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Jan Josef Liefers

Jan Josef Liefers

Actor · Born August 8, 1964 (62) · Dresden, East Germany [now Germany]

Jan Josef Liefers was born on 8 August 1964 in Dresden, East Germany [now Saxony, Federal Republic of Germany]. He is an actor and director, known for Tatort (1970), The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008) and Baron on the Cannonball (2012). He has been married to Anna Loos since 5 August 2004. They have two children. He was previously married to Aleksandra Tabakova.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
August 8, 1964 (62)
From
Dresden, East Germany [now Germany]
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 92 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 13% in 30 days

What are Jan Josef Liefers' films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama 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
Bonds
35%
Self
25%
Society
12%
Morality
12%
Power
7%
Survival
5%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Shadow
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
13
Joyful
10
Melancholic
4
Bittersweet
3
Tense
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Jan Josef Liefers' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (2).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jan Josef Liefers' 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

92 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 61 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Furioso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Doktor Bockmeier

  • Deviens génial(2026)

    as Gerhart

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Tödliches Spiel - Das Live-Krimi-Dinner(2025)

    as Maurice Chevalier

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Man stirbt nur zweimal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Boerne

  • Old White Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Heinz Hellmich

  • Gags - Comedy Deluxe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Unter Gärtnern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Boerne

  • Düstersee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Joachim Vernau

  • Love Your Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · Producer · as Älterer Kornelius Holmer (voice)

  • Der Teufels langer Atem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Prof. Karl-Friedrich Boerne

  • Beneath the Surface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 7 episodes · as Bernd Küster

  • Requiem für einen Freund (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Joachim Vernau

  • Ausgebremst (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernd Lürssen

  • Spieglein, Spieglein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Karl-Friedrich Boerne

  • So viel Zeit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Rainer

  • Arthur's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Arthur Ahnepol

  • Gefangen: Der Fall K. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Wastl Kronach

  • Gott ist auch nur ein Mensch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Karl-Friedrich Boerne

  • Teenosaurus Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Hannes Wenger

  • The Bloom of Yesterday(2016)

    as Balthasar Thomas

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Mörderische Stille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Holzer

  • Four Against the Bank(2016)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Käpt’ns Dinner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Die 7. Stunde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Joachim Vernau

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

    as Karl Friedrich Boerne

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

    as Mace

  • Mara and the Firebringer(2015)

    as Prof. Weissinger

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Men Have to Go through This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Guido Schamski

  • Der Mann ohne Schatten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Joachim Vernau

  • Head Full of Honey(2014)

    as Serge

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Live is Life - Der Himmel soll warten(2013)

    as Rochus 'Rocco' Siwak

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Nacht über Berlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Albert Goldmann

  • Baron Münchhausen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Baron Münchhausen

  • Baron Münchhausen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Baron Münchhausen

  • Men Do What They Can(2012)

    as Guido Schamski

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Richard Hoffmann

  • Das Kindermädchen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Joachim Vernau

  • Joachim Vernau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 9 episodes · as Joachim Vernau

  • Simon och ekarna(2011)

    as Ruben Lentov

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Der Mann auf dem Baum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Hans Mittelstädt

  • Live Is Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Rochus 'Rocco' Siwak

  • Es liegt mir auf der Zunge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Clemens Wilmenrod

  • Lilys Geheimnis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Konrad Nees

  • Kennen Sie Deutschland? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Rateteam

  • The Baader Meinhof Complex(2008)

    as Peter Homann

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Bis zum Ellenbogen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Achim Delvental

  • Max Minsky and Me(2007)

    as Benny Edelmeister

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Suddenly Gina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Laurenz Wagner

  • Der Untergang der Pamir(2006)

    as Hans Ewald

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Markus Abt

  • The Decision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Michael Späth

  • Die Nachrichten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jan Landers

  • Ein Koala-Bär allein zu Haus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Thomas Löwe

  • Die Hit-Giganten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Das Wunder von Lengede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Bruno Reger

  • The Miracle of Lengede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bruno Reger

  • Ich liebe das Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Sebastian Hartmann

  • Der Aufstand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Dr. Klaus Kosnitzer

  • Nachtschicht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Nowak

  • Die Frauenversteher - Männer unter sich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · as Martin Remus

  • 666 - Traue keinem, mit dem Du schläfst!(2002)

    as Faust

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Todesstrafe - Ein Deutscher hinter Gittern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Klaus Jansen

  • Die Spur meiner Tochter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as David Bluhm

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

    as Johnny

  • Jacks Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · as Max

  • Die Mörderin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ulrikes Freund

  • Kai Rabe gegen die Vatikankiller(1998)

    as Marc Hohlmann

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Die Neue - Eine Frau mit Kaliber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Sander

  • Busenfreunde 2 - Alles wird gut! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Guido

  • Night Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Thomas Krömer

  • Kidnapping Mom & Dad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Roger Leonhard

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph Schenk

  • Dein Tod ist die gerechte Strafe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Siegfried von Malzahn

  • Die Chaos-Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Lucky

  • Busenfreunde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Guido

  • Knockin' on Heaven's Door(1997)

    as Rudi Wurlitzer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Vergewaltigt - Die Wahrheit und andere Lügen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Leonard

  • Rossini(1997)

    as Bodo Kriegnitz

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Die Partner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 26 episodes · as Philip Casdorff

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

    as Alex Kaiser

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

    Show 1 episode · as Theo Wandres

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

    Show 1 episode · as Hansjörg Nikolaidis

  • Charlie & Louise - Das doppelte Lottchen(1994)

    as Male Teacher #2

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • RTL Samstag Nacht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Der Fall Ö. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Obergefreiter / Kameramann

  • Der Sturmgeselle Sokrates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Weihnachten schneit's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mr. Holle

  • The Ascent of Chimborazo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Alexander von Humboldt

  • Ernst Thälmann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 48 episodes · as Karl-Friedrich Boerne

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Der bewegte Mann – Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Über Menschen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jojo

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 92 titles, 90 of them dated from 1970 to 2026; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Head Full of Honey (2014)

$78M worldwide

Highest rated

Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Deviens génial (2026)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19702026

Peak 2016 · 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.

  • 1970Screen debut· Scene of the Crime
  • 1994First film· Charlie & Louise - Das doppelte Lottchen
  • 1997Breakout· Knockin' on Heaven's Door
  • 2002First top-billed film· 666: In Bed with the Devil

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting92 of 92: 89 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thDirecting3 of 92: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleProducing1 of 92: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

92 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s2 · acting1990s23 · 23 acting · 1 crew2000s23 · 23 acting · 1 crew2010s29 · acting2020s12 · 12 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 31% of 13 roles
9409

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 Jan Josef Liefers' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Tödliches Spiel - Das Live-Krimi-Dinner (2025)

91st percentile spread · 56% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 37. 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.

Who does Jan Josef Liefers work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jan Josef Liefers' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Til Schweiger shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers