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Rainer Werner Fassbinder

German filmmaker, playwright and actor (1945-1982)

9.94body-of-work score · ranked #83 of 2631 directors · 18 films in our library

A director's score is the sum of their films' composite canon scores — methodology.

Born
May 31, 1945 · Bad Wörishofen
Died
June 10, 1982 · Munich
Nationality
American occupation zone in Germany, Bizone, Trizone, West Germany, Germany
Work
screenwriter, playwright, film director, actor
Movement
New German Cinema
Reference
Wikipedia · Wikidata
Portrait of Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Gorup de Besanez · CC BY-SA 4.0

Films in our library, ranked

Ranked by composite canon score across 20+ authoritative lists, awards and polls — our ordering, with every placement citing its evidence on the film's page.

  1. 1
    Ali: Fear Eats the SoulAngst essen Seele aufMust-See #317

    1974 · Germany · drama, romance

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #52 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · Kehr's annual top 10 1974 #2

    2.178 citations
  2. 2
    The Marriage of Maria BraunDie Ehe der Maria Braun

    1979 · Germany · drama

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #6 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #3 · Scorsese's 39 essential foreign films

    1.698 citations
  3. 3
    Veronika VossDie Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss

    1982 · Germany · drama

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1982 · Criterion Collection spine #205 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

    1.293 citations
  4. 4
    The Merchant of Four SeasonsHändler der vier Jahreszeiten

    1972 · Germany · drama

    Sarris's annual top 10 1973 #1 · Scorsese's 39 essential foreign films · Criterion Collection spine #758

    0.893 citations
  5. 5
    Lola

    1981 · Germany · drama, comedy

    Siskel's annual top 10 1982 #6 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Sarris's annual top 10 1982 #7

    0.674 citations
  6. 6
    Katzelmacher

    1969 · Germany · drama, romance

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1977 #1 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

    0.612 citations
  7. 7
    Effi BriestFontane Effi Briest

    1974 · Germany · drama

    Sarris's annual top 10 1977 #2 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

    0.482 citations
  8. 8
    In a Year of 13 MoonsIn einem Jahr mit 13 Monden

    1978 · Germany · drama

    Sarris's annual top 10 1980 #4 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1979 #8

    0.372 citations
  9. 9
    The Third GenerationDie dritte Generation

    1979 · West Germany · comedy, crime

    NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Sarris's annual top 10 1980 #10

    0.312 citations
  10. 10
    Jail BaitWildwechsel

    1972 · Germany · drama

    Ebert's annual top 10 1977 #5

    0.191 citation
  11. 11
    Beware of a Holy WhoreWarnung vor einer heiligen Nutte

    1971 · Germany · drama

    Sarris's annual top 10 1976 #7

    0.171 citation
  12. 12
    Lili Marleen

    1981 · Germany · drama

    Sarris's annual top 10 1981 #7

    0.171 citation
  13. 13
    The Bitter Tears of Petra von KantDie bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant

    1972 · West Germany · drama

    Criterion Collection spine #740

    0.161 citation
  14. 14
    World on a WireWelt am Draht

    1973 · Germany · sci-fi, drama

    Criterion Collection spine #598

    0.161 citation
  15. 15
    Fox and His FriendsFaustrecht der Freiheit

    1975 · Germany · drama

    Criterion Collection spine #851

    0.161 citation
  16. 16
    Querelle

    1982 · France / Germany · drama

    Criterion Collection spine #1221

    0.161 citation
  17. 17
    Mother Küsters' Trip to HeavenMutter Küsters' Fahrt zum Himmel

    1975 · Germany · drama

    Kehr's annual top 10 1976 #8

    0.161 citation
  18. 18
    Martha

    1974 · West Germany · drama, horror, thriller

    Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

    0.111 citation

Complete filmography

All 59 directorial credits recorded on Wikidata, in chronological order; films in our library link to their canon-score page.

  • 1966The City Tramp
  • 1966This Night
  • 1967Das kleine Chaos
  • 1969Gods of the Plague
  • 1969Katzelmacher
  • 1969Love Is Colder Than Death
  • 1970Pioneers in Ingolstadt
  • 1970Rio das Mortes
  • 1970The American Soldier
  • 1970The Coffee Shop
  • 1970The Niklashausen Journey
  • 1970Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?
  • 1971Beware of a Holy Whore
  • 1971Whity
  • 1972Bremen Freedom
  • 1972Jail Bait
  • 1972The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
  • 1972The Merchant of Four Seasons
  • 1973World on a Wire
  • 1974Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
  • 1974Effi Briest
  • 1974Martha
  • 1974Nora Helmer
  • 1975Fear of Fear
  • 1975Fox and His Friends
  • 1975Like a Bird on a Wire
  • 1975Mother Küsters' Trip to Heaven
  • 1976Chinese Roulette
  • 1976I Only Want You To Love Me
  • 1976Satan's Brew
  • 1977The Stationmaster's Wife
  • 1977Women in New York
  • 1978Despair
  • 1978Germany in Autumn
  • 1978Germany in Autumn. Episode 02: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
  • 1978In a Year of 13 Moons
  • 1979The Marriage of Maria Braun
  • 1979The Third Generation
  • 1980Wie soll man leben, wenn man nicht sterben will
  • 1980Wissen ist Macht und Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
  • 1981Das Äußere und das Innere und das Geheimnis der Angst vor der Angst
  • 1981Die Schlange in der Seele der Schlange
  • 1981Die Sonne wärmt die Haut, die sie manchmal verbrennt
  • 1981Die Strafe beginnt
  • 1981Ein Hammer auf dem Kopf kann die Seele verletzen
  • 1981Ein Schnitter mit der Gewalt vom lieben Gott
  • 1981Eine Handvoll Menschen in der Tiefe der Stille
  • 1981Eine Liebe, das kostet immer viel
  • 1981Einsamkeit reißt auch in Mauern Risse des Irrsinns
  • 1981Lili Marleen
  • 1981Lola
  • 1981Merke - einen Schwur kann man amputieren
  • 1981Rainer Werner Fassbinder: My Dream of the Dream of Franz Biberkopf: On the Death of a Child and the Birth of a Useful One
  • 1981Theater in Trance
  • 1981Von den Ewigkeiten zwischen den Vielen und den Wenigen
  • 1982Querelle
  • 1982Veronika Voss
  • 2017Franz und Ernst
  • 2017Oma und Gregor