Werner Herzog (German: [ˈvɛɐ̯nɐ ˈhɛɐ̯tsoːk]; born 5 September 1942) is a German film director, screenwriter, author, actor, and opera director, regarded as a pioneer of New German Cinema. His films often feature ambitious protagonists with impossible dreams, people with unique talents in obscure fields, or individuals in conflict with nature. He is known for his unique filmmaking process, such as disregarding storyboards, emphasizing improvisation, and placing the cast and crew into similar situations as characters in his films.
Herzog started work on his first film Herakles in 1961, when he was nineteen. Since then he has produced, written, and directed more than sixty feature films and documentaries, such as Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974), Heart of Glass (1976), Stroszek (1977), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Fitzcarraldo (1982), Cobra Verde (1987), Lessons of Darkness (1992), Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997), My Best Fiend (1999), Invincible (2000), Grizzly Man (2005), Encounters at the End of the World (2007), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), and Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010). He has published more than a dozen books of prose, and directed as many operas.
French filmmaker François Truffaut once called Herzog "the most important film director alive." American film critic Roger Ebert said that Herzog "has never created a single film that is compromised, shameful, made for pragmatic reasons, or uninteresting. Even his failures are spectacular." He was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2009.
| 2024 | Orion ve Karanlık as Narrator (voice) |
| 2023 | The Arc of Oblivion as Narrator (voice) |
| 2022 | Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer as Self |
| 2022 | Tegoyo as Self (Voice) |
| 2022 | The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft as Narrator (voice) |
| 2022 | Last Exit: Space as Narrator (voice) |
| 2022 | Nosferatu – Ein Film wie ein Vampir as Self (archive footage) |
| 2021 | Falling - Q&A as Self - Host |
| 2021 | L'extravagante petite vie de Jean-Claude D. Dreyfus as Self (archive footage) |
| 2021 | Hannelore Elsner - Ohne Spiel ist mir das Leben zu ernst as Self (archive footage) |
| 2021 | ستاره دنباله دار: سهراب شهید ثالث as Self |
| 2020 | El Andinista as The Painter (Narrator) |
| 2020 | Dear Werner (Walking on Cinema) as Narrator (voice) |
| 2020 | Ein Leben für den Film - Lotte Eisner as Self |
| 2020 | Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds as Self - Narrator (voice) |
| 2020 | Wim Wenders, Desperado as Self |
| 2020 | AGFA Mystery Mixtape #2: Later in L.A. as Self |
| 2019 | 90 Years of the Music Box Theatre as Self |
| 2019 | Tattoo Uprising as Self |
| 2019 | Meeting Gorbachev as Self |
| 2019 | Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin as Self - Interviewer and Narrator (voice) |
| 2019 | Jihad in Hollywood as Self |
| 2018 | Manaslu - Berg der Seelen as Self |
| 2018 | Paradox Bullets as Narrator (voice) |
| 2018 | The Great Buster: A Celebration as Self |
| 2018 | 我是一个电影战士 as Self |
| 2018 | Der Film verlässt das Kino: Vom Kübelkind-Experiment und anderen Utopien as Self |
| 2017 | Ballad of a Righteous Merchant as Self |
| 2017 | O Homem que Matou John Wayne as Self (archive footage) |
| 2016 | Tuz ve Ateş as Man with One Story (uncredited) |
| 2016 | Cehenneme Doğru as Narrator (voice) |
| 2016 | Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World as Self |
| 2016 | Jihad in Hollywood as Self |
| 2015 | Ucubeler Uzaylılara Karşı as Perfect Being (voice) |
| 2014 | Madagaskar Penguenleri as Documentary Filmmaker (voice) |
| 2014 | Lemonade War as Neighborhood Hero |
| 2014 | Alfonso Sansone - produttore per caso as Self (archive footage) |
| 2014 | Werner Herzog: On Death Row and Life as a Director as Self |
| 2014 | Hayatın Kendisi as Self - Filmmaker |
| 2013 | The Unbelievers as Self |
| 2013 | Werner Herzog and Errol Morris on 'The Act of Killing' as Self |
| 2013 | An Appreciation of Les Blank by Werner Herzog as Self |
| 2013 | Die andere Heimat - Chronik einer Sehnsucht as Alexander von Humboldt |
| 2013 | Mistaken for Strangers as Self (uncredited) |
| 2013 | Jack Reacher: When the Man Comes Around as Self |
| 2012 | Jack Reacher as Zec Chelovek |
| 2012 | Close Up as Self (archive footage) |
| 2012 | 10 Questions for Werner Herzog as Self |
| 2012 | The Killers: Unstaged as Self |
| 2012 | Dinotasia as Narrator (voice) |
| 2011 | Carnet de Dubaï Hiver VI: Lumière et Reflets as Self |
| 2011 | Eu eu eu José Lewgoy as Self |
| 2011 | Into the Abyss as Narrator (voice) |
| 2011 | On Borrowed Time as Self |
| 2011 | Champions: Μια αστεία ιστορία as Self |
| 2011 | Hans Zimmer - Der Sound für Hollywood as Self |
| 2010 | Werner Herzog Defends Dade as Self |
| 2010 | Unutulmuş Düşler Mağarası as Narrator (voice) |
| 2010 | Wer sich traut, reißt die Kälte vom Pferd as Self |
| 2010 | When Herzog Rescued Phoenix as Narrator (voice) |
| 2010 | Happy People: A Year in the Taiga as Narrator (voice) |
| 2010 | Behind the Madness: The Making of My Son, My Son as Self |
| 2010 | Was ich bin sind meine Filme - Teil 2... nach 30 Jahren as Self |
| 2009 | Plastic Bag as Plastic Bag (voice) |
| 2009 | The Lonely |
| 2008 | Capturing Reality as Self |
| 2008 | 40 x 15: The Forty Years of the Directors' Fortnight as Self |
| 2008 | BLAST! as Narrator (voice) |
| 2008 | Bierbichler as Self |
| 2008 | Gegenschuss - Aufbruch der Filmemacher as Self |
| 2008 | Back to Room 666 as Self (archive footage) |
| 2008 | Mister Lonely as Father Umbrillo |
| 2007 | Making of a True Story: Rescue Dawn as Self |
| 2007 | Pierre Rissient: Man of Cinema as Self |
| 2007 | Encounters at the End of the World as Narrator (voice) |
| 2007 | Münchner (Filmfest) Geschichten - 25 Jahre Filmfest München as Self |
| 2007 | The Grand as The German |
| 2007 | All In This Tea |
| 2006 | 50 Films to See Before You Die as Self |
| 2006 | Walking to Werner as Self (voice) |
| 2005 | In the Edges: The 'Grizzly Man' Session as Self |
| 2005 | Q & A with Jana Sevcikova and Werner Herzog as Self |
| 2005 | Perpetuum mobile - Voces en el espacio azul as Self |
| 2005 | Ayı Adam as Self |
| 2005 | Dreams and Burdens as Self |
| 2004 | Incident at Loch Ness as Self |
| 2004 | The White Diamond as Narrator (voice) |
| 2004 | The Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 3 as Self (voice) ("Dribble" short) |
| 2004 | Dribble as Self (voice) |
| 2003 | Rad der Zeit as Narrator (voice) |
| 2002 | Erdbeerland as Turnlehrer |
| 2002 | Der Boxprinz as Self |
| 2001 | The 100 Greatest Films as Self |
| 2000 | Der letzte Dokumentarfilm as Self |
| 2000 | Klaus Kinski - Ich bin kein Schauspieler as Self |
| 2000 | Julianes Sturz in den Dschungel as Self |
| 2000 | Der Ball ist ein Sauhund as Self |
| 1999 | Julien Donkey-Boy as Father |
| 1999 | A Brief History of Errol Morris as Self |
| 1999 | Mein liebster Feind as Self |
| 1999 | In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin as Self |
| 1998 | Aşkın Gücü as Face |
| 1997 | Little Dieter Needs to Fly as Narrator (voice) |
| 1996 | Stardust Stricken: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, A Portrait as Self |
| 1996 | Die Verwandlung der Welt in Musik: Bayreuth vor der Premiere as Self |
| 1995 | Tod für fünf Stimmen as Narrator (voice) |
| 1995 | Brennendes Herz |
| 1993 | Dangerous Game as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1993 | Glocken aus der Tiefe as Narrator (voice) |
| 1992 | Lektionen in Finsternis as Narrator (voice) |
| 1991 | Filmstunde as Self |
| 1991 | Jag Mandir: Das exzentrische Privattheater des Maharadscha von Udaipur as Narrator (voice) |
| 1991 | Schneeweißrosenrot as Self |
| 1991 | Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein as TV-Regisseur |
| 1990 | Echos aus einem düsteren Reich as Self |
| 1990 | Es ist nicht leicht, ein Gott zu sein as Mita / Richard |
| 1990 | Russisches Abenteuer. Peter Fleischmann dreht "Es ist nicht leicht, ein Gott zu sein." as Self |
| 1989 | Wodaabe - Die Hirten der Sonne. Nomaden am Südrand der Sahara as Narrator (voice) |
| 1989 | Gekauftes Glück as Businger |
| 1989 | Il cuore e le gambe (Herzog) as Self |
| 1989 | Bis ans Ende... und dann noch weiter. Die ekstatische Welt des Filmemachers Werner Herzog as Self |
| 1987 | Location Africa as Self |
| 1986 | Werner Herzog: Filmemacher as Self |
| 1985 | Tokyo-Ga as Self |
| 1985 | Gasherbrum - Der leuchtende Berg as Self (voice) |
| 1984 | Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten as Self (voice) |
| 1984 | Wo die grünen Ameisen träumen as Lawyer (uncredited) |
| 1983 | Man of Flowers as The Father |
| 1982 | Burden of Dreams as Self - Filmmaker |
| 1982 | Chambre 666 as Self |
| 1982 | The South Bank Show: Werner Herzog as Self |
| 1981 | Glaube und Währung: Dr. Gene Scott, Fernsehprediger as Narrator (voice) |
| 1980 | Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe as Self |
| 1980 | Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers as Self - Film Director: Nosferatu |
| 1979 | The Making of Nosferatu as Self |
| 1979 | Was ich bin, sind meine Filme as Self |
| 1979 | Scénario de Sauve qui peut (la vie). Quelques remarques sur la réalisation et la production du film as Self (archive footage) |
| 1979 | Vampir Nosferatu as Hand and Feet in Box with Rats (uncredited) |
| 1977 | La Soufrière: Warten auf eine unausweichliche Katastrophe as Narrator (voice) |
| 1977 | Viaggio nella storia as Self |
| 1976 | Signs of Vigorous Life: The New German Cinema as Self |
| 1976 | Herz aus Glas as Glass Transporter |
| 1976 | How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck: Beobachtungen zu einer neuen Sprache as Self |
| 1975 | Lost in the Garden of the World as Self |
| 1974 | Die große Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner as Self |
| 1971 | Geschichten vom Kübelkind as Hurenmörder |
| 1968 | Lebenszeichen as Soldier (uncredited) |
| 1968 | Die Erben von Papas Kino |
| 1967 | Neuer Deutscher Film Report |
| Jösta Hagelbäck & Werner Herzog as Self |
| Non, monsieur Werner Herzog, ceci n'est pas votre Cinématon as Self |
| Schegge di cinema e filosofia as Self |
| Tales from the Opera as Director |
| Untitled Bong Joon-ho Animated Film |
| Werner Herzog cineasta as Self |
| 2023 | The Arc of Oblivion - Executive Producer |
| 2022 | Notas de un Dromedario - Creative Consultant |
| 2022 | Theatre of Thought - Director |
| 2022 | Theatre of Thought - Executive Producer |
| 2022 | Theatre of Thought - Screenplay |
| 2022 | Flores del precipicio - Producer |
| 2022 | The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft - Director |
| 2022 | The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft - Writer |
| 2022 | Last Exit: Space - Executive Producer |
| 2022 | El Poso - Producer |
| 2020 | Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds - Director |
| 2020 | Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds - Writer |
| 2019 | Aile Saadeti, Ltd - Camera Operator |
| 2019 | Aile Saadeti, Ltd - Director |
| 2019 | Aile Saadeti, Ltd - Director of Photography |
| 2019 | Aile Saadeti, Ltd - Writer |
| 2019 | Meeting Gorbachev - Director |
| 2019 | Meeting Gorbachev - Writer |
| 2019 | Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin - Director |
| 2019 | Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin - Writer |
| 2019 | Love Birds - Consulting Producer |
| 2018 | Del Arco Vacío - Thanks |
| 2018 | Tutto il mondo è paese - Consulting Producer |
| 2017 | A Gray State - Executive Producer |
| 2016 | Tuz ve Ateş - Director |
| 2016 | Tuz ve Ateş - Producer |
| 2016 | Tuz ve Ateş - Writer |
| 2016 | Cehenneme Doğru - Director |
| 2016 | Cehenneme Doğru - Writer |
| 2016 | Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World - Director |
| 2016 | Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World - Producer |
| 2016 | Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World - Writer |
| 2016 | The Blimp-Maker - Thanks |
| 2015 | Çöl Kraliçesi - Director |
| 2015 | Çöl Kraliçesi - Writer |
| 2015 | Sessizliğin Bakışı - Executive Producer |
| 2014 | Kızıl Ordu - Executive Producer |
| 2013 | From One Second to the Next - Director |
| 2012 | Öldürme Eylemi - Executive Producer |
| 2012 | The Killers: Unstaged - Director |
| 2011 | Into the Abyss - Director |
| 2011 | Into the Abyss - Producer |
| 2011 | Into the Abyss - Writer |
| 2011 | Ode to the Dawn of Man - Cinematography |
| 2011 | Ode to the Dawn of Man - Director |
| 2011 | Ode to the Dawn of Man - Sound |
| 2010 | Unutulmuş Düşler Mağarası - Director |
| 2010 | Unutulmuş Düşler Mağarası - Screenplay |
| 2010 | Happy People: A Year in the Taiga - Director |
| 2010 | Happy People: A Year in the Taiga - Executive Producer |
| 2010 | Happy People: A Year in the Taiga - Writer |
| 2010 | A Night Out - Technical Advisor |
| 2010 | A Night Out - Thanks |
| 2009 | Benim Güzel Oğlum, Ne Yaptın Sen ? - Director |
| 2009 | Benim Güzel Oğlum, Ne Yaptın Sen ? - Screenplay |
| 2009 | Kötü Polis - Director |
| 2009 | La Bohème - Director |
| 2008 | Lohengrin - Bayreuther Festspiel - Stage Director |
| 2007 | Encounters at the End of the World - Director |
| 2007 | Encounters at the End of the World - Sound |
| 2007 | Encounters at the End of the World - Writer |
| 2007 | The Devil's Muse - Creative Consultant |
| 2006 | Şafak Harekatı - Author |
| 2006 | Şafak Harekatı - Director |
| 2005 | The Wild Blue Yonder - Director |
| 2005 | The Wild Blue Yonder - Screenplay |
| 2005 | Ayı Adam - Director |
| 2005 | Ayı Adam - Screenplay |
| 2005 | What Is It? - Thanks |
| 2004 | The White Diamond - Director |
| 2004 | The White Diamond - Screenplay |
| 2003 | Rad der Zeit - Director |
| 2003 | Rad der Zeit - Editor |
| 2003 | Rad der Zeit - Producer |
| 2003 | Rad der Zeit - Writer |
| 2002 | Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet - Director |
| 2002 | Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet - Writer |
| 2001 | Invincible - Director |
| 2001 | Invincible - Producer |
| 2001 | Invincible - Writer |
| 2001 | Pilgrimage - Director |
| 2000 | Tannhäuser - Stage Director |
| 2000 | Julianes Sturz in den Dschungel - Director |
| 2000 | Julianes Sturz in den Dschungel - Writer |
| 1999 | Mein liebster Feind - Director |
| 1999 | Mein liebster Feind - Writer |
| 1997 | Little Dieter Needs to Fly - Director |
| 1997 | Little Dieter Needs to Fly - Writer |
| 1996 | Die Verwandlung der Welt in Musik: Bayreuth vor der Premiere - Director |
| 1996 | Die Verwandlung der Welt in Musik: Bayreuth vor der Premiere - Writer |
| 1995 | Tod für fünf Stimmen - Director |
| 1995 | Tod für fünf Stimmen - Writer |
| 1993 | Glocken aus der Tiefe - Director |
| 1993 | Glocken aus der Tiefe - Writer |
| 1992 | Lektionen in Finsternis - Director |
| 1992 | Lektionen in Finsternis - Producer |
| 1992 | Lektionen in Finsternis - Writer |
| 1991 | Filmstunde - Director |
| 1991 | Jag Mandir: Das exzentrische Privattheater des Maharadscha von Udaipur - Director |
| 1991 | Jag Mandir: Das exzentrische Privattheater des Maharadscha von Udaipur - Producer |
| 1991 | Jag Mandir: Das exzentrische Privattheater des Maharadscha von Udaipur - Screenplay |
| 1991 | Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein - Director |
| 1990 | Echos aus einem düsteren Reich - Director |
| 1990 | Echos aus einem düsteren Reich - Producer |
| 1990 | Echos aus einem düsteren Reich - Writer |
| 1990 | Lohengrin - Bayreuther Festspiel - Director |
| 1989 | Wodaabe - Die Hirten der Sonne. Nomaden am Südrand der Sahara - Director |
| 1989 | Wodaabe - Die Hirten der Sonne. Nomaden am Südrand der Sahara - Writer |
| 1989 | Giovanna d'Arco - Director |
| 1988 | Les Français vus par - Director |
| 1988 | Les Gaulois - Director |
| 1987 | Yeşil Kobra - Director |
| 1987 | Yeşil Kobra - Screenplay |
| 1987 | Location Africa - Producer |
| 1986 | Werner Herzog: Filmemacher - Director |
| 1986 | Werner Herzog: Filmemacher - Writer |
| 1985 | Gasherbrum - Der leuchtende Berg - Director |
| 1985 | Gasherbrum - Der leuchtende Berg - Producer |
| 1985 | Gasherbrum - Der leuchtende Berg - Writer |
| 1984 | Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten - Director |
| 1984 | Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten - Producer |
| 1984 | Ballade vom kleinen Soldaten - Writer |
| 1984 | Wo die grünen Ameisen träumen - Director |
| 1984 | Wo die grünen Ameisen träumen - Producer |
| 1984 | Wo die grünen Ameisen träumen - Writer |
| 1983 | Huie's Predigt - Director |
| 1982 | Fitzcarraldo - Director |
| 1982 | Fitzcarraldo - Producer |
| 1982 | Fitzcarraldo - Screenplay |
| 1981 | Glaube und Währung: Dr. Gene Scott, Fernsehprediger - Director |
| 1981 | Glaube und Währung: Dr. Gene Scott, Fernsehprediger - Writer |
| 1980 | Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe - Writer |
| 1979 | The Making of Nosferatu - Director |
| 1979 | Woyzeck - Director |
| 1979 | Woyzeck - Screenplay |
| 1979 | Vampir Nosferatu - Director |
| 1979 | Vampir Nosferatu - Producer |
| 1979 | Vampir Nosferatu - Writer |
| 1977 | La Soufrière: Warten auf eine unausweichliche Katastrophe - Director |
| 1977 | La Soufrière: Warten auf eine unausweichliche Katastrophe - Producer |
| 1977 | La Soufrière: Warten auf eine unausweichliche Katastrophe - Sound Engineer |
| 1977 | Stroszek - Director |
| 1977 | Stroszek - Screenplay |
| 1976 | Herz aus Glas - Director |
| 1976 | Herz aus Glas - Producer |
| 1976 | Herz aus Glas - Writer |
| 1976 | How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck: Beobachtungen zu einer neuen Sprache - Director |
| 1976 | How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck: Beobachtungen zu einer neuen Sprache - Producer |
| 1976 | Mit mir will keiner spielen - Director |
| 1976 | Mit mir will keiner spielen - Writer |
| 1974 | Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle - Director |
| 1974 | Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle - Producer |
| 1974 | Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle - Screenplay |
| 1974 | Die große Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner - Director |
| 1974 | Die große Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner - Screenplay |
| 1972 | Aguirre, Tanrı'nın Gazabı - Director |
| 1972 | Aguirre, Tanrı'nın Gazabı - Producer |
| 1972 | Aguirre, Tanrı'nın Gazabı - Writer |
| 1971 | Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit - Director |
| 1971 | Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit - Producer |
| 1971 | Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit - Screenplay |
| 1971 | Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit - Sound Recordist |
| 1971 | Fata Morgana - Director |
| 1971 | Fata Morgana - Screenplay |
| 1971 | Behinderte Zukunft - Director |
| 1971 | Behinderte Zukunft - Producer |
| 1971 | Behinderte Zukunft - Sound Recordist |
| 1971 | Behinderte Zukunft - Writer |
| 1970 | Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen - Director |
| 1970 | Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen - Producer |
| 1970 | Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen - Screenplay |
| 1970 | Die fliegenden Ärzte von Ostafrika - Director |
| 1970 | Die fliegenden Ärzte von Ostafrika - Sound Recordist |
| 1970 | Die fliegenden Ärzte von Ostafrika - Writer |
| 1969 | Maßnahmen gegen Fanatiker - Director |
| 1969 | Maßnahmen gegen Fanatiker - Producer |
| 1969 | Maßnahmen gegen Fanatiker - Sound |
| 1969 | Maßnahmen gegen Fanatiker - Writer |
| 1968 | Lebenszeichen - Director |
| 1968 | Lebenszeichen - Producer |
| 1968 | Lebenszeichen - Writer |
| 1968 | Letzte Worte - Director |
| 1968 | Letzte Worte - Producer |
| 1968 | Letzte Worte - Screenplay |
| 1967 | Die beispiellose Verteidigung der Festung Deutschkreuz - Director |
| 1967 | Die beispiellose Verteidigung der Festung Deutschkreuz - Editor |
| 1967 | Die beispiellose Verteidigung der Festung Deutschkreuz - Screenplay |
| 1962 | Herakles - Director |
| 1962 | Herakles - Editor |
| 1962 | Herakles - Producer |
| 1962 | Herakles - Screenplay |
| 1962 | Herakles - Sound |
| Dead Man's Wire - Director |
| Fordlandia - Director |
| SPIEL IM SAND - Director |
| Ten Thousand Years Older - Director |
| The Conquest of Mexico - Director |
| El hambre en el mundo explicada a mi hijo - Writer |
| The Conquest of Mexico - Writer |
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