#1 of 998 Highest-grossing German-language movie ever
2005 · Biography, Drama
$92.2M worldwide
$5.5M US & Canada · 6% $86.7M elsewhere · 94%
German box office
German Box Office: Highest-Grossing German Movies of All Time & 2026 So Far
Downfall (2005) is the highest-grossing German-language movie in our database, with $92.2M worldwide, ahead of Suck Me Shakespeer 2 (2015) ($83M) and Rabbit Without Ears (2007) ($81.7M). 998 German-language films report a worldwide gross, $3B in all, 4% of it from the US & Canada. In 2026 so far, Amrum (2026) leads with $9.3M; 5 releases took $18.7M, up 90% on the same days of 2025 ($9.8M).
- German films with a gross
- 998
- combined worldwide, all time
- $3B
- from 2026 releases so far
- $18.7M
- vs the same days of 2025
- +90%
#1 of 998 All-time records
What Are the 10 Highest-Grossing German Movies Ever?
Downfall (2005) leads with $92.2M, $9.2M ahead of Suck Me Shakespeer 2 (2015). The top 10 took $733.9M together, 25% of what all 998 films earned. 1 of them came out in 2016 or later.
- 1 Feb 18, 2005 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: $86.7M Worldwide: $92.2M
- 2
Sep 10, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $83M - 3
Dec 1, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $81.7M - 4
Feb 27, 2004 US and Canada: $4.1M Rest of the world: $75.3M Worldwide: $79.3M - 5
Nov 7, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77.7M - 6
Dec 1, 2006 US and Canada: $11.3M Rest of the world: $66.4M Worldwide: $77.7M - 7
Jul 11, 2001 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $75.7M - 8
Oct 26, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $64.2M - 9
Oct 7, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.9M - 10
Feb 3, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.4M
2026 so far
What Are the Biggest German Hits of 2026 So Far?
Amrum (2026) leads with $9.3M, 50% of the total. The top 5 together took $18.7M, almost all of what the 5 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
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Number 1 -
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
By release month
Which Month of 2026 Was Best for German Movies?
April releases took the most, $9.3M from 1 film, led by Amrum (2026). March was the quietest month ($855K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Sound of Falling (2026) $7M Sound of Falling (2026)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Miroirs No. 3 (2026) $855K Miroirs No. 3 (2026)
- April Apr Amrum (2026) $9.3M Amrum (2026)
- May May Silent Friend (2026) $1.4M Silent Friend (2026)
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov No reported grosses – so far No reported grosses
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing German Movies?
2011 releases earned the most: $214.2M from 61 films, led by Kokowääh (2011). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 61 films | 61 | $214.2M | Kokowääh (2011) $50.4M |
| 2015 57 films | 57 | $197.8M | Suck Me Shakespeer 2 (2015) $83M |
| 2006 28 films | 28 | $180.7M | The Lives of Others (2006) $77.7M |
| 2018 45 films | 45 | $173.7M | Midnight Runner (2018) $39.7M |
| 2017 43 films | 43 | $172.1M | Suck Me Shakespeer 3 (2017) $64.2M |
| 2010 48 films | 48 | $170.3M | Animals United (2010) $51.9M |
| 2013 62 films | 62 | $169.6M | Suck Me Shakespeer (2013) $77.7M |
| 2005 19 films | 19 | $168.3M | Downfall (2005) $92.2M |
| 2009 48 films | 48 | $160.8M | Gravity (2009) $29.4M |
| 2007 53 films | 53 | $157.7M | Rabbit Without Ears (2007) $81.7M |
By genre
Which German Genres Earned the Most?
Comedy took $1.9B across 356 films, 64% of the total, ahead of Drama ($1.3B) and Family ($611.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
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Comedy $1.9B356 films · #1 Suck Me Shakespeer 2 (2015) -
Drama $1.3B543 films · #1 Downfall (2005) -
Family $611.1M135 films · #1 Animals United (2010) -
Adventure $449.2M90 films · #1 Manitou’s Shoe (2001) -
Romance $354.6M112 films · #1 Rabbit Without Ears (2007) -
Crime $237.5M72 films · #1 Gravity (2009) -
History $221.1M52 films · #1 Downfall (2005) -
Fantasy $218.5M49 films · #1 7 Dwarves: The Forest Is Not Enough (2006) -
Animation $216.9M45 films · #1 Animals United (2010) -
War $193.3M37 films · #1 Downfall (2005)
Archive
German Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1930 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2011 leads with $214.2M, led by Kokowääh (2011).
2020s 7 years · $339.9M
2010s 10 years · $1.5B
- 2019 $62.5M #1 Klassentreffen (2019)
- 2018 $173.7M #1 Midnight Runner (2018)
- 2017 $172.1M #1 Suck Me Shakespeer 3 (2017)
- 2016 $56.1M #1 Toni Erdmann (2016)
- 2015 $197.8M #1 Suck Me Shakespeer 2 (2015)
- 2014 $153.2M #1 Joy of Fatherhood (2014)
- 2013 $169.6M #1 Suck Me Shakespeer (2013)
- 2012 $109M #1 Turkish for Beginners (2012)
- 2011 $214.2M #1 Kokowääh (2011)
- 2010 $170.3M #1 Animals United (2010)
2000s 10 years · $1.1B
- 2009 $160.8M #1 Gravity (2009)
- 2008 $67.3M #1 The Counterfeiters (2008)
- 2007 $157.7M #1 Rabbit Without Ears (2007)
- 2006 $180.7M #1 The Lives of Others (2006)
- 2005 $168.3M #1 Downfall (2005)
- 2004 $134.3M #1 Goodbye Lenin! (2004)
- 2003 $56.1M #1 The Miracle of Bern (2003)
- 2002 $46.8M #1 Bibi Blocksberg (2002)
- 2001 $124.3M #1 Manitou’s Shoe (2001)
- 2000 $34.1M #1 Anatomy (2000)
1990s 10 years · $21.8M
- 1999 $9.1M #1 Run Lola Run (1999)
- 1998 $1.3M #1 The General (1998)
- 1997 $782K #1 Wintersleepers (1997)
- 1996 $232.8K #1 Beyond Silence (1996)
- 1995 $97.8K #1 Brother of Sleep (1995)
- 1994 $468.9K #1 Maybe… Maybe Not (1994)
- 1993 $1.3M #1 Faraway, So Close! (1993)
- 1992 $6.6K #1 Flaming Ears (1992)
- 1991 $6.1M #1 Europa Europa (1991)
- 1990 $2.6M #1 The Nasty Girl (1990)
1980s 8 years · $15.9M
1970s 10 years · $4.5M
- 1979 $15.6K #1 The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979)
- 1978 $4.2M #1 Caravans (1978)
- 1977 $19.6K #1 The Stationmaster’s Wife (1977)
- 1976 $15.9K #1 Chinese Roulette (1976)
- 1975 $25.2K #1 Fear of Fear (1975)
- 1974 $87.7K #1 Alice in the Cities (1974)
- 1973 $71.7K #1 Mean Streets (1973)
- 1972 $46.2K #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- 1971 $9.4K #1 Beware of a Holy Whore (1971)
- 1970 $8.4K #1 Gods of the Plague (1970)
1960s 3 years · $17.9K
1950s 2 years · $27.6K
1940s 2 years · $111.4K
Other languages
Compare German With Another Language
German has 998 films with a gross and $3B in all; each of these 16 languages has the same all-time and yearly charts to compare with.
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Arabic FAQ
German Box Office: Questions & Answers
The German charts in short: the all-time #1, 2026's leader, the billion-dollar hits and the biggest year, answered from the same 998 films as the charts.
What is the highest-grossing German-language movie of all time?
Downfall (2005) leads with $92.2M worldwide, $5.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Suck Me Shakespeer 2 (2015) ($83M) and Rabbit Without Ears (2007) ($81.7M).
All-time chart What is the highest-grossing German-language movie of 2026 so far?
Amrum (2026) leads 2026 with $9.3M worldwide, 50% of the $18.7M that its 5 releases report. Films of this year are still earning, so the order can change.
2026 chart How much have German-language movies earned at the box office?
998 German-language films report a worldwide gross, $3B in all, or $3M per film on average. $106.8M (4%) came from the US & Canada.
How many German-language movies have made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Downfall (2005), earned $92.2M.
Which year was the biggest for German-language movies?
2011 releases earned the most: $214.2M from 61 films, led by Kokowääh (2011).
2011 chart How are German box office numbers counted?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.