List of highest-grossing films in Germany explained

This list charts the most successful films at cinemas in Germany by admissions. It also lists the most popular German productions in terms of box office sales, in euros and admissions. The Jungle Book, initially released in 1968 but with subsequent reissues, is Germany's biggest film of all time since 1963 in terms of admissions with 27.3 million tickets sold, nearly 10 million more than Titanics 18.8 million tickets sold. It has grossed an estimated $108 million in Germany making it the third highest-grossing film of all time in Germany behind only Avatar (2009) ($137 million) and Titanic (1997) ($125 million).[1] Der Schuh des Manitu (2001) is the highest-grossing German production with a gross of €63 million and a record (since 1962) 11.7 million admissions. The 1953 East German film Die Geschichte vom kleinen Muck had the most admissions for a film from East Germany with almost 13 million.

Most successful films by admissions

The table below lists the most successful films in Germany since 1963 in terms of admissions. The Jungle Book is Germany's biggest film of all time in terms of admissions with 27.3 million tickets sold, nearly 10 million more than Titanics 18.8 million tickets sold.

RankTitleYearAdmissions[2]
1data-sort-value="Jungle Book" The Jungle Book196827,290,763
2Titanic199818,812,740
3Once Upon a Time in the West196913,012,746
4Doctor Zhivago196612,750,000
5Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone200112,595,323
6Trinity Is Still My Name197212,267,000
7data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" 200111,930,785
8data-sort-value="Lion King" The Lion King199411,899,893
9data-sort-value="Schuh des Manitu" Der Schuh des Manitu200111,721,183
10Avatar200911,311,518
11The Aristocats197111,294,126
12Thunderball196511,250,000
13The Silence196411,000,000
14data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" 200210,753,596
15Pretty Woman199010,625,337
16data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" 200310,442,102
17Goldfinger196510,250,000
18202210,198,391
19Treasure of the Silver Lake196210,000,000
20Apache Gold196310,000,000
21The Rescuers19779,767,049
22Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets20029,728,779
23Jurassic Park19939,395,450
24Independence Day19969,272,424
25Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 120049,165,932
26The Intouchables20129,162,715
2720159,060,311
28You Only Live Twice19679,000,000
2919998,962,516
30Finding Nemo20038,839,084

Highest-grossing films prior to 1963

The most successful films released prior to 1963 based on theatrical rentals in Deutschmarks to February 1984 were:

RankTitleYearRentals DM[3]
1Ben-Hur195932.0
2Gone With the Wind193930.0
3The Bridge on the River Kwai195724.0
4From Here to Eternity195320.0

List of highest-grossing German productions

RankTitleYearGross €
[4]
1data-sort-value="Schuh des Manitu" Der Schuh des Manitu200165,131,251
2Fack ju Göhte 2201562,883,798
3Honig im Kopf201458,506,360
4Fack ju Göhte201354,812,272
5Fack ju Göhte 3201753,151,550
6Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1200451,276,038
7201946,963,873
8201541,957,829
9Keinohrhasen200740,480,446
107 Zwerge – Männer allein im Wald200439,300,000[5]

Most successful German productions by admissions

The following are the most successful German productions ranked by admissions in Germany since 1962, excluding those produced in East Germany between 1945-1990 (see separate list below).

RankTitleYearAdmissions
1data-sort-value="Schuh des Manitu" Der Schuh des Manitu200111,721,183
2Treasure of the Silver Lake196210,000,000
3Apache Gold196310,000,000
4Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 120049,165,932
5Otto – Der Film19858,776,026
6Fack ju Göhte 220157,698,547
7Old Shatterhand19647,500,000
8Fack ju Göhte20137,383,322
9Honig im Kopf20147,274,964
10Schulmädchen-Report19707,000,000

Most successful films in East Germany based on admissions

Below is a list of the most successful films produced in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany (1945–49) and East Germany (1949-1990). Films prior to 1949 include admissions from West Berlin and the west zones.

RankTitleYearAdmissions[6]
1data-sort-value="Geschichte vom kleinen Muck" Die Geschichte vom kleinen Muck195312,998,352
2Ehe im Schatten194712,888,153
3Heart of Stone19509,779,526
4data-sort-value="Sons of Great Bear" The Sons of Great Bear19669,422,395
5Raid19478,090,000
6Snow White19617,597,495
7Street Acquaintances19486,469,627
8data-sort-value="Murderers Are Among Us" The Murderers Are Among Us19466,468,921
9data-sort-value="Merry Wives of Windsor" The Merry Wives of Windsor19506,090,329
10My Wife Makes Music19586,052,050

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: German Box Office: 'Star Wars' Becomes Fourth Highest-Grossing Film of All Time. Scott Roxborough. The Hollywood Reporter. 11 January 2016. 11 January 2016.
  2. Web site: Besucher Deutschland. InsideKino. de. 29 December 2023.
  3. Variety. All-Time German Rental Champs. 7 March 1984. 336.
  4. Web site: InsideKino – Besucher deutscher Filme in Deutschland. de. 8 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Seven Dwarves - German gross $48,726,183 (Average exchange rate $1.24=1 Euro). Box Office Mojo. 8 May 2020.
  6. Web site: Die Erfolgreichsten DDR-Film In der DDR. InsideKino. de. 8 May 2020.