Why are German films often so formulaic even though Germany...

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!

Zur Sache, Schätzchen (and its sequel)

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.

The Center of Our Universe Does Not Exist. A Physicist Explains Why. - ScienceAlert

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.

Nackt

Das Haus in Montevideo

What is your most intimate experience with your best friend?

Die Feuerzangenbowle

Lola rennt

Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt

How should I handle my co-worker (he’s 15 years older than me) who often subtly belittles me and push his work to me?

Metropolis

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

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):

Alan Turing's iconic paper on a 'universal computing machine' goes up for auction - Live Science

In jenen Tagen