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?

Metropolis

Didi - alles im Eimer

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

I gave him everything. He said he loved me. Why?

Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht

Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt

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

Why aren't U.S. prisons more like Marine Corps boot camp, were every second of the day there are mandatory activities so that at night everyone is so tired they go to sleep until wakeup at 5:30 am? Would this make prisons safer for all?

Die Feuerzangenbowle

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!

In jenen Tagen

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Man spricht Deutsh

Es geschah am helllichten Tag

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WCWS Game 2: Texas Tech evens series with 4-3 win, setting up decisive Game 3 - Yahoo Sports

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.

Das Haus in Montevideo

Lola rennt

Why did Sumire's summoning Nue act strangely in response to Kawaki's karma?

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.

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):

Nackt

Why don't we hear our own snoring?