The Birthday Gift, a German comedy directed by Vanessa Jopp, hits Netflix on October 30, 2026. Jeanne Goursaud plays a single mother whose meticulously planned celebration spirals into chaos after the arrival of a highly controversial gift.
In her brother's luxurious countryside house, Marlene is staging the perfect birthday for her son Theo. Balloons, a gluten-free cake, a piñata and animals are meant to make the day memorable, until a toy gun given to the child triggers a string of disputes.
The gift pits the adults against each other over education, models of manhood, and their parenting principles. Tensions are amplified by the presence of Timo, Marlene's troublesome brother, their father Hans, and Jenny, an idealistic colleague invited to the party.
Jeanne Goursaud, Edin Hasanović and Heiner Lauterbach lead the cast in this comedy written by Ben Brooks. The film confines the action to a kid’s birthday party, where a dysfunctional family, overbearing parents, and conflicting ideas about parenting collide.
The Birthday Gift will be available on Netflix on October 30, 2026.
To discover the other new releases of the month, check out our guide to Netflix releases in October 2026, our guide to streaming releases across all platforms, and today’s pick for what to watch in streaming.
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