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Christian Petzold, director
Director

Christian Petzold: Movies & Box Office

films
19
on screen
1995–2026
box office
$20.1M
average score
74
Born
September 14, 1960 (age 66)
Birthplace
Data not available
Citizenship
German
Occupations
Film director, Screenwriter
Years active
1990-present
Spouses
Data not available
Known for

The Best Christian Petzold Movies

The highest-rated films Christian Petzold is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Miroirs No. 3 (2025) scores highest, at 87. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Christian Petzold's Career in Numbers

Christian Petzold's films in numbers — as a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Christian Petzold works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Pilots (1995) to Miroirs No. 3 (2026), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.

Christian Petzold Movies by Decade

  1. 1990s 2
  2. 2000s 6
  3. 2010s 4
  4. 2020s 4

The 2000s were Christian Petzold's busiest decade, with 6 films.

Christian Petzold Movies by Genre

  • Drama 15
  • Thriller 1

Drama is the genre Christian Petzold has worked in most, with 15 films, ahead of thriller (1).

Christian Petzold Career Milestones

First film
Pilots 1995
Biggest box office hit
Barbara $6.91M worldwide
Best-rated film
Miroirs No. 3 Movie Echo Score 87
Newest film
Miroirs No. 3 2026
19 credits

Christian Petzold Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Christian Petzold is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 74. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Biography

Who Is Christian Petzold?

Christian Petzold was born in Data not available in 1960 and is 66 years old. Credited on films since 1995, as a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Christian Petzold is a prominent figure in contemporary German cinema. Born on September 14, 1960, the acclaimed director and screenwriter has been making a significant impact on the film scene since he debuted in the late 90s. His unique approach to storytelling has been marked by the careful use of narrative gaps and a focus on everyday details, his films often incorporating historical context and references. Petzold's works are a direct reflection of his aesthetic preferences, harboring a minimalistic style yet delivering a profound social commentary.

His training at the 'German Film and Television Academy Berlin' served as a launching platform for his career, where he studied from 1988 to 1994. Petzold's filmography includes a diverse range of short and feature films, with notable works such as 'The State I Am In' and 'Ghosts', both of which garnered attention and critical acclaim within the German film industry and beyond. His films have been showcased at various international film festivals, underlining his growing stature in worldwide cinema. Among his accomplishments is the 'Silver Bear' award he received at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2012 for his film 'Barbara'. More recently, his film 'Transit', released in 2018, unveiled a fascinating temporal ambiguity, emphasizing Petzold's flair for subtle complexity.

Works with

Who Christian Petzold Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Christian Petzold shares the most films with. Paula Beer comes first, with 5 films together, followed by Nina Hoss (4).

FAQ

Christian Petzold: Questions & Answers

How many movies Christian Petzold has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Christian Petzold been in?

Christian Petzold is credited on 19 films, from 1995 to 2026. All of them as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Christian Petzold's highest-grossing movie?

Barbara (2012) is Christian Petzold's biggest box office hit, with $6.91M worldwide, ahead of Phoenix (2015) ($5.86M). Across every film with box office figures, Christian Petzold's movies have made $20.1M.

Christian Petzold's biggest hits

What is the best Christian Petzold movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Christian Petzold's best-rated film is Miroirs No. 3 (2025) with a score of 87, followed by Miroirs No. 3 (2026) (76).

Best Christian Petzold movies, ranked

How old is Christian Petzold?

Christian Petzold is 66 years old, born on September 14, 1960 in Data not available.

What is Christian Petzold's newest movie?

The most recent film on Christian Petzold's filmography is Miroirs No. 3 (2026), which Christian Petzold directed.

Who does Christian Petzold work with most often?

Christian Petzold shares the most films with Paula Beer (5 films), Nina Hoss (4 films) and Tom Tykwer (2 films).

The Best Christian Petzold Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 19 directing credits.

See the ranking

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