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Christian Berkel

Christian Berkel

Actor · Born October 28, 1957 (68) · Berlin, West Germany [now Germany]

Christian Berkel (born October 28, 1957) is a German actor. Berkel was born in Berlin, Germany. His father was a military doctor. From the age of 14 he lived in Paris where he took drama lessons with Jean-Louis Barrault and Pierre Berlin. He then trained at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin and appeared on stage in Augsburg, Düsseldorf, Munich, Vienna and at the Schiller Theatre, Berlin. He has appeared in many German television productions and secured a major role in the Academy Award-nominated film Downfall as Doctor Ernst-Günther Schenck. He has followed this with significant roles in the Paul Verhoeven directed Dutch movie Black Book and the big budget United States movies Flightplan, Valkyrie (in which he portrayed Colonel Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim) and the Academy Award-nominated Inglourious Basterds. He lives in Berlin with the actress Andrea Sawatzki, with whom he has two sons. He is also fluent in French and English. Description above from the Wikipedia article Christian Berkel, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 28, 1957 (68)
From
Berlin, West Germany [now Germany]
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 118 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 156 days to Oct 27Up 28% in 30 days

What are Christian Berkel's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits 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
Morality
24%
Survival
19%
Self
18%
Power
18%
Bonds
14%
Ideas
4%
Society
3%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 12

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 5

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 10
Mentor
2 of 10
Ally
1 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
9
Dread
7
Warm
5
Joyful
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Christian Berkel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Christian Berkel's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits 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

118 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 50 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Block 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Dr. Maximilian Samuel

  • Berühmt sein für Anfänger(2025)

    as Gregor Basil

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Entführen für Anfänger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Adam Lansky

  • Querschuss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Producer · as Andreas

  • The Blond Boy from the Casbah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Sania

  • Black Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Erik Behr

  • Hijack(2023)

    Show 7 episodes · as Roland Murnau

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Unser Verein: "Eisern Union!" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • A Retribution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Simon Wiesenthal

  • Trügerische Sicherheit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Magnus Mittendorf

  • Furia(2021)

    Show 5 episodes · as Minister Hardenberg

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Sportabzeichen für Anfänger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Bertram Dinkler

  • Enfant Terrible(2020)

    as Interviewer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Die verlorene Tochter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · as Heinrich von Gems

  • The Magic Kids: Three Unlikely Heroes(2020)

    as Louis Ziffer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Realm of the Volga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • Criminal: Germany(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Steffen Marquardt

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Beat(2018)

    Show 7 episodes · as Richard Diemer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Scheidung für Anfänger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Christoph

  • What Doesn't Kill Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Mark

  • In Wahrheit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Erich Kupka

  • Redemption Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jonathan Roth

  • Elle(2016)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Ein gefährliches Angebot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Michael Dithardt

  • NSU German History X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Amor

  • Trumbo(2015)

    as Otto Preminger

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(2015)

    as Udo

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Anti-Social(2015)

    as Philip

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Dreamgirls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Herr Hegemann

  • Elly Beinhorn: Solo Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Ernst Udet

  • Business as Usual - Der Prophet fliegt mit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Pilot

  • Buddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Dr. Küster

  • Totenengel - Van Leeuwens zweiter Fall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Dr. van der Meer

  • Das dunkle Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Pfarrer Dr. Gabriel Reinberg

  • The Last Employee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as David Böttcher

  • The Man with the Bassoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Heinrich Bockelmann

  • Inglourious Basterds(2009)

    as Proprietor Eric

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Leningrad(2009)

    as Vinkelmeyer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Valkyrie(2008)

    as Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mogadischu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt

  • Miracle at St. Anna(2008)

    as Captain Eichholz

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Haber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Fritz Shimon Haber

  • Flame & Citron(2008)

    as Hoffmann

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Der andere Junge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jakob Wagner

  • Der Kriminalist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 109 episodes · as Hauptkommissar Bruno Schumann

  • Black Book(2006)

    as General Käutner

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Helen, Fred und Ted(2006)

    as Eduard 'Ted' Fröhlich

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Helen, Fred und Ted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eduard 'Ted' Fröhlich

  • Eine Frage des Gewissens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Martin Beltz

  • Die Sturmflut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helmut Schmidt

  • Flightplan(2005)

    as Mortuary Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Der Vater meiner Schwester (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dr. Klaus Merbold

  • Hexenküsse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Herbert Zauner

  • Feuer in der Nacht(2004)

    as Karl Winkler

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Guys & Balls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Rudolf

  • Downfall(2004)

    as Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Soundless(2004)

    as Lang

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Der Unbestechliche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Harald Kittler

  • Safe Conduct(2002)

    as Alfred Greven

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Erste Liebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Rolf Drost

  • The Experiment(2001)

    as Robert Steinhoff, Prisoner Nr. 38

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Verzweiflung (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Blondine sucht Millionär fürs Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Dietrich

  • Halt mich fest! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Axel

  • Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Richard

  • Paradise Is a Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Rudi

  • Your Best Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Arzt

  • Sweet Little Sixteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Thomas Reiner

  • Tod auf Amrum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Rolf Spiekermann

  • Der letzte Zeuge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Hans Leinen · as Helmut Gittel

  • Single sucht Nachwuchs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Die Cleveren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Alfons Kleiber

  • Vickys Alptraum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as John

  • Simones Entscheidung (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Rossini(1997)

    as Weich

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Lea Katz - Die Kriminalpsychologin: Einer von uns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Stelzer

  • Lautlose Schritte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Simon Sundermann

  • Gates of Fire(1996)

    as Dr. Sander

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Der Mann ohne Schatten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 14 episodes · as Bruno Kuhlin

  • Spur eines Zweifels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jens Kolberg

  • A.S. Gefahr ist sein Geschäft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Lefevre

  • Drei Frauen und (k)ein Mann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Patrick Lajonne

  • Ein Herz für Laura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Ich, der Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Victor Mazza

  • Inspector Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Gregor Schell

  • Rosa Roth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Maiwald

  • Die Kommissarin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Neumann

  • Doppelter Einsatz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Sebastian van Leuyen

  • Air Albatros (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Die Gerichtsreporterin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Wegener

  • Gute Referenzen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Ein starkes Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerhard Brock

  • Mutter, ich will nicht sterben! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Walter Gebhard

  • Bella Block (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Engler

  • Das Schicksal der Lilian H. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Josef

  • Ein unvergeßliches Wochenende (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hecht & Haie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Frenkel

  • The Devil Kissed from Behind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Ein toter Spieler verläßt den Tisch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Writer

  • Kommissar Klefisch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Terboven

  • Der Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · as Felix Dennison

  • Münchhausens letzte Liebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Wilhelm

  • Wallenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Schwedischer Hauptmann

  • Wind von Südost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Gernot

  • Das schöne irre Judenmädchen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Friedrich, Graf von Schwerin

  • Frau Jenny Treibel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Leopold Treibel

  • Steckbriefe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerhard Hartung

  • A Case For Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernd Marquart

  • New Year's Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as The Young Man

  • SOKO München (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Serpent's Egg(1977)

    as Student

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Eine Jugendliebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Wolfgang

  • Maiden's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Karol Djudko

  • The Old Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Erik Falter · as Hans Fänger · as Harry Westphal · as Hausmann · as Mano Deller · as Peter Aulan · as Peter Larsen · as Thilo Müller · as Werner Kuziemsky

  • Derrick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex Sierich · as Andy Stein · as Dixi · as Jürgen Klose · as Lussmann · as Manfred Kessler · as Psychopath · as Rolf Laduhn

  • Police Call 110(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Max Ortheil

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Alfred Waller · as Doc Decker · as Erik Steinbeck · as Rainer Wenisch · as Uwe Pfandler

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Triptych (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 119 titles, 117 of them dated from 1970 to 2025; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

$110M worldwide

Highest rated

Downfall (2004)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19702025

Peak 2005 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1977Screen debut· The Serpent's Egg
  • 2001Breakout· The Experiment
  • 2018Career best· Beat

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting118 of 119: 117 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndDirecting1 of 119: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 119: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 119: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s9 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s36 · 35 acting · 1 crew2000s28 · acting2010s22 · acting2020s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
770712

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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Christian Berkel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Anti-Social (2015)

79th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; 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 Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove 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 Christian Berkel's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles67–86 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles42–76 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles34–68 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles31–62 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles52–91 · median 87 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian 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 Christian Berkel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Christian Berkel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Oliver Hirschbiegel shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles