Why are German films often so formulaic even though Germany is a European culture? I love them but they follow formula very closely like Hollywood. What are the best German films?

And many I can't think of at the moment.

Didi - alles im Eimer

Lola rennt

Why are there no fossils for the 'missing link' that connects our ancestors with other species? Is this a misconception or is there another explanation?

Das Haus in Montevideo

Zur Sache, Schätzchen (and its sequel)

Man spricht Deutsh

What were Sauron's powers in The Lord of the Rings (LOTR)? Did he have any magic or anything like that?

Metropolis

Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht

In jenen Tagen

What was the worst spanking you ever got? Why did you get it, and how was it given to you?

Nackt

Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt

Here is a list of some (by no means all) German movies that are considered Classics (and a few that should be, in my opinion):

What happens if someone fills up their car at the pump but leaves without paying? How is this situation typically handled?

I have seen some very good German movies. It is not that they don't exist, but they hardly ever achieve much fame. Especially since people have been accustomed to the dominance of US popular culture.

What is of absolutely horrible quality is the “movies” that are produced for TV. They are famously bad.

In Wirtschaftswunder times, most Western German movies were junk but the GDR produced some very good ones, e.g. Western movies and Spur der Steine; in the 70s Paul und Paula. I definitely recommend both!

Why do programmers choose to write their own code instead of using code that is already available online?

Die Feuerzangenbowle

Besides these, there are some really good children's movies: More recently, the Bibi und Tina series as just one example. Looking back into the 80s and 70s, as well as into the present, I would even say that movies for children are what the German Film industry excels at. There is much less screaming and cake throwing and slimy monsters and much more discussing of matters that affect children in real life (even in phantasy plots) than in most US children's movies as far als I know them. The GDR was particularly well known for excellent children's movies but the west was and is good at it, too.

Es geschah am helllichten Tag

Why do Democrats call any Republican "Magats", like they are subhuman?