Talking About TV and Movies in Germany: It’s More Complicated Than You Think!

Okay, so I moved to Berlin six months ago. It’s amazing, truly, but let me tell you, learning German has been… an adventure. And honestly, some of the trickiest parts have been just talking about what I watch. It’s not like English, where you can just say “I watched Stranger Things last night.” It’s… well, it’s more layered.

The Initial Confusion – “Was schaust du?”

The first few weeks, I kept saying “Ich habe Game of Thrones gesehen.” (I saw Game of Thrones). And people would stare. Then they’d say, “Ach, aber du hast es doch schon vor Jahren gesehen!” (Oh, but you already saw it years ago!). Turns out, simply stating you watched something isn’t enough. It’s about when you watched it, how you watched it, and, crucially, whether you actually liked it.

I quickly learned that “Was schaust du?” (What are you watching?) is the starting point. But the follow-up questions… oh man, the follow-up questions.

“Hast du den neuen Film gesehen?” – A Minefield of Opinions

Yesterday, my colleague, Steven, asked me, “Hast du den neuen Dunkelheiten gesehen?” (Have you seen the new Dunkelheiten?). I immediately blurted out, “Ja, er war großartig!” (Yes, it was great!). He then spent the next five minutes dissecting the film’s pacing, the director’s choices, and whether the lead actor was believable. I realized I hadn’t actually said anything about enjoying it.

The key here is understanding that opinions matter. Germans, especially when talking about films and television, are very opinionated. It’s not just about “good” or “bad.” It’s about why it’s good or bad.

Useful Phrases & Vocabulary

Let’s build a little toolbox. Here are some phrases that’ve saved me:

• “Ich fand ihn/sie/es… [adjective]” (I found him/her/it… [adjective]) – “Ich fand ihn sehr langweilig” (I found him very boring). “Sie war sehr spannend!” (She was very exciting!)
• “Mir hat… gefallen” (I liked…) – “Mir hat der Schauspieler gefallen.” (I liked the actor).
• “Ich war ein bisschen enttäuscht von…” (I was a little disappointed by…) – “Ich war ein bisschen enttäuscht von dem Ende.” (I was a little disappointed by the ending).
• “Ich habe den Film/Serie total genossen” (I totally enjoyed the film/series) – This shows you were engaged and appreciated it.

The Importance of “wegen” – Why Are You Watching?

This is where it gets really tricky. People want to know why you’re watching something. It’s not just, “I watched it.” It’s “I watched it wegen…” (because of…).

For example, if I said, “Ich schaue Die Sendung mit der Maus” (I watch Die Sendung mit der Maus – a German children’s show), Steven looked at me like I’d grown a second head. He explained that it’s a classic educational show for children and that, while it’s nice that I’m revisiting my childhood, it’s not exactly something I’d choose to watch as an adult.

So, I had to explain: “Ich schaue sie, weil ich meine Großmutter beeindrucken möchte” (I watch it because I want to impress my grandmother). It added a whole layer of context!

Streaming Services & Terminology – A Different Ballgame

The streaming world is also different. “Ich schaue Netflix” (I watch Netflix) is fine, but asking “Hast du Disney Plus?” (Do you watch Disney Plus?) is a pretty standard conversation starter. I’ve also learned terms like “abonnieren” (to subscribe) and “Rechtsgutachten” (legal opinion – used in the context of streaming rights). It felt overwhelming at first!

Don’t Be Afraid to Say You Don’t Know

Honestly, there were times I just didn’t know the answer to a question about a film or show. Instead of making something up, I’d say, “Ich bin nicht so der Filmfan” (I’m not really a film fan) or “Ich kenne den Film nicht” (I don’t know the film). It felt much more honest and less… pretentious.

Final Thoughts (For Now!)

Talking about media consumption in Germany is definitely a skill. It’s about more than just saying you watched something. It’s about adding context, sharing your opinions, and understanding the cultural significance of the show or film. I’m still stumbling, of course, but every conversation is a learning experience. Next time, I’m going to try to say, “Ich habe Der Sandmann gesehen, und ich fand die Atmosphäre sehr beunruhigend.” (I watched Der Sandmann, and I found the atmosphere very unsettling.) Wish me luck!

Wie war dein letzter Film? (How was your last movie?)