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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?

14.06.2025 01:23

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?

Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt

Die Feuerzangenbowle

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):

Have you ever had a bad gut feeling about someone and it was right?

Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht

And many I can't think of at the moment.

Didi - alles im Eimer

Why do narcissist move on so easily?

Nackt

In jenen Tagen

Lola rennt

Is it just me, or do we all hate Sasuke from Naruto?

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.

What is of absolutely horrible quality is the “movies” that are produced for TV. They are famously bad.

Man spricht Deutsh

What were Sauron's powers in The Lord of the Rings (LOTR)? Did he have any magic or anything like that?

Es geschah am helllichten Tag

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.

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!

What do you think of the 2 female 18 and 19 year-old German tourists, detained in Honolulu, strip-searched, put in green jumpsuits, placed in a holding cell and the next day deported, for the terrible crime of not pre-booking a hotel for their trip?

Das Haus in Montevideo

Metropolis

Zur Sache, Schätzchen (and its sequel)

Most people aren’t following this important dietary advice. Are you? - The Washington Post