Discover the best of German cinema, film, and television

Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Germany. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!

The cinema of Germany

German cinema has gifted the world two distinct golden ages, a legacy of staggering artistic innovation and profound intellectual depth. Its first revolution was German Expressionism in the 1920s. In the vibrant Weimar Republic, directors like Fritz Lang created masterpieces like Metropolis and M. With their haunting shadows and tilted angles, films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari didn't just tell stories; they invented the visual language of horror and science fiction that Hollywood would adopt for decades. This creative fire erupted again in the 1970s with the New German Cinema, led by intellectually daring auteurs like Werner Herzog, who famously hauled a steamship over a mountain for a film, and Wim Wenders. This era of artistry was followed by modern international hits like the kinetic Run Lola Run and the Oscar-winning historical drama The Lives of Others. Now, Germany is at the forefront of prestige television. The mind-bending sci-fi epic Dark became a global phenomenon, while the stylish Weimar-era crime series Babylon Berlin earned worldwide acclaim, both building on a rich domestic TV tradition anchored by the beloved Sunday night institution, Tatort. What defines German screen culture is this masterful precision, a willingness to tackle the most complex ideas, and a legacy of visual innovation that has shaped cinema for over a century.

Best German series

  • Poster for Unfamiliar

    Unfamiliar 2026

    When the past catches up with two former spies, their biggest challenge isn't car chases, shootouts or fistfights — it's telling each other the truth.

    Netflix
    70
  • Murder Mindfully 2024

    When mafia lawyer Björn attends a mindfulness class to find a better work-life balance, he discovers surprising new coping strategies — including murder.

    Netflix
    75
  • Poster for Maxton Hall – The World Between Us

    Maxton Hall – The World Between Us 2024

    When Ruby unwittingly witnesses an explosive secret at Maxton Hall private school, the arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student for better or worse: He is determined to silence Ruby. Their passionate exchange of words unexpectedly ignites a spark...

    Prime Video
    76
  • Poster for LOL: Last One Laughing

    LOL: Last One Laughing 2021

    Ten top stars of German comedy join in the ultimate battle to find out who laughs last! Who will be able to stay serious? Which performance won't leave a dry eye in the house? And who will be the last one standing?

    Prime Video
    72
  • Poster for Dark

    Dark 2017

    A missing child causes four families to help each other for answers. What they could not imagine is that this mystery would be connected to innumerable other secrets of the small town.

    Netflix
    85
  • Poster for 1899

    1899 2022

    When mysterious events change the course of an immigrant ship headed for New York in 1899, a mind-bending riddle unfolds for its bewildered passengers.

    Netflix
    73

Best German movies

  • Poster for Brick

    Brick 2025

    When a mysterious brick wall encloses their apartment building overnight, Tim and Olivia must unite with their wary neighbors to get out alive.

    59
  • Poster for Regretting You

    Regretting You 2025

    Morgan Grant and her daughter Clara explore what's left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other.

    66
  • The Tank 2025

    A German Tiger tank crew is sent on a dangerous mission to rescue the missing officer Paul von Hardenburg from a top-secret bunker behind enemy lines. As they make their way through the lethal no-man's land, they must confront not only the enemy, but also their own fears and inner demons. Fueled by the Wehrmacht's methamphetamine, their mission increasingly becomes a journey into the heart of darkness.

    65
  • Poster for Ballad of a Small Player

    Ballad of a Small Player 2025

    Amid the glittering casinos of Macau, a gambler running from his past—and his debts—becomes fascinated by an enigmatic woman at the baccarat table.

    58
  • Poster for Fall for Me

    Fall for Me 2025

    Lilli is suspicious of her sister's new fiance, but when an attractive stranger enters her life, she's suddenly distracted by the thralls of desire.

    59
  • Poster for The Physician II

    The Physician II 2025

    1050 AD: Robert Cole returns to England to bring the medical light of the Orient to his countrymen. But he fails because of the intrigues of the established London doctors, who feel threatened by the new knowledge. And it is not only the human body that is full of seemingly impenetrable secrets, the soul also holds its own mysteries.

    71