Christian Zübert’s Exterritorial: The German Thriller That Conquered Netflix Global Charts

Christian Zübert, the writer and director of the German action thriller Exterritorial, was astounded when his film topped Netflix’s charts worldwide. “I told my wife, I hope we don’t have a moment like La La Land in 2017 because it felt unbelievable,” he said.

Zübert crafted a film that skillfully blends emotional storytelling with high-stakes action. Originally expecting success mainly in Germany and a few other countries, Exterritorial instead dominated Netflix’s film charts in 88 countries, including the U.S. and the UK. It remained the most-watched non-English film on the platform for three weeks and has now become the fifth most-watched non-English language film on Netflix, approaching fourth place with over 85 million views.

“This might have been Netflix the most viewed movie in the world at that moment, thanks to Netflix’s global reach,” Zübert reflected.

The film follows former elite soldier Sara Wulf, portrayed by Jeanne Goursaud (Barbarians), whose child disappears mysteriously inside the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt. When authorities deny her son was present, Sara enters battle mode, uncovering a cover-up linked to her past service in Afghanistan.

Zübert developed the idea while working on the German series Bad Banks. Inspired by a real-life visit to the U.S. consulate for visas, the story imagines a gripping rescue mission unlike anything he personally experienced.

Netflix’s German-language programming chief Sasha Bühler supported the project. “We wanted to create an emotional Die Hard set in a consulate,” Zübert explained.

The film’s success hinges on balancing intense action with the emotional journey of a mother searching for her child. “The combination of the Die Hard-style thriller and the emotional core of a mother overcoming self-doubt was essential,” said Zübert. “Separately, these elements wouldn’t have had the same impact.”

Casting was crucial. Jeanne Goursaud was the first actor Zübert felt could fully embody Sara Wulf’s complex character. “She wasn’t a trained fighter but took on all the physical demands herself—no stunt doubles,” he said.

Dougray Scott, who plays consulate security head Erik Kynch, worked hard to master German with an American accent. “He was always asking to be spoken to in German on set,” Zübert recalled.

Exterritorial’s triumph is a positive sign for German filmmakers facing smaller budgets compared to Hollywood. “We can’t rely on big spectacles,” Zübert said. “We must use narrative and emotional depth to make something special.”

Currently, Zübert is preparing a TV drama titled Nordhof, set in the elite world of show jumping. Based on a novel by Julie Zeh and produced for German broadcaster ZDF, the series explores the high-stakes equestrian scene with visual flair.

While a sequel to Exterritorial is not off the table, Zübert prefers new challenges. “I would only return to that universe if we have a really strong idea, not just because the first film was successful,” he stated.