

23
The movie's plot is based on the true story of a group of young computer hackers from Hannover, Germany. In the late 1980s the orphaned Karl Koch invests his heritage in a flat and a home computer. At first he dials up to bulletin boards to discuss conspiracy theories inspired by his favorite novel, R.A. Wilson's "Illuminatus", but soon he and his friend David start breaking into government and military computers. Pepe, one of Karl's rather criminal acquaintances senses that there is money in computer cracking - he travels to east Berlin and tries to contact the KGB.
Where to watch 23 in United States
No streaming info for your region.
Click a service to open 23 there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
About 23
23 is a 1998 German-language drama and thriller film directed by Hans-Christian Schmid. The cast is led by August Diehl, Fabian Busch, Dieter Landuris. It has a runtime of 1h 39m. Viewers rate it 6.8/10 across 200 ratings.
23 was produced by Claussen+Wöbke Filmproduktion and made in Germany. It was released on July 2, 1998.
- Director
- Hans-Christian Schmid
- Writers
- Hans-Christian Schmid, Michael Gutmann
- Release date
- July 2, 1998
- Original language
- German
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Germany
- Production
- Claussen+Wöbke Filmproduktion
23 cast & crew
23 was directed by Hans-Christian Schmid and written by Hans-Christian Schmid and Michael Gutmann.
The cast features August Diehl as Karl Koch, Fabian Busch as David, Dieter Landuris as Pepe, Jan-Gregor Kremp as Lupo, Burghart Klaußner as Weber, and Stephan Kampwirth as Jochen Maiwald.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Enjott Schneider, cinematography is by Klaus Eichhammer, and it was produced by Jakob Claussen and Thomas Wöbke.
Is 23 worth watching?
23 holds an audience score of 6.8/10 from 226 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 1h 39m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy drama and thriller, 23 is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch 23
23 isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
Your rating and review are saved privately in this browser — no account needed.
Cast of 23

August Diehl
Karl Koch

Fabian Busch
David

Dieter Landuris
Pepe

Jan-Gregor Kremp
Lupo

Burghart Klaußner
Weber

Stephan Kampwirth
Jochen Maiwald

Zbigniew Zamachowski
Sergej

Peter Fitz
Brückner

Lilly Marie Tschörtner
Beate
Arnulf Schumacher
Seybert

Patrick Joswig
Alex

Sven Lehmann
Computerverkäufer
23 — FAQs
▸Where can I watch 23 in United States?
23 is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.
▸What language is 23 in?
23 is originally in German, with audio tracks including Russian, German, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is 23?
23 runs 1 hours 39 minutes (99 minutes).
▸What is 23 rated?
It holds a 6.8/10 audience score from 226 ratings.











