Rapid production of hit movies gaining popularity
In the realm of international entertainment, German productions have been making a significant impact, with several notable works capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.
The Ufa production "Save me" has achieved a remarkable milestone, securing the largest global audience for a non-American title on Amazon's streaming service. The six-part series, based on the young adult novel published in 2018, premiered on Prime Video in 2024.
Another successful German television series is "Babylon Berlin," currently in production for its final season. The series, which debuted in 2017, is based on Volker Kutscher's novel "Der nasse Fisch - Gereon Raths erster Fall," published in 2008. The final season, due to be released in 2025, will take place in February 1933, during the Nazi takeover of power.
The world of cinema has also seen a surge in German productions. Wolfgang Herrndorf's novel "Tschick," published in 2010, was adapted into a film in 2016, attracting over 900,000 cinema-goers. Although not quite as successful as the book's readership of around four million, it still made a significant impact.
Hape Kerkeling's travelogue "I'm Off Then" about the Camino de Santiago, published in 2006, was adapted into a film in 2015. The film adaptation had just under two million cinema-goers, falling short of the book's sales of over five million. However, Kerkeling's autobiography, published in October 2014, was also adapted into a film titled "The Boy Must Go Out," released in 2018. Directed by Oscar winner Caroline Link, the film attracted almost four million cinema-goers.
Notable mentions include Felix Lobrecht's novel "Sonne und Beton," published in 2017, and its film adaptation, released in 2023. The film, which takes viewers through shattered families and aimless men, high-rise slums, and backroom deals, was seen by 1.2 million cinemagoers, reminiscent of "Tschick," but not quite as good.
Helene Hegemann's novel "Axolotl Roadkill," published in 2010, was adapted into a film titled "Axolotl Overkill" and released in 2017. The film stands out for the strong performance of young actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer.
In the future, audiences can look forward to the film adaptation of Annette Hess' novel "German House," which revolves around the legal and societal reckoning of the mass murder of Jews. The miniseries for Disney+ is excellently produced. Additionally, Mona Kasten's debut novel "Maxton Hall – Die Welt zwischen uns," published in 2018, will be adapted into a six-part series and released on Amazon Prime Video in 2024.
Lastly, Timur Vermes' debut novel "Look Who's Back," published in 2012, was adapted into a film in 2015. The film adaptation had around 2.5 million cinema-goers.
As these productions continue to captivate audiences worldwide, it's clear that the future of German literature and film is bright. With a second season of "Save me" set to air from 7th November, there's even more to look forward to.
