Der Tiger: Should you watch or skip the latest Prime Video war drama? A viewer's guide

Der Tiger is a war drama film that is jointly produced by Germany and the Czech Republic. It's directed by Dennis Gansel, who also wrote the screenplay with Colin Teevan. The film was released by Amazon MGM Studios on September 18, 2025. It premiered on Prime Video on January 2, 2026. Here's the official synopsis as per Letterboxd:

A German Tiger tank crew is sent on a dangerous mission to rescue the missing officer Paul von Hardenburg from a top-secret bunker behind enemy lines. As they make their way through the lethal no-man’s land, they must confront not only the enemy, but also their own fears and inner demons. Fueled by the Wehrmacht’s methamphetamine, their mission increasingly becomes a journey into the heart of darkness.

Let's find out if one should watch the film.

A viewer's guide to Der Tiger

Der Tiger has met with mostly positive critical response. So if you go by the critics, you can give it a watch. The film is not a typical war drama, as it delves into the psychological toll of war on soldiers. It's a slow burn that doesn't follow the tropes that many viewers might expect.

It's paced deliberately and follows five men manning a German Tiger Tank. The storyline takes place during World War II and chronicles the soldiers taking hallucinogenic drugs during their journey. Its ending is ambiguous, and there are no clear answers. The scenes in the end blur the lines between reality and dreams. We aren't sure whether the soldiers took the rogue officer back.

During their journey, the soldiers consume tank chocolates, which are basically drugs. This changes their senses and slows everything for them. All these things are rare in war movies. The genre mostly focuses on battles, explosions, and motivational speeches. But this German film steers away from all that to explore the psychological aspects of war.

The cast members of Der Tiger include,

Andre Hennicke as Lieutenant Colonel Krebs
Samuel Himal as Fritz
Leonard Kunz as Helmut
Tilman Strauss as Paul von Hardenburg
Yoran Leicher as Michel
Alzbeta Mala as Marion
Laurence Rupp as Christian Weller
David Schutter as Philip Gerkens
Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey as Loffler

The film is shot by Carlo Jelavic, while Benjamin Kaubisch is the editor. It's produced by Marco Beckmann, Dan Maag, and Frank Kusche. Patrick Zorer, Stephanie Schettler-Kohler, and Nicholas Paalzow are the executive producers. Der Tiger is the first film from Amazon MGM Studios to receive a theatrical release in Germany.

Philip Pratt, who heads German content at the studio, said in a statement:

“Der Tiger will be our first German Original that we’re bringing to the big screen. When Dennis Gansel and producer Frank Kusche first presented the idea to us, we immediately knew we had to make it. This special film deserves the biggest stage. Dennis is not only an award-winning director, but with films like ‘Napola’ and ‘The Wave,’ he has proven that he has a special sensitivity for this subject matter."

The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.