Babylon Berlin

Beneath the decadence of 1929 Berlin, lies an underworld city of sin. Police investigator Gereon Rath has been transferred from Cologne to the epicenter of political and social changes in the Golden Twenties.

Babylon Berlin (2017-2026) is a German historical crime series created by Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries and Hendrik Handloegten for Das Erste and Sky One. Volker Bruch plays Gereon Rath, a police investigator transferred from Cologne to the vice-ridden capital of 1929, where he partners with Liv Lisa Fries as Charlotte Ritter, a plucky young woman taking odd jobs, including piece work for the police, to support her family. Leonie Benesch as Greta Overbeck and Lars Eidinger as Alfred Nyssen add further layers of intrigue. Across five seasons of serialized, multi-thread storytelling, each case pulls the detectives through nightclubs, brothels, film studios and back rooms where murder is tangled with political plotting. The engine is Rath's struggle to solve crimes while the city's power brokers, cult-like militarists and organized gangs push back against him. Shot with lavish production design, the series is a German prestige drama in the vein of Peaky Blinders and Cabaret, mixing neo-noir atmosphere with a wistful, decadent glamour that is steadily shadowed by the rise of nationalism. Fans of The Man in the High Castle and Fargo will find similar appeal in its blend of crime and historical unease.

Acclaimed for its meticulous recreation of 1920s Berlin, its ensemble performances and its layered blend of detective story and rising political intrigue.

• Peaky Blindersshared neo-noir period crime tone, political intrigue under a rising authoritarian undercurrent
• Gereon Rathshared interwar European setting, police investigation intertwined with political conspiracy
• Cabaretshared 1920s Berlin atmosphere, decadent nightlife and detective procedure
• The Man in the High Castleshared historical crime investigation set against rising fascism

Created by

Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries, Hendrik Handloegten

Release Date

2017-10-13

Episode runtime

46 min

Rating

8.4 / 10 (426)

What is Babylon Berlin about?

A transferred Cologne detective navigates the vice-soaked underworld of 1929 Berlin as political extremism gathers beneath the Golden Twenties.

What is Babylon Berlin like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Babylon Berlin as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.

Is Babylon Berlin violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Babylon Berlin as moderate.

What did critics think of Babylon Berlin?

Acclaimed for its meticulous recreation of 1920s Berlin, its ensemble performances and its layered blend of detective story and rising political intrigue.

Which shows are like Babylon Berlin?

Shows with a similar feel include Peaky Blinders, Gereon Rath, Cabaret, and The Man in the High Castle.

How long is Babylon Berlin?

Babylon Berlin: 5 seasons, 48 episodes.

Is Babylon Berlin still running?

No, Babylon Berlin has ended.

Where can I watch Babylon Berlin?

In United States, Babylon Berlin streams on Amazon Prime Video, Kanopy, MZ Choice Amazon Channel, Mhz Choice, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.