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?

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

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!

Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt

How many of you have had your parental rights taken away because of lies and no truth whatsoever, and did you prove the lies that were told about you to be false either through drug testing or another way, but still had your rights taken?

Man spricht Deutsh

Didi - alles im Eimer

Es geschah am helllichten Tag

What is the logic behind the porn being legal but not prostitution? Isn't it the same thing in essence?

Metropolis

Zur Sache, Schätzchen (and its sequel)

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

'I did a bit of a dance': Detectorist finds gold 'mourning ring' engraved with skull and date in UK field - Live Science

Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht

Lola rennt

In jenen Tagen

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Das Haus in Montevideo

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.

Die Feuerzangenbowle

Twins reinstate Byron Buxton from concussion injured list - Sports Illustrated

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):

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.

Nackt

Our sister died because of our mum's cancer conspiracy theories, say brothers - BBC