The best German films of 2022 that you can stream on Netflix, Amazon & Co

The last 12 months have not only been exciting for film fans internationally. German films also conquered the (home) cinema this year. Here are some of the best German films of 2022, which you can stream comfortably from the couch at home.

We selected the films based on the reviews on Metacritic, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, our Moviepilot community and our editorial opinion. This does not include films that are not yet available for streaming – such as Rheingold, A Thousand Lines, Axiom or The Forest Stands Silent.

Netflix re-imagining of a legendary anti-war tale: Nothing New in the West

What’s the matter? The Netflix film is the third adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel of the same name. Edward Berger filmed it for the streaming giant Horror of the First World Wartold from the perspective of a young soldier (Felix Kammerer) who is robbed of his last illusions at the front.

An anti-war film with a well-known cast, including Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl and Edin Hasanovic, which is as visually stunning as it is still important today. As announced in September, there will be nothing new in the West for the next few Oscars for Germany enter the race – as Best Foreign Language Film.

Where can I stream this? Included with Netflix subscription

Based on an incredible true story: Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush

What’s the matter? When her son Murat (Abdullah Emre Öztürk) is brought to the US prison camp Guantanamo, Rabiye Kurnaz (Meltem Kaptan) is certain of one thing: she will not stop fighting until her son is free. And if they go all the way to the Supreme Court for this and sue US President George W. Bush himself got to.

Together with the human rights lawyer Bernhard Docke (Alexander Scheer), the inconspicuous housewife from Bremen tries the impossible. What’s even more unbelievable is that the film by Andreas Dresen and Laila Stieler is based on a true story. Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush was awarded both at the Berlinale and the German Film Prize in 2022.

Where can I stream this? Buy or rent from Amazon Prime Video*

Between drama and tears of laughter: beautiful

What’s the matter? Sonja (Karoline Herfurth) is a mother of multiple children. Vicky (Nora Tschirner) is a serene teacher who has long since given up believing in love. Julie (Emilia Schüle) tries to break through as a model, while her mother Frauke (Martina Gedeck) is bored to death in her marriage. And Leyla (Dilara Aylin Ziem) is in the middle of puberty.

What these women all have in common is that they struggle with the image of beauty that society imposes on them. It’s sometimes very funny, sometimes mercilessly honest and sometimes damn sad. In any case, it’s worth seeing. (By the way, another pretty good film by and with Karoline Herfurth was released in 2022 with Simply Mal Something Beautiful.)

Where can I stream this? With Sky/WOW * included in the subscription

Controversial Romance of an Odd Couple: AEIOU – The Speedy Alphabet of Love

What’s the matter? When the somewhat elderly actress Anna (Sophie Rois) is robbed on the street, she probably would not have thought that she would find her next great love here. But when 17-year-old Adrian (Milan Herms) shows up for language training a little later, a relationship develops intimate relationship between the two dissimilar Berliners. Finally, Anna and Adrian make a decision: they want to elope to France together.

AEIOU – The Fast Alphabet of Love by Nicolette Krebitz tells a difficult love story with a lot of potential for conflict. But that’s exactly what makes the film worth seeing.

Where can I stream this? Buy or rent from Amazon Prime Video*

Star-studded offbeat comedy: Closed Society

What’s the matter? school is hell However, not only for students, as Sönke Wortmann proves in Enclosed Society. Here, a desperate (and armed!) father locks up the teachers until they can agree on allowing his son to sit the Abitur exam. An unusual chamber play for the whole family. Also present: Florian David Fitz, Nilam Farooq and, as always, the screamingly funny Anke Engelke.

Where can I stream this? Buy or rent from Amazon Prime Video*

Documentary on the border of suffering: Pornfluencer

What’s the matter? Jamie Young and Nico Nice are among the more successful amateur porn couples under the name “Youngcouple9598”. Filmmaker Joscha Bongard accompanied the two young people for the documentary Pornfluencer. From the outside, it seems as if the two are living a dream – including a large house in sunny Cyprus. Yet as the facade begins to crumblenot only does the couple have to ask themselves fundamental questions about their business model and their relationship.

Where can I stream this? Buy or rent from Amazon Prime Video*

Spectacular true-crime documentary on Netflix – Gladbeck: The hostage drama

What’s the matter? On August 16, 1988, two men robbed a bank in a Gladbeck shopping center, took several hostages and finally fled to the Netherlands. There were several deaths. The crime went down in history as the “Gladbeck hostage-taking”. The Netflix documentary Gladbeck: The hostage drama by Volker Heise revisits the story and chronicles a tragedy that gripped the whole of Germany three decades ago, using only archive footage.

Where can I stream this? Included with Netflix subscription

In the podcast: The best streaming movies of the year

Streaming services have been producing films in competition with cinemas for some time. But which of them are worth it? In this episode, Jenny Jecke, Lisa Ludwig and their colleague Julius Vietzen from FILMSTARTS present the best streaming films of 2022. And the of course without spoilersso that you can write down the insider tips from the area of ​​horror, comedy and more.

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Which German film did you like the most in 2022?