Streaming recommendations

Suitable for Children

There are plenty of great films for children available in the media libraries of public service broadcasters and on various streaming services. Here are our streaming tips for kids that adults can also enjoy.

2011, fantasy, 59 min, OV with German subtitles
Aschenputtel

New adaptation of the Grimm fairytale by Uwe Janson starring Aylin Tezel, Florian Bartholomai, Barbara Auer: Despite enduring cruelty from her stepmother and stepsister, Cinderella refuses to be defeated.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 05.04.2028.

2018, documentary, 30 min, OV with German subtitles
MausSpezial: Ein Sommer auf der Alpe

A special episode of Die Sendung mit der Maus about Lena the cow, who spends the summer on a mountain pasture with her fellow cows and, of course, with the mouse and the elephant.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 2099.

© WDR
2023, documentary, 11 min, OV with German subtitles
Was fliegt, wächst und krabbelt im Frühling?

From Die Sendung mit dem Elefanten: This episode tells the story of a doodlebug flying in slow motion, portrays the song "Vogelhochzeit" as well as clover, dandelion and yarrow as food for rabbits.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 06.09.2024.

© WDR/Trickstudio Lutterbeck
2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles
Was bringt Gendern wirklich?

From the Quarks TabulaRasa series: Gender-inclusive language: Some say it's unnecessary, others say that true equality can only be achieved when our language represents everyone equally.
Watch on Quarks@Youtube.

@ WDR
2021, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles
Sophie Scholl & die Weiße Rose: die 5 letzten Tage

This video highlights the last days in the lives of members of Die Weiße Rose (White Rose) resistance group between their arrest and execution for their opposition to the Nazi state.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 22.06.2026.

© funk
2014, fantasy, 58 min, OV with German subtitles
Sechse kommen durch die ganze Welt

This adaptation of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale tells the story of six outsiders who combine their individual strengths to become an unbeatable team. Starring Sebastian Bezzel, Laura Maria Heid and Rafael Gareisen. Directed by Uwe Janson.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 23.07.2025.

© rbb/Askania Media Filmproduktion/Daniela Incoronato
2019, animation, 3 min, OV
Meine Schmusedecke: Der Schmetterling

From Das Sandmännchen: The butterfly is not happy with his trunk. Can his friends convince him that it is great to have a trunk?
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 2099.

© rbb
2014, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · Dichter dran!

Short biography of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was already a legend in his own lifetime.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 01.01.2099.

© Heidi Kull / WDR
2017, comedy, 90 min, OV with German subtitles
Kein Herz für Inder

The Neufund family is expecting a female exchange student called Sandy from England but instead of Sandy, a 13-year-old Indian boy shows up at the airport... Culture clash comedy starring Aglaia Szyszkowitz, Martin Brambach, Lena Urzendowsky, Mercedes Müller and Zayn Baig. Directed by Viviane Andereggen.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 05.05.2025.

© ARD Degeto/Stephan Rabold
2022, fantasy, 89 min, OV with German subtitles
Das Märchen vom Frosch und der goldenen Kugel

Loosely based on The Frog King and Iron Henry by the Brothers Grimm. Unlike the classic fairy tale, the story is told from the frog's point of view. Starring Jan Liem, Viet Anh Alexander Tran, Alina Hidic and Götz Otto.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 10.04.2028.

© ZDF / [F] Jan Hromadko / [M] Ewald Ebers
2021, documentary, 24 min, OV with German subtitles
Der Demokratie-Check

From the series Checker Reportagen: In this fun series about facts aimed at children, presenter Tobi explains how a democracy works, who can vote and who can be elected in Germany.
Watch on KiKA Mediathek.

© BR/megaherz gmbh/Hans-Florian Hopfner
2015, documentary, 15 min, OV with German subtitles
Carl - Ich werde Tänzer

From the ZDF series stark!: This reportage follows 12-year-old Carl who is living his dream of being a dancer. Since the summer, he has been attending the Palucca School, a prestigious dance academy in Dresden.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 09.12.2027.

© ZDF
2019, fantasy, 6 min, OV, no German subtitles
Der Wolf und die sieben Geißlein

Animated short film based on the Grimm brothers’ tale The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek.

© ZDF / trikk17
2005, comedy, 68 min, OV with German subtitles
Löwenzahn, der Film – die Reise ins Abenteuer

In this television film, Peter Lustig is tricked into trading his small plot in Elchwinkel for a castle by a construction company. He realises his mistake and takes desperate measures to try and cancel the contract before it is too late... Starring Peter Lustig, Helmut Krauss, Dietmar Bär and Bettina Zimmermann. Directed by Hannes Spring.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 26.10.2027.

© ZDF / Christiane Pausch
2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles
Frauen & Männer: Wie unterschiedlich sind sie wirklich

From Quark's TabulaRasa series: Boy or girl? Woman or man? Are the differences between the sexes biological or socially constructed? Quarks explores these questions.
Watch on Quarks@Youtube.

@ WDR
2019, documentary, 74 min, OV with German subtitles
Anna auf der Alm

Animal reporter Anna spends a summer with dairymaid Kati on the Steiner Alm, a grazing area in Tyrol, Austria.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 06.08.2027.

© BR/Text und Bild Medienproduktion GmbH & Co. KG
2022, documentary, 30 min, German subtitles
Märchenhaftes Deutschland

Märchenhaftes Deutschland (fairytale Germany) is a six-part series that goes in search of the roots of well-known Grimm’s fairy tales such as Snow White. It features tourist tips and information for each region covered.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 07.04.2024.

© WDR
2022, documentary, 9 min, OV with German subtitles
Hitler & Co.: Die großen Kunsträuber der Geschichte

The bust of Nefertiti, paintings, mummies, Benin bronzes and other artefacts can be admired in museums all over the world, including Germany. Many of these artefacts were originally stolen, and as this documentary explains, cultural objects are still being ‘looted’ today.
Watch on funk until 29.06.2027.

© funk
2014, documentary, 11 min, OV with German subtitles
Franz Kafka - Dichter dran!

A short biography of Franz Kafka: 11 entertaining minutes about his life and work.
Watch on website Planet Schule.

© WDR / Heidi Kull

Streaming Recommendations

Streaming recommendations

2011, fantasy, 59 min, OV with German subtitles Aschenputtel

2018, documentary, 30 min, OV with German subtitles MausSpezial: Ein Sommer auf der Alpe

2023, documentary, 11 min, OV with German subtitles Was fliegt, wächst und krabbelt im Frühling?

2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles Was bringt Gendern wirklich?

2021, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles Sophie Scholl & die Weiße Rose: die 5 letzten Tage

2014, fantasy, 58 min, OV with German subtitles Sechse kommen durch die ganze Welt

2019, animation, 3 min, OV Meine Schmusedecke: Der Schmetterling

2014, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · Dichter dran!

2017, comedy, 90 min, OV with German subtitles Kein Herz für Inder

2022, fantasy, 89 min, OV with German subtitles Das Märchen vom Frosch und der goldenen Kugel

2021, documentary, 24 min, OV with German subtitles Der Demokratie-Check

2015, documentary, 15 min, OV with German subtitles Carl - Ich werde Tänzer

2019, fantasy, 6 min, OV, no German subtitles Der Wolf und die sieben Geißlein

2005, comedy, 68 min, OV with German subtitles Löwenzahn, der Film – die Reise ins Abenteuer

2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles Frauen & Männer: Wie unterschiedlich sind sie wirklich

2019, documentary, 74 min, OV with German subtitles Anna auf der Alm

2022, documentary, 30 min, German subtitles Märchenhaftes Deutschland

2022, documentary, 9 min, OV with German subtitles Hitler & Co.: Die großen Kunsträuber der Geschichte

2014, documentary, 11 min, OV with German subtitles Franz Kafka - Dichter dran!

2011, fantasy, 59 min, OV with German subtitles
Aschenputtel

2018, documentary, 30 min, OV with German subtitles
MausSpezial: Ein Sommer auf der Alpe

2023, documentary, 11 min, OV with German subtitles
Was fliegt, wächst und krabbelt im Frühling?

2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles
Was bringt Gendern wirklich?

2021, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles
Sophie Scholl & die Weiße Rose: die 5 letzten Tage

2014, fantasy, 58 min, OV with German subtitles
Sechse kommen durch die ganze Welt

2019, animation, 3 min, OV
Meine Schmusedecke: Der Schmetterling

2014, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · Dichter dran!

2017, comedy, 90 min, OV with German subtitles
Kein Herz für Inder

2022, fantasy, 89 min, OV with German subtitles
Das Märchen vom Frosch und der goldenen Kugel

2021, documentary, 24 min, OV with German subtitles
Der Demokratie-Check

2015, documentary, 15 min, OV with German subtitles
Carl - Ich werde Tänzer

2019, fantasy, 6 min, OV, no German subtitles
Der Wolf und die sieben Geißlein

2005, comedy, 68 min, OV with German subtitles
Löwenzahn, der Film – die Reise ins Abenteuer

2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles
Frauen & Männer: Wie unterschiedlich sind sie wirklich

2019, documentary, 74 min, OV with German subtitles
Anna auf der Alm

2022, documentary, 30 min, German subtitles
Märchenhaftes Deutschland

2022, documentary, 9 min, OV with German subtitles
Hitler & Co.: Die großen Kunsträuber der Geschichte

2014, documentary, 11 min, OV with German subtitles
Franz Kafka - Dichter dran!