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Jürgen Jürges

Jürgen Jürges

Cinematographer · Born December 12, 1940 (85) · Hannover, Germany

Jürgen Jürges (born 12 December 1940) is one of the most distinguished German cinematographers. His body of work includes more than 100 films. His work includes many classics of film history, such as the feature films “Angst essen Seele auf,” “Satansbraten” and “Christiane F. – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo,” but also international film productions, such as “Funny Games” and most recently the “DAU” series. His camera work has been honored with numerous awards, including the German Camera Award (multiple wins), the Adolf Grimme Award, the German Film Award (two wins), and for his camera work in Khrzhanovsky's “DAU. Natasha,” the Silver Bear of the 70th Berlinale in the category “Outstanding Artistic Achievement.” Most recently, he received the Honorary Award for Outstanding Services to German Film at the German Film Awards ceremony 2022.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 12, 1940 (85)
From
Hannover, Germany
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
22 on Motif · 81 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 12% in 30 days

What are Jürgen Jürges' films like?

Across their 20 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Motif score: 64th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Motif score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Motif score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
24%
Bonds
20%
Power
18%
Society
14%
Self
12%
Ideas
6%
Morality
5%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 7 · Dark 11

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 7

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 8 · Intense 9

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 3

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
13
Tense
9
Dread
6
Cold
5
Contemplative
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jürgen Jürges' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 22 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jürgen Jürges' titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

81 credits, 22 with a Motif page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dau(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • DAU. Natasha (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Nora Mother (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. New Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Katya Tanya(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • DAU. Nikita Tanya (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. String Theory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Brave People (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. The Empire. Novel One: Return Of The Prodigal Son (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Three Days (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Cinema (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Degeneration (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • Ivanov (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Additional Director of Photography

  • Das Milan-Protokoll (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • At Eye Level (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • Me and Kaminski(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Deal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Cinematographer

  • The Spiderwebhouse(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • John Rabe(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Germany 09: 13 Short Films About the State of the Nation(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Beloved Clara(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Ohne einander (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • Eduart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Four Windows(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Shadows of Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Vom Suchen und Finden der Liebe(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Whore's Son (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • Time of the Wolf(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Angst isst Seele auf (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Ghetto-Kids (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Ternitz, Tennessee (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Code Unknown(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Paths in the Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • The Hunter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • Funny Games(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Sin querer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Sawdust Tales (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Mossane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • A Trick of the Light (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer · as Self

  • Das zehnte Jahr (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Arisha, the Bear, and the Stone Ring (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Faraway, So Close!(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Abgetrieben (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Das Geheimnis des gelben Geparden (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • The Dancer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Sis(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Venus Trap(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Iron Earth, Copper Sky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • The Flyer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Wupper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Hen in a Boat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Gleissprung (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • White Star (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • A Woman in Flames (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Berliner Stadtbahnbilder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Camera Operator

  • Christiane F.(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Germany Pale Mother (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • The Last Years of Childhood (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • 50/50 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Germany in Autumn(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Grete Minde (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Eierdiebe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Fear of Fear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Satan's Brew(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Paule Pauländer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Angst ist ein zweiter Schatten (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • Output (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Effi Briest(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Fear Eats the Soul(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Eine Nacht in Venedig (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Tenderness of the Wolves(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Karajan dirigiert Beethovens fünfte Symphonie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Camera Operator

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Für immer und ewig (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Tamara (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Assistant Camera

  • Bizet Carmen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Camera Operator

  • Young Törless (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Assistant Camera

  • Der Hut oder Mondo Uovo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Britta Fastfrühling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Das Mißverständnis (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • DAU. Regeneration (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 80 titles, 78 of them dated from 1966 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Vom Suchen und Finden der Liebe (2005)

$4.8M worldwide

Highest rated

Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Motif 98th

Most popular right now

Funny Games (1997)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography75 of 80: 75 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Motif score66thOther crew5 of 80: 5 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s6 · crew1970s16 · crew1980s12 · crew1990s12 · crew2000s14 · crew2010s6 · crew2020s12 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Jürgen Jürges' films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Motif score across 22 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 22 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · cinematographer

Dau (2026)

77th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Motif 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 76/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 55. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jürgen Jürges' work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles29–65 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity4 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 68 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jürgen Jürges work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jürgen Jürges' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rainer Werner Fassbinder shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers