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A German film can give your family a shared story to talk about and a manageable way to practise listening. These ten choices include adventures, animation and historical films. They have different themes, styles and levels of language difficulty; there is no single list suitable for every child.
Before choosing, check the age classification and content information for the exact version, and consider your child’s interests and sensitivity. The linked film records and broadcaster descriptions help identify the titles. Streaming availability, audio tracks and subtitles vary by territory and edition. A silent film is included for visual storytelling and reading rather than dialogue listening.
1. Ostwind – Zusammen sind wir frei (2013)
Mika spends the summer at her grandmother’s horse farm and develops a bond with the horse Ostwind. The first film appeared in 2013, not 2015; later films continue the series.
Language activity: Animal and riding vocabulary: das Pferd (horse), reiten (to ride), der Stall (stable).
Film background and version information.
2. Der 7bte Zwerg (2014)
This animated fairy-tale adventure follows the dwarf Bubi and a group of familiar storybook characters. The stylized title is Der 7bte Zwerg; in ordinary words, der siebte Zwerg. It is connected with the earlier live-action 7 Zwerge films, but should not be confused with them.
Language activity: Describe a character’s problem and what the group does to help. Animated voices, songs and jokes can be harder to follow than the pictures suggest.
Film background and version information.
3. Die Blindgänger (2004)
Marie and Inga are blind teenagers with an interest in music. They meet Herbert, who wants to return to Kazakhstan, and music becomes part of their plan to help him. The story concerns friendship, independence and belonging.
Language activity: Collect music words such as die Band, singen (to sing) and das Lied (song). Its themes may suit older children better than very young viewers; choose according to the child and the specific edition.
Film background and version information.
4. Das Sandmännchen – Abenteuer im Traumland (2010)
The Sandmännchen is well known from television. This particular cinema film sends the character into an adventure after the dream sand is stolen. The television series and the feature film are different choices; this entry refers to the film.
Language activity: Dream vocabulary: der Traum (dream), schlafen (to sleep), aufwachen (to wake up). Short television episodes can provide a separate option when a full film is too long.
Film background and version information.
5. Vorstadtkrokodile (2009)
This adaptation of Max von der Grün’s novel follows a children’s group and its adventures. The 2009 film has two later sequels. Friendship and inclusion are central topics.
Language activity: Discuss who belongs to the group and how the characters help one another. The language reflects the film’s setting and period, rather than a guarantee of how all children speak today.
Film background and version information.
6. Die Abenteuer von Pico und Columbus (1992)
This animated fantasy brings Columbus together with a woodworm named Pico. Treat the talking-animal adventure as fiction, rather than a historically accurate account of Columbus’s voyages or their consequences.
Language activity: Journey vocabulary: das Schiff (ship), das Meer (sea), die Reise (journey). Check that your edition contains the German audio track.
Film background and version information.
7. Die sieben Raben (1937 puppet-film version)
In the Grimm tale, seven brothers are turned into ravens, not witches. Their sister searches for them and tries to free them from the spell. The 1937 puppet film is one adaptation among several, so verify which version you are selecting.
Language activity: Fairy-tale words such as der Rabe (raven), der Fluch (curse) and die Geschwister (siblings). Older puppetry and frightening events may affect children differently; preview it first.
Film background and version information.
8. Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (1926)
Lotte Reiniger’s silhouette film draws on tales associated with One Thousand and One Nights. It is the oldest surviving animated feature, not the first animation of any kind. Crucially, it is a silent film, so it does not provide ordinary German dialogue listening practice.
Language activity: Choose a version with German intertitles for reading, or narrate a short scene yourselves in German. This is a visual storytelling and film-history choice, with a different learning purpose from a spoken film.
Film background and version information.
9. Der Mondmann (2012)
Based on Tomi Ungerer’s picture book, this animated film follows the Moon Man’s visit to Earth. It offers a story about curiosity, difference and encounters with others. Do not confuse it with the unrelated live-action film about comedian Andy Kaufman, which also has the German title Der Mondmann.
Language activity: Describe the Moon Man and compare Earth with the moon: der Mond, die Erde, der Himmel (sky).
Film background and version information.
10. Lissi und der wilde Kaiser (2007)
Michael Herbig’s animated comedy parodies the Sissi films. Lissi is already married to Emperor Franz; the story involves her kidnapping and a rescue, rather than a new romance with the yeti. Cultural references and comic tone make this a choice to preview.
Language activity: The original film’s classification is FSK 6, not “appropriate for children of all ages”. A classification is not a promise that every six-year-old will enjoy or understand it. Listen for differences between ordinary conversation and exaggerated comic speech.
Film background and version information.
A family viewing routine
- Check that the chosen version has German audio. Look for German subtitles if you want written support; English subtitles are not available on every release.
- Start with a short scene if a full film is too demanding. Watch for the overall story before pausing to examine every word.
- Choose a few useful words or phrases. Record nouns with their articles, then replay the scene to hear them in context.
- Ask a simple question in German: Wer ist das? — Who is that? Was passiert? — What happens? Warum ist sie traurig? — Why is she sad?
- Retell a favourite scene, draw it or act out a short conversation in your own words.
Children’s films can still include fast speech, dialect, wordplay or difficult themes. Use pauses and subtitles when helpful, and let the activity remain enjoyable. Watching a film does not by itself guarantee language progress or particular school, behaviour or family outcomes.
Which title would your family like to try? Share a recommendation in the comments.
