The 40 most popular 2000s german movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


Kingdom of Heaven
2005 · 2h 24m · US
After his wife dies, a blacksmith named Balian is thrust into royalty, political intrigue and bloody holy wars during the Crusades.


The Pianist
2002 · 2h 30m · FR
The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.


Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
2006 · 2h 27m · DE
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.


The Lives of Others
2006 · 2h 17m · DE
In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria.


Ninja Assassin
2009 · 1h 39m · US
Ninja Assassin follows Raizo, one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.


Downfall
2004 · 2h 35m · AT
In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the east and the Allied Expeditionary Force attacking from the west. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his generals and advisers to fight to the last man. When the end finally does come, and Hitler lies dead by his own hand, what is left of his military must find a way to end the killing that is the Battle of Berlin, and lay down their arms in surrender.


Around the World in 80 Days
2004 · 2h · US
A bet pits a British inventor, a Chinese thief and a French artist on a worldwide adventure that they can circle the globe in 80 days.


Punisher: War Zone
2008 · 1h 42m · CA
Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti. After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias: Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of his evil deeds go unpunished.


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2009 · 2h 32m · DK
Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson's novel about a male journalist and a young female hacker. In the opening of the movie, Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged publisher for the magazine Millennium, loses a libel case brought by corrupt Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. Nevertheless, he is hired by Henrik Vanger in order to solve a cold case, the disappearance of Vanger's niece


Doom
2005 · 1h 45m · CZ
A team of space marines known as the Rapid Response Tactical Squad, led by Sarge, is sent to a science facility on Mars after somebody reports a security breach. There, they learn that the alert came after a test subject, a mass murderer purposefully injected with alien DNA, broke free and began killing people. Dr. Grimm, who is related to team member Reaper, informs them all that the chromosome can mutate humans into monsters -- and is highly infectious.


Luther
2003 · 2h 3m · DE
During the early 16th century, idealistic German monk Martin Luther, disgusted by the materialism in the church, begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation.


Freedom Writers
2007 · 2h 3m · DE
A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.


Elizabeth: The Golden Age
2007 · 1h 54m · FR
When Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by ruthless familial betrayal and Spain's invading army, she and her shrewd adviser must act to safeguard the lives of her people.


The Girl Who Played with Fire
2009 · 2h 9m · DK
Mikael Blomkvist, publisher of Millennium magazine, has made his living exposing the crooked and corrupt practices of establishment Swedish figures. So when a young journalist approaches him with a meticulously researched thesis about sex trafficking in Sweden and those in high office who abuse underage girls, Blomkvist immediately throws himself into the investigation.
Falling for Art
Falling for Art
2001 · 15m · DE
A young painter is obsessed by a saying of his idol Delacroix: According to it, only the one who is able to sketch the fall of a person from the third floor has talent. So he evokes this situation himself and pushes women out of the window....


K-19: The Widowmaker
2002 · 2h 18m · CA
When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must race to save the ship and prevent a nuclear disaster.


The Wave
2008 · 1h 47m · DE
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.


The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
2009 · 2h 27m · DK
After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in a hospital and is set to face trial for attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must prove her innocence. In doing this she plays against powerful enemies and her own past.


Good Bye, Lenin!
2003 · 2h 1m · DE
Alex Kerner's mother was in a coma while the Berlin wall fell. When she wakes up he must try to keep her from learning what happened (as she was an avid communist supporter) to avoid shocking her which could lead to another heart attack.


Heaven
2002 · 1h 36m · FR
A woman takes the law into her own hands after police ignore her pleas to arrest the man responsible for her husband's death, and finds herself not only under arrest for murder but falling in love with an officer.


Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
2006 · 1h 33m · US
In Venice Beach, naive Midwesterner JB bonds with local slacker KG and they form the rock band Tenacious D. Setting out to become the world's greatest band is no easy feat, so they set out to steal what could be the answer to their prayers... a magical guitar pick housed in a rock-and-roll museum some 300 miles away.


Desert Flower
2009 · 2h 7m · AT
The autobiography of a Somalian nomad who was sold in marriage at 13, fled from Africa a while later to become finally an American supermodel and is now at the age of 38, the UN spokeswoman against female genital mutilation.


Penelope
2006 · 1h 44m · UK
Forlorn heiress Penelope Wilhern is cursed, and the only way out is to fall in love with someone of suitable stock. But how can she find her soulmate when she's sequestered inside her family's estate with only her parents to keep her company? This untraditional fairy tale is about a girl who bucks convention to create her own happy ending.


Running Scared
2006 · 2h 2m · DE
A low-ranking thug is entrusted by his boss to dispose of a gun that killed corrupt cops, but things spiral out of control when the gun ends up in wrong hands.
Der Schuß
Der Schuß
2001 · DE
No overview available
Way Down
Way Down
2005 · 1h 55m · DE
Deep dark sick folk on their way down to the bottom.


The Beast
2000 · 1h 33m · DE
An adulterous woman draws a meticulous plan to murder her husband with the help of her lover, a much younger man. Committed the crime, they move to a beautiful Mediterranean island where they remain hidden waiting for the insurance company pays the policy of her husband. Everything seems to go perfectly when suddenly, she thinks she has seen her husband in a supermarket


Les Européens
2006 · 1h 40m · FI
5 short films on the theme of European identity.


Paris Je T'aime
2006 · 2h · FR
Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes, a husband trying to choose between his wife and his lover, and a married man who turns to a prostitute for advice.


Judith Kemp
2004 · 1h 30m · DE
Judith Kemp has become a lone fighter since the death of her husband. As a single mother of two children and an aspiring star lawyer in a large corporate law firm, Judith manages her job and family. Inevitably, someone often falls by the wayside: their children Julia and Marco, their friend, pediatrician Susanne Blau, and their boss Stefan Walther, who wants to promote Judith to partner not only in the office. Only her job as lawyer for the economic bosses is rarely neglected - until Judith meets little Eva Traber: her father has run away and does not pay a tired euro maintenance, her mother Helena can no longer get her debts under control despite several jobs. The three children are often left on their own and grow up in poverty. Judith's sense of justice does not leave her alone: She makes Eva's business hers. As her child advocate, she fights with full commitment for the rights of the girl and her siblings. So begins a follow ...


Open Water 2: Adrift
2006 · 1h 34m · DE
A weekend cruise on a luxurious party yacht goes horribly wrong for a group of old high-school friends when they get stuck in the water many miles from shore and a happy reunion turns into a fight for survival.


House of the Dead
2003 · 1h 30m · CA
On an island off the coast, a techno rave party attracts a diverse group of college coeds and a Coast Guard officer. Soon, they discover that their X-laced escapades are to be interrupted by zombies and monsters that attack them on the ground, from the air, and in the sea, ruled by an evil entity.


Weihnachtsmann gesucht
2002 · 1h 27m · DE
A hired Santa makes promises to a little boy he can't really keep.


Happily N'Ever After
2007 · 1h 27m · DE
An alliance of evil-doers, led by Frieda, looks to take over Fairy Tale Land. But when Ella realizes her stepmother is out to ruin her storybook existence, she takes a dramatic turn and blossoms into the leader of the resistance effort.


Rio Breaks
2009 · 1h 25m · US
RIO BREAKS is more than just a film about surfing. It follows the story of two best friends, Fabio and Naama, as they navigate their way between the pitfalls of life in the slums and the joys of surfing on their favorite beach. Their goal: to win the contest and become professional surfers. Thirteen-year-old Fabio and 12-year-old Naama live at Favela do Pavao, an enormous slum near Arpoador Beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pavao is home to Commando Vermelho (CV), or Red Command, one of Rio's most heavily armed drug gangs. It's the Red Command who sets the rules and regulates life in the community. Their presence is ubiquitous, with armed soldiers constantly patrolling the hills and regulating the various points of sale. Fabio lives in an area of the favela called Vietnam, the poorest and most violent part of the slum.


Pride and Glory
2008 · 2h 10m · US
A saga centered on the Tierneys, a multi-generational family of New York City Police officers. The family's moral codes are tested when Ray Tierney investigates a case that reveals an incendiary police corruption scandal involving his own brother-in-law. For Ray, the truth is revelatory, a Pandora's Box that threatens to upend not only the Tierney legacy but the entire NYPD.
Mörderherz
Mörderherz
2002 · DE
No overview available


The Million Dollar Hotel
2000 · 2h 2m · DE
A federal agent searches for a potential killer among the bizarre residents of a dilapidated Los Angeles hotel.
Der Templer
Der Templer
2002 · 15m · DE
A Knight Templar returns home from the Crusades in the Promised Land and has lost his faith in God due to his experiences fighting the infidels. When he passes a small village, a young woman is to be burned as a witch there at the same time. The crusader does not think twice, frees the mysterious beauty at the risk of his life and is seriously injured on the run. In the woods, the herbalist takes care of his injuries and nurses the Templar back to health. For her help, however, the mysterious woman demands a very high price...


The Musketeer
2001 · 1h 44m · DE
Young D'Artagnan seeks to join the legendary musketeer brigade and avenge his father's death - but he finds that the musketeers have been disbanded.
The 2000s ran on digital transition: DV cameras democratized production while CGI reached the point of photorealism. It's also when the fantasy epic and the modern superhero film established their commercial dominance.
German cinema's two great periods bookend the century: Weimar-era Expressionism, whose shadows and angles built the visual grammar of horror and noir, and the New German Cinema of the 1970s under Fassbinder, Herzog, and Wenders.