Streaming recommendations

Series

Take a deep dive into the media libraries of the public broadcasters and other streaming services with our streaming tips. From drama and comedy to fascinating documentaries, there are plenty of binge-worthy series available for you to enjoy.

Series

2023, documentary, 132 min, OV with German subtitles
Bikepacking nach Paris

In this documentary series we follow three friends on their cycling adventure from Munich to Paris. Their journey takes 20 days, a distance of around 1,300 kilometres and involves steep climbs of more than 10,000 metres.
Watch on ARD Mediathek.

© BR/Jens Scheibe
2020, drama, 250 min, OV with German subtitles
Breaking Even

During a test drive, the prototype of a self-driving car is involved in a fatal accident. In this exciting drama, Lawyer Nora Shaheen is tasked with preventing a scandal that threatens to bring down the Lindemann company. Starring Lorna Ishema, Justus von Dohnányi and Sinje Irslinger.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 03.07.2024.

© ZDF/Philipp Rathmer
2023, comedy, 96 min, OV with German subtitles
Clashing Differences

In this drama, the planned House of Womxn panel at the International Women’s Conference is in trouble: too white! It has to be more diverse... Starring Thelma Buabeng, Minh-Khai Phan-Thi, Şafak Şengül and Jane Chirwa.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 05.10.2024.

© ZDF / Diara Sow
2023, thriller, 250 min, OV with German subtitles
Der Schatten

In this mystery thriller series, journalist Norah is told by a beggar that she will kill a man called Arthur Grimm on 13 August. Following the ominous prophecy, strange things start to happen in Norah’s life... Based on the novel by Melanie Raabe. Starring Deleila Piasko and Andreas Pietschmann.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 26.05.2025.

© ZDF / Tomas Mikule
2022, dramedy, 270 min, OV with German subtitles
Die Glücksspieler

A man plays God: three people are given one million euros on the condition that they try to be happy. But will it end well? Starring Katharina Schüttler, Lena Dörrie, Eko Fresh, Sergej Moya, Karolina Lodyga and Manuel Rubey.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 12.10.2024.

© BR/ORF/WDR/die film gmbh
2022-2023, comedy, 210/240 min, OV with German subtitles
Doppelhaushälfte

In this comedy series, two very different families live side-by-side in a semi-detached house in the Berlin countryside. Will they get along or could this be a recipe for disaster? Starring Milan Peschel, Minh-Khai Phan-Thi and Maryam Zaree.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 18.03.2025.

© ZDF / Johanna Schröder / [M] Thomas Carls
2023, documentary, 236 min, OV with German subtitles
Einzeltäter - Trilogie

Three documentaries about the bereaved families of the victims of the right-wing terrorist attacks in Munich 2016, Halle 2019 and Hanau 2020.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 20.07.2025.

© ZDF / Julian Vogel
2023, comedy, 184 min, OV with German subtitles
I don't work here

Comedy series about the challenges of multi-generational living. Starring Akeem van Flodrop, Sina Martens, Gabriela Maria Schmeide and Peter Lohmeyer.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 18.05.2025.

© ZDF / Alina Simmelbauer / [M] NEUESUPER
2020, drama, 120 min, OV with German subtitles
Liebe. Jetzt!

The drama series tells six different short stories about relationships in the time of the Covid pandemic. Starring Jürgen Vogel, Natalia Belitski, Lea Zoe Voss, Maryam Zaree and others.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 23.08.2025.

© ZDF / Juan Sarmiento G.
2023, comedy, 270 min, OV with German subtitles
Nackt über Berlin

Coming-of-age series from director Axel Ranisch, based on the novel by Sönke Andresen. Two students imprison the headmaster of their school in his apartment and force him to confess intimate secrets remotely through a PC. With Lorenzo Germeno, Anh Khoa Tran and Thorsten Merten.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 06.10.2025.

© SWR/Studio.tv.film
2022, drama, 320 min, OV with German subtitles
Safe

Tom (Carlo Ljubek) and Katinka (Judith Bohle) run a psychotherapy practice for children and young people in Berlin. In 8 episodes, this drama series follows the therapy sessions of the four very different young protagonists. Directed by Caroline Link.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 22.01.2025.

© ZDF / Bella Halben
2021, crime, 180 min, OV with German subtitles
Sörensen

Crime series by and starring Bjarne Mädel, based on the novels by Sven Stricker. Chief Inspector Sörensen suffers from an anxiety disorder and transfers to a supposedly quieter town in Nordfriesland, where he hopes life will be more peaceful. Things are not as uneventful as he might have hoped though.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 23.03.2025.

© NDR/Michael Ihle
2021, documentary, 118 min, OV with German subtitles
Sound of Germany

A three-part documentary about musician Olli Schulz’s journey across Germany and his reflections on the current state of the country and society.
Watch on ARD Mediathek.

© NDR
2023, documentary, 270 min, OV with German subtitles
Unser Brot

This three-part documentary is a fascinating insight into the lives of the people who make sure we have fresh, delicious bread on our tables every day: Bakers, millers and farmers.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 15.10.2025.

© NDR
2021-2023, drama, 240 min, OV with German subtitles
WIR

This drama series tells the story of a group of thirty-somethings from Teltow and their partly fulfilled, partly unfulfilled dreams and life plans.. Starring Katharina Nesytowa, Eva Maria Jost,
Lorris Andre Blazejewski, Le-Thanh Ho, Erol Afşin, directed by Ester Amrami, Kerstin Polte, Chris Miera.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 15.09.2024.

© ZDF / Oliver Feist
2022, comedy, 240 min, OV with German subtitles
Das Begräbnis

At Wolff-Dieter Meurer's funeral, family and friends gather at his farm in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to pay their respects. Old wounds and family secrets are revealed. With Charly Hübner, Devid Striesow, Claudia Michelsen, Christine Schorn and others, directed by Jan Georg Schütte.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 22.12.2024.

© ARD Degeto/Georges Pauly
2022, documentary, 110 min, OV with German subtitles
Raus aufs Land

A documentary series about families, couples and singles who have moved from the city to the country: They swapped metropopolitan Berlin for rural Brandenburg to make a new start in the countryside.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 08.01.2026.

© rbb/Matthias Neumann
2022, documentary, 180 min, OV with German subtites
Am Pass - Geschichten aus der Spitzenküche

A series about the professional and private lives of young German gourmet chefs.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 03.12.2025.

© SR / Christoph Heymann
2021, documentary, 125 min, OV with German subtitles
Dichtung und Wahrheit - Wie Hip Hop nach Deutschland kam

In this documentary series, artists such as Moses Pelham, Azad, Sabrina Setlur and D-Flame talk about the beginnings of hip hop in Germany and the role Frankfurt played in this process.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 14.02.2026.

© HR
2024, drama, 105 min, OV with German subtitles
Testo

Created by and starring Kida Ramadan, the series is about five convicts who commit a bank robbery that results in a hostage situation. Also starring Frederick Lau, Veysel Gelin, Nicolette Krebitz and Ronald Zehrfeld.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 02.02.2025.

© ARD Degeto/Marco Fischer/Grafik: Niklas Hail
2024, drama, 260 min, OV with German subtitles
Push

The drama series provides a realistic portrayal of the daily lives of three midwives in a hospital, navigating constant stress amid prematurely starting contractions, babies in breech position, and anxious parents. Starring: Anna Schudt, Mariam Hage, Lydia Lehmann, among others.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 10.03.2025.

© ZDF / Richard Kranzin, Bantrybay, [M] Serviceplan
2015, documentary, 360 min, OV with German subtitles
Ein Sommer in Brandenburg

With an old Robur bus, the Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) team travels Brandenburg for a summer, exploring the countryside and encountering its people.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 116.06.2025.

© rbb/Johannes Unger