three very enchanted persons to reality while spending summer in their grandma's village.
63Robin Hood: Mischief In Sherwood 2015
Richard the Lionheart has gone to war, leaving power in the hands of Prince John. Sherwood is in danger, but Robin Hood and his gang are on hand to save the day! Meet Maid Marian with her castle insider knowledge, charming Little John, grumpy Tuck and Robin's funny cousin Scarlett. Follow the gang who with comedy, magic and friendship will save the day.
66The Flying Cestmir 1984
Young boy Cestmir finds a magic rock which allows him to bring the seeds of the flowers which allow flying from Blue Planet...
52Luzie, der Schrecken der Straße 1980
1980 German/Czech Children TV series
57Robbi, Tobbi und das Fliewatüüt 1972
Robbi, Tobbi und das Fliewatüüt is a German television series for children. It showed the adventures of a pupil called Tobias Findteisen who accompanied the robot ROB 344–66/IIIa to help with the latter's exam at robot school. The team travels in an all-in-one vehicle, designed by Tobbi and built by Robbi, to find answers to the exam's riddles all over the world.
64Pan Tau 1970
Pan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a stroller, with an umbrella and a white carnation in the lapel. Foremost, he was famous for his magic bowler hat. By tapping on his hat, Pan Tau was able to change his appearance into a puppet, to conjure up miscellaneous objects or to do other magic. His most characteristically behavior is that he would help children who were experiencing some sort of difficulties in-between their dreams and reality, like finding a place for skiing, settling family problems on Christmas, and even give a boy a good time at a fair when he is supposed to have piano lessons. To adults, he usually remained invisible.
55Anna 1987
Anna Pelzer has a dream She wants to become a ballet dancer. But after a car accident, everything seems to be over. The pretty schoolgirl can no longer move her legs and feet. Her family threatens to break apart as a result of the tragic accident, especially as Anna's brother was driving without a license. But then Rainer rolls into Anna's life - a boy in a wheelchair whom the girl meets at the sanatorium. Rainer himself was on the brink of a great career Two years earlier, he was a youth skiing champion until he was ruthlessly knocked down on the slopes. Despite his disability, Rainer is full of energy. He gives Anna new courage to face life, encourages her to learn to walk again and to pursue her dream of a dancing career. Step by step, Anna fights her way back into her old life. At her new school, she meets dance student Jakob and the prominent teacher Irene Kralowa, whose dance group she eventually joins.
52Janoschs Traumstunde 1986
Janoschs Traumstunde is an German animated children's television series that originally ran from 1986 to 1990. It is based on the works of German artist and children's book author Janosch.
64Wissen macht Ah! 2001
65Heidi 1978
Young Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in the mountains where she discovers the liberty and the beauty of Swiss landscapes. Later when Heidi is forced to become a companion to a young invalid girl in a big town, she discovers just how much she misses the mountains, her grandfather, and her friend Peter.
57Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver 1977
Jim Button is a little black boy living on the tiny island of Lummerland. When Jim grows bigger, there is simply no longer enough space for everybody. Someone has to go, decides King Alfons the Quarter-to-Twelfth. But should that someone really be Emma, the locomotive of Jim’s best friend Luke? Jim cannot allow that. Together with the engine driver and Emma he leaves the island and sets off on the great adventure: Transparent trees, stripy mountains, apparent giants and dragons cross their way. In the end, however, Jim is not only able to solve the enigma of his birth; he also manages to free the beautiful princess Li Si. And even for their return to Lummerland a solution is found.
63Herzensbrecher – Vater von vier Söhnen 2013
64Einmal Camping, immer Camping 2014
80Verrückt nach Meer 2010
61Deutschland sucht den Superstar 2002
This is the German version of the British success Pop idol and the American Idol show in the US.
44Rach, der Restauranttester 2006
Reallity TV Show from Germany. The cook Christian Rach helps small restaurants to get more customers.
63Hello Spencer 1979
Spencer, stets kariert gekleidet und mit Schiebermütze versehen, ist der aufgedrehte, wortgewandte und immer fröhliche Moderator einer eigenen Fernsehsendung und der Boss in seinem Dorf. Er muss nur mit dem Finger schnippen, um zu einer beliebigen Stelle im Ort zu schalten. Zu Beginn jeder Sendung begrüßt er alle "Leute von A bis Z, von 1 bis 100, von Norden bis Süden und von Osten bis Westen!"
49Patrik Pacard 1984
Patrik Pacard was the sixth ZDF-Weihnachtsserie, and aired in 1984. The series was broadcast in Germany on ZDF, and consisted of 6 episodes. Broadcasting in Germany began on December 25, 1984. The series was also broadcast in Switzerland, and constisted of 12 episodes. Broadcasting in Switzerland began on December 4, 1984. An English-language version of this series was shown by the BBC in the United Kingdom in 1992, and repeated in 1995, though with a revised plot to reflect the end of the Cold War. A French-language version of this series was broadcast as well. The shows titular character and theme song are incorporated in an internet meme on YTMND in relation to an alter-ego of Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard.
51Die Camper 1997
52Bibi & Tina 2006
52Das Pubertier 2017
62Dr. Nice 2023
62Fritzie - Der Himmel muss warten 2020
63Die Mockridges - Eine Knallerfamilie 2015
57Ein Fall für TKKG 1985
Ein Fall für TKKG is a German television series.
51Unser Sandmännchen 1998
56Kreuzfahrt ins Glück 2006
A picturesque journey on the waves of love and life. Each episode embarks on a tantalizing cruise, intertwining the stories of newlyweds beginning their matrimonial journey and the ship's crew navigating their own personal tribulations. As breathtaking locations unfurl in the backdrop, heartwarming encounters and serendipitous moments greet the passengers. However, it's not all smooth sailing—each voyage confronts its fair share of tempests, from past heartbreaks resurfacing to unexpected on-board mishaps. Yet, amidst the ebb and flow of emotions, the series consistently delivers an uplifting message: love and understanding can steer any ship to safe harbor. A truly heartwarming watch.
54Augsburger Puppenkiste - Urmel aus dem Eis 1969
There are incredible things on the remote South Sea island of Titiwu: a school that you can skip with impunity and a harmony between humans and animals that was thought to be lost. The absent-minded Professor Habakuk Tibatong has taught some animals to speak. For example, the pig lady Wutz, the shoebill Shush, Ping Penguin and the monitor lizard Wawa. On the rocky reef, the elephant seal sings his "traurögön Lödör" all the time. Unfortunately, every one of them except Wutz has a speech impediment. The orphan Tim Tintenklecks helps the professor when it comes to getting the animals excited about a joint project. And one day it happens: a block of ice is stranded on the shore. Inside is an egg from which a primeval creature hatches - the Urmel. And it can even talk. Professor Tibatong, who has always believed in the existence of the Urmel, does something stupid...
53Die Jungs-WG 2009
58Ein Schritt zum Abgrund 2023
Jana decided against a career in medical research in Munich and in favor of a life as a doctor and at the side of her great love Christian in his hometown of Husum. While Christian takes care of large construction projects as a project developer, Jana runs her own practice and ensures the family a good income. Her life seems perfect: her marriage is still passionate even after many years, she is involved in her daughter Lotta's school and is always there when she is needed.
55Ghosts from Outside 1987
An adventures of a Berlin family spending summer in haunted house.
52Die Eifelpraxis 2016
Nurse Vera (Rebecca Immanuel) seeks a new professional beginning. Together with her 16 year old son Paul (Tom Böttcher) and 8 year old daughter Mia (Mascha Schrader), the single mother moves from Berlin into the Eifel. But already on her first day of work at the office of her new boss Dr. Chris Wegner (Simon Schwarz) sitting in a wheelchair, she has to find out how hard the business is in the country due to the lack of enough general practitioners available. A long list of home visits are awaiting Vera, who glances with professional experience and empathy for her patients, but time pressure doesn't help in serving her patients as desired.
55Wer weiß denn sowas? 2015
“Wer weiß denn sowas?” ("Who knows that?") is a quiz show, which is moderated by Kai Pflaume. In each episode, there are two teams led by Bernhard Hoëcker and Elton who compete against each other. The spectators sitting in the studio can decide which team to join. If a team wins, the money won is divided by the number of spectators who chose that team.
50Zur See 1977
"Zur See" is an TV-Series from the former GDR, tells Stories around Motorship "Fichte". The series is only available in german language.
52Unser Charly 1995
The exciting stories about the cheeky chimpanzee Charly, who finds a new home with a Berlin vet family.
45Bernd das Brot 2007
55Diese Drombuschs 1983
This critically acclaimed drama focuses on the Drombuschs, an average German family living in Darmstadt near Frankfurt.
49Sternenfänger 2002
524 gegen Z 2006
Lübeck is threatened! For centuries, the sinister ruler Zanrelot (Udo Kier), who is up to mischief in the underworld under the foundations of the old walls, has been trying to gain power over the Hanseatic city. From there, Zanrelot wants to destroy everything in the world that makes life worth living: colors, laughter, love. For the last few centuries, "Guardians" have prevented the evil machinations of Zanrelot. But now his last and most stubborn adversary has died, leaving behind a heavy legacy. The four children Karo, Pinkas, Otti and Leonie - nephews and nieces of the deceased - equipped with magical abilities, are supposed to save the city as new "guardians" and protect the world from the unimaginable.
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