Veronica Pamoukaghlian Last updated: The 11 Best German Christmas Movies for the Holiday Season
The allure of watching Christmas movies is pretty universal.
They’re programmed on TV around the holidays, screened in theaters and enjoyed by families all over the world.
Germany is certainly not the exception to the rule.
Over the years, it has produced many popular films about Christmas, from light comedies to more serious and dramatic stories.
In this post, you’ll get 11 of the best German Christmas movies to add to your watchlist this holiday season.
Contents
- 1. “Joyeux Noël” (Merry Christmas)
- 2. “Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel” (Three Wishes for Cinderella)
- 3. “Single Bells”
- 4. “Obendrüber, da schneit es” (On Top of That, It’s Snowing)
- 5. “Der kleine Nazi” (The Little Nazi)
- 6. “Das ewige Lied” (The Eternal Song)
- 7. “Zwei Weihnachtsmänner” (Two Santas)
- 8. “Das fliegende Klassenzimmer” (The Flying Classroom)
- 9. “Meine schöne Bescherung” (Messy Christmas)
- 10. “Die Weihnachtsgans Auguste” (Auguste’s Christmas Goose)
- 11. “Alles ist Liebe” (Love Is All)
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. “Joyeux Noël” (Merry Christmas)
Year: 2005
Genre: Historic Drama
Thanks to an unofficial truce on the Western Front during the First World War, soldiers from different sides get to experience Christmas of 1914 together. This gives them the opportunity to learn about each other’s way of life.
This heartwarming anti-war tale is actually based on a true story. It’s moving and emotional, focusing on certain characters without losing the storyline of what really happened. It’s an ideal choice if you want a Christmas film with substance and a powerful message.
2. “Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel” (Three Wishes for Cinderella)
Year: 1973
Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Family
Literally translating to “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella,” this Czech-German collaboration is one of the most traditional Christmas films, enjoyed by children and adults alike. It’s always played on TV in Germany at least once around the holidays.
It’s basically a Christmas version of the classic Cinderella story, featuring a lovable heroine who wants nothing but to marry the prince of her dreams. Her life is transformed when she’s given three magical hazelnuts.
3. “Single Bells”
Year: 1997
Genre: Comedy
Kati and her boyfriend Jonas have a holiday tradition of avoiding their families and escaping to a tropical island to celebrate Christmas. But after over eight years together, Kati is ready to get married and Jonas isn’t quite on board.
So this year, Kati decides to spend the holidays with her family. All of the drama and chaos she’s been trying to avoid ensues, creating a hilarious spectacle that will bring amusement and laughter to your movie night.
4. “Obendrüber, da schneit es” (On Top of That, It’s Snowing)
Year: 2012
Genre: Drama/Comedy
This film was first released as a TV movie and immediately gained a lot of popularity in Germany–over 6.8 million people watched its first showing!
It follows a group of people who live in an apartment building in Munich. Each one is dealing with their own unique problems, but they end up coming together to celebrate Christmas Eve together.
5. “Der kleine Nazi” (The Little Nazi)
Year: 2010
Genre: Short/Comedy
This is an award-winning short film from the Jewish Film Institute, first shown at their San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It presents a different perspective on Christmas.
When the Wölkel family heads to Grandma’s to celebrate the holiday, they discover that she intends to revive the Nazi Christmas from the old days. Things get further complicated because the family is expecting an Israeli guest, and the last thing they want is to be seen as Nazis.
Watch it (for free!) on YouTube
6. “Das ewige Lied” (The Eternal Song)
Year: 1997
Genre: Drama
This film tells the story of a priest who arrives in a village divided both physically and, more importantly, politically and socially. It’s a tense standoff between the wealthy merchants on one side of the river and the poor bargemen on the other.
The priest sides with the bargemen, fighting for their rights in the name of justice. Together with the local schoolteacher, he creates the famous song “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) to restore the town’s Christmas spirit.
7. “Zwei Weihnachtsmänner” (Two Santas)
Year: 2008
Genre: Comedy
This is Germany’s response to the Hollywood film “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” Two men with very different levels of career success are trying to get home to Berlin for Christmas.
When their plane takes a detour due to heavy snowfall, they’re forced to travel together if they want to get home in time to spend Christmas with their families. This brings them on a long journey full of mishaps and hilarious moments.
8. “Das fliegende Klassenzimmer” (The Flying Classroom)
Year: 2003
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Family
This is one of the film adaptations of a novel by Erich Kästner (the latest version was released in 2023). The film tells the story of Jonathan, a young boy who’s always been an outcast and starts at a new school a few days before Christmas.
A heated rivalry between students from another school causes lots of drama but unites Jonathan with his new classmates. He ultimately finds his place in the world in his new home.
9. “Meine schöne Bescherung” (Messy Christmas)
Year: 2007
Genre: Comedy
This a hilarious comedy about a thirty-something woman who decides to invite all her exes, her husband’s exes and their new partners over for Christmas dinner. She fails to mention this to her husband.
As you might expect, there are all kinds of reasons for Christmas to get messy as awkward moments unfold and surprising secrets are revealed. This is an excellent option if you’re in the mood for a good laugh.
10. “Die Weihnachtsgans Auguste” (Auguste’s Christmas Goose)
Year: 1988
Genre: Comedy/Fantasy/Family
This film is based on the children’s story of the same name written by Friedrich Wolf. When opera singer Ludwig Löwenhaupt buys a live goose to cook for Christmas, things don’t go exactly as planned.
His son befriends the goose and becomes convinced that it can talk, putting Ludwig’s grand Christmas dinner plans in jeopardy. This is a perfect film for the whole family with touches of innocent humor and an uplifting message.
11. “Alles ist Liebe” (Love Is All)
Year: 2014
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This is a popular German Christmas film that sets out to resolve the love troubles of several endearing characters from the Frankfurt area before Christmas is over. The film can be considered Germany’s response to “Love Actually.”
One storyline involves Martin who regrets leaving his wife, another involves Hannes who cheated on Clara with a schoolteacher and yet another involves Kiki who’s looking for the man of her dreams.
Watch it on Prime Video or Apple TV
As Christmas approaches, many of us feel a yearning to relax and watch one of those nostalgic holiday films that warm our hearts.
Now you have some great options that will entertain any German speaker and engage German learners with language practice that doesn’t feel like work!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
