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Der Tiger, released internationally as The Tank, has emerged as Prime Video’s most streamed original German film to date, marking a major milestone for both Amazon MGM Studios Germany and the local film industry. According to Amazon’s internal seven day viewing figures, the anti war feature reached the number one position in 28 Prime Video territories. These included key markets such as Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom, although the company did not disclose specific audience numbers.
The film launched globally on Prime Video on January 2 across 240 territories, following a local theatrical release in Germany. This cinema run was significant in itself, as it marked the first time a Prime Video Germany film received a theatrical release before debuting on the streaming platform. Industry publication Deadline had previously reported on both the theatrical rollout and the confirmed streaming release date, underlining the level of anticipation surrounding the project.
Set on the Eastern Front during World War II in 1943, Der Tiger follows a five man crew operating a Nazi Tiger tank sent on a secret mission deep behind contested front lines. As the soldiers move further into enemy territory, the film shifts from a traditional war narrative into a psychological descent. The crew must confront not only the external dangers of combat but also their own inner fears, guilt, and moral collapse. Fueled by methamphetamine distributed within the Wehrmacht, their mission increasingly becomes a dark journey into the human capacity for violence and dehumanization.
The cast includes David Schütter, Laurence Rupp, Leonard Kunz, Sebastian Urzendowsky, and Yoran Leicher in the central roles, supported by Tilman Strauß and André M. Hennicke. Their performances anchor the film’s tense atmosphere and claustrophobic setting, largely confined to the interior of the tank and the hostile landscapes it crosses.
Der Tiger was produced by Pantaleon Films in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios Germany. Producers Frank Kusche and Dan Maag oversaw the project, while the screenplay was written by Dennis Gansel and Colin Teevan. The creative team also includes Director of Photography Carlo Jelavic, Production Designer Nick Palmer, Costume Designer Anke Winckler, and Hair and Make up Designer Meg Tanner, all of whom contributed to the film’s stark and immersive visual style.
Director Dennis Gansel is well known for his continued exploration of authoritarianism and Nazi era themes in German cinema. His earlier works include Before the Fall from 2004, which examined elite military academies grooming future Nazi leaders, and The Wave from 2008, which explored how quickly a dictatorship could take hold in modern Germany. With Der Tiger, Gansel once again turns his focus to the psychological and moral consequences of extremist systems, reinforcing his reputation as a filmmaker willing to confront uncomfortable historical truths.
The strong global performance of Der Tiger highlights growing international interest in German produced films and demonstrates Prime Video’s expanding reach for local language storytelling on a worldwide scale.
