The Crocodiles

On the edge of a working class town, ten year old Hannes tries to find his place. He longs for the kind of belonging that a local street gang offers, even if the price is risky games and rough crowds. Raised by a young mother who struggles to make ends meet, he sees the Vorstadtkrokodile as his ticket to friendship and status. When a demanded test to join goes disastrously wrong, a newcomer named Kai intervenes. Kai is wheelchair bound, and though he wants in, his presence unsettles the others who doubt a disabled kid can keep up under pressure. The film follows their attempts to bridge this gap while keeping a sense of adventure alive.

Directed by Christian Ditter with Martin Ritzenhoff and Max von der Grün, The Crocodiles adapts the Vorstadtkrokodile novels for the screen, translating a brisk German youth adventure from page to cinema in 2009, and paving the way for future installments.

Reception notes that the movie balances action with social themes without tumbling into sentimentality. It centers on friendship across difference, the pressures of growing up in a tight knit neighborhood, and the question of who truly belongs in a rough urban circle. It also offers humor that keeps younger viewers engaged.

In German family cinema, The Crocodiles is remembered for its inclusive angle and the way it treats disability as part of the group rather than a barrier. It presents rough adventures and humor while inviting audiences to rethink loyalty and acceptance, and it values teamwork over bravado.

Box office numbers show the film grossed $4,628,777 worldwide against a budget of $4,980,190, a modest return for a family adventure released in 2009. The film found particular resonance in German speaking markets and among families seeking light hearted, responsible storytelling. This marked a solid entry in its franchise.