List of films banned in Germany

This is a list of films that are or were banned in Germany.

List of films rejected by the "Interministerial Committee for East-West Film Issues"
In 1953, the "Interministerieller Ausschuß für Ost-West-Filmfragen" (Interministerial Committee for East-West Film Issues) was founded in West Germany. This committee examined films from the Eastern Bloc countries, especially DEFA productions from East Germany, for anti-constitutional or communist content. Until the committee was dissolved in 1967 or 1968, around 130 films were banned from release.

Germany (1990–present)


In today's Germany, a film is considered banned if it has been confiscated by a court. The distribution of a confiscated film is prohibited, but private possession and viewing is still legal (with the exception of child and youth pornographic material, where possession is already a criminal offense).

The official list of confiscated films was published by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (Bundeszentrale für Kinder- und Jugendmedienschutz) in the magazine "BzKJaktuell" until the beginning of 2022.

The list of confiscated films should not be confused with films on the "List of Media Harmful to Young Persons" (colloquially known as the "Index"). Films indexed by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons are subject to strict restrictions and may only be offered and sold to adults.

List of films reserved by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation (since 1966)
Special provisions apply to the propaganda films that were classified as banned films by the Allies in 1945. These include films that contain a clearly racist, anti-Semitic, inciting or war-glorifying message. Since 1966, the former banned films have been in the collection of the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation. These films, which are now known as reserved films, are not released for general distribution, but are available for viewing at any time - on the Foundation's premises - for educational, scientific and production purposes.