Best German Movies

Best German Movies on 123movies drops a bold mix of sharp storytelling, moody atmospheres, and edge you don’t see coming — all streaming in smooth HD, no sign-up strings. German movies in this category span gripping thrillers, deep dramas, and festival gems that go way beyond Hollywood. Whether it’s raw realism or dark precision, these films leave a mark. Press play and take a trip — only on 123movies.

All Quiet on the Western Front All Quiet on the Western Front 7.8 2h 28min
All Quiet on the Western Front
IMDb: 7.8
2h 28min

Paul Baumer and his friends Albert and Muller, egged on by romantic dreams of heroism, voluntarily enlist in the German army. Full of excitement and patriotic fervour, the boys enthusiastically…

Schumacher Schumacher 7.4 1h 52min
Schumacher
IMDb: 7.4
1h 52min

Through exclusive interviews and archival footage, this documentary traces an intimate portrait of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.

Country: 
Never Look Away Never Look Away 7.7 3h 9min
Never Look Away
IMDb: 7.7
3h 9min

Set against the backdrop of post-war Germany, this film follows the life of a young artist, Kurt Barnert, as he navigates the turbulent political landscape and personal traumas to find…

Transit Transit 6.9 1h 41min
Transit
IMDb: 6.9
1h 41min

Set against the backdrop of a fascist-occupied France, this film follows Georg, a German refugee, as he flees to Marseille in hopes of escaping to North America. As he assumes…

Country: 
The Captain The Captain 7.3 1h 58min
The Captain
IMDb: 7.3
1h 58min

Set during the chaotic final weeks of World War II, this gripping drama follows a young German soldier, Willi Herold, who stumbles upon an abandoned Nazi captain’s uniform. Seizing the…

Country: 
Toni Erdmann Toni Erdmann 7.3 2h 42min
Toni Erdmann
IMDb: 7.3
2h 42min

In this German-Austrian comedy-drama, the story revolves around a practical joker father who tries to reconnect with his estranged, career-focused daughter by creating an outrageous alter ego. The film explores…

Look Who’s Back Look Who’s Back 7.0 1h 56min
Look Who’s Back
IMDb: 7
1h 56min

In this satirical comedy directed by David Wnendt, Adolf Hitler mysteriously reawakens in modern-day Berlin, bewildered by the changes in society. As he navigates the contemporary world, he is mistaken…

Country: 
Victoria Victoria 7.6 2h 18min
Victoria
IMDb: 7.6
2h 18min

In this gripping German thriller, a young Spanish woman named Victoria, played by Laia Costa, finds herself swept up in a night of unexpected adventure and danger after meeting a…

Phoenix Phoenix 7.3 1h 38min
Phoenix
IMDb: 7.3
1h 38min

Set in the aftermath of World War II, this gripping drama follows a disfigured concentration camp survivor who undergoes facial reconstruction surgery and returns to Berlin to find her husband….

Country: 
Who Am I Who Am I 7.4 1h 42min
Who Am I
IMDb: 7.4
1h 42min

In this gripping German thriller directed by Baran bo Odar, a young computer whiz named Benjamin, played by Tom Schilling, finds himself drawn into the world of hacking. As he…

Country: 
The Book Thief The Book Thief 7.5 2h 11min
The Book Thief
IMDb: 7.5
2h 11min

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this poignant drama follows a young girl named Liesel, portrayed by Sophie Nélisse, who finds solace in stealing books and sharing them…

Free Fall Free Fall 7.5 1h 37min
Free Fall
IMDb: 7.5
1h 37min

Marc appears to have everything going for him: a successful career in law enforcement and a child on the way. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he meets…

Country: 
Barbara Barbara 7.2 1h 45min
Barbara
IMDb: 7.2
1h 45min

Set in 1980s East Germany, this film follows a doctor who is banished to a rural hospital as punishment for applying for an exit visa. As she navigates her new…

Country: 
The White Ribbon The White Ribbon 7.8 2h 24min
The White Ribbon
IMDb: 7.8
2h 24min

Set in a small German village on the eve of World War I, this film explores the unsettling events that unfold in a seemingly idyllic community. Through the eyes of…

Country: 
Soul Kitchen Soul Kitchen 7.2 1h 36min
Soul Kitchen
IMDb: 7.2
1h 36min

In this vibrant comedy-drama directed by Fatih Akin, the story follows Zinos Kazantsakis, a hapless restaurant owner in Hamburg, as he navigates a series of personal and professional challenges. The…

Country: 
The Reader The Reader 7.6 2h 4min
The Reader
IMDb: 7.6
2h 4min

Set in post-World War II Germany, this film follows the complex relationship between a young man named Michael Berg and an older woman, Hanna Schmitz, played by Kate Winslet. As…

The Baader Meinhof Complex The Baader Meinhof Complex 7.3 2h 30min
The Baader Meinhof Complex
IMDb: 7.3
2h 30min

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex depicts the political turmoil in the period from 1967 to the bloody “Deutschen Herbst” in 1977. The movie approaches the events based on Stefan Aust’s standard work on Die Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF). The story centers on the leadership of the self named anti-fascist resistance to state violence: Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof and Gudrun Ensslin.

The Wave The Wave 7.6 1h 47min
The Wave
IMDb: 7.6
1h 47min

A school teacher discusses types of government with his class. His students find it too boring to repeatedly go over national socialism and believe that dictatorship cannot be established in modern Germany. He starts an experiment to show how easily the masses can become manipulated.

Country: 
The Lives of Others The Lives of Others 8.4 2h 17min
The Lives of Others
IMDb: 8.4
2h 17min

Set in 1984 East Berlin, this gripping drama follows a dedicated Stasi officer, Gerd Wiesler, as he becomes entangled in the lives of a playwright and his actress girlfriend. As…

Country: 
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days Sophie Scholl: The Final Days 7.6 2min
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
IMDb: 7.6
2min

Set during the harrowing days of World War II, this gripping historical drama follows the courageous final days of Sophie Scholl, a member of the anti-Nazi resistance group, the White…

Country: 
The Edukators The Edukators 7.4 2h 7min
The Edukators
IMDb: 7.4
2h 7min

In this thought-provoking German drama, three young anti-capitalist activists, portrayed by Daniel Brühl, Julia Jentsch, and Stipe Erceg, engage in a series of non-violent break-ins to unsettle the wealthy elite….

Country: 
Downfall Downfall 8.2 2h 36min
Downfall
IMDb: 8.2
2h 36min

Set during the final days of World War II, this gripping historical drama offers a harrowing depiction of Adolf Hitler’s last moments in his Berlin bunker. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel,…

Country: 
Good Bye Lenin! Good Bye Lenin! 7.7 2h 1min
Good Bye Lenin!
IMDb: 7.7
2h 1min

Set in East Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall, this film follows a young man, played by Daniel Brühl, who goes to great lengths to protect his mother…

Country: 
The Experiment The Experiment 7.7 2min
The Experiment
IMDb: 7.7
2min

In this gripping psychological thriller directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, a group of men participates in a simulated prison experiment that spirals dangerously out of control. The film stars Moritz Bleibtreu…

Country: 
In July In July 7.6 1h 39min
In July
IMDb: 7.6
1h 39min

In this romantic road movie directed by Fatih Akin, a young teacher named Daniel embarks on an impulsive journey from Hamburg to Istanbul, driven by a mysterious encounter and a…

Country: 
Run Lola Run Run Lola Run 7.6 1h 20min
Run Lola Run
IMDb: 7.6
1h 20min

In this innovative German thriller, the story follows a young woman named Lola, played by Franka Potente, as she races against time to save her boyfriend from a dire situation….

Country: 
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door 7.8 1h 27min
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
IMDb: 7.8
1h 27min

In this 1997 German film directed by Thomas Jahn, two terminally ill patients, played by Til Schweiger and Jan Josef Liefers, embark on a wild road trip after escaping from…

Stalingrad Stalingrad 7.5 2h 14min
Stalingrad
IMDb: 7.5
2h 14min

Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, this film follows a group of German soldiers as they experience the brutal realities of the Battle of Stalingrad. Directed by…

Country: 
Wings of Desire Wings of Desire 7.9 2h 8min
Wings of Desire
IMDb: 7.9
2h 8min

Directed by Wim Wenders, this 1987 film is a poetic exploration of the human experience through the eyes of angels who observe the lives of Berlin’s residents. The story follows…

Paris, Texas Paris, Texas 8.1 2h 25min
Paris, Texas
IMDb: 8.1
2h 25min

A mesmerizing exploration of identity and redemption, this film follows the journey of a man named Travis, played by Harry Dean Stanton, who emerges from the desert after a mysterious…

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser 7.7 1h 50min
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
IMDb: 7.7
1h 50min

This 1974 film, directed by Werner Herzog, explores the mysterious life of a young man who appears in a small German town with no prior socialization or understanding of the…

Country: 
Aguirre, the Wrath of God Aguirre, the Wrath of God 7.8 1h 35min
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
IMDb: 7.8
1h 35min

In this 1972 film directed by Werner Herzog, a group of Spanish conquistadors embarks on a treacherous journey through the Amazon rainforest in search of the mythical city of El…

Country: 
M M 8.3 1h 39min
M
IMDb: 8.3
1h 39min

Set in a German city gripped by fear, this 1931 film follows the intense manhunt for a child murderer whose heinous acts have paralyzed the community. The police, under immense…

Country: 
Metropolis Metropolis 8.3 2h 33min
Metropolis
IMDb: 8.3
2h 33min

In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city’s mastermind falls in love with a working class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.

Country: 
Faust Faust 8.1 1h 47min
Faust
IMDb: 8.1
1h 47min

In this 1926 silent film, the legendary tale of a man who makes a pact with the devil is brought to life with stunning visual artistry. Directed by F.W. Murnau,…

Country: 
Nosferatu Nosferatu 7.8 1h 34min
Nosferatu
IMDb: 7.8
1h 34min

Vampire Count Orlok is interested in a new residence and in his real estate agent’s young wife. F. W. Murnau’s unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

Country: 
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 8.0 1h 7min
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
IMDb: 8
1h 7min

Directed by Robert Wiene, this pioneering work of German Expressionist cinema tells the story of a mysterious and sinister figure, Dr. Caligari, who arrives in a small town with his…

Country: