Maetzig's first feature film was "Ehe im Schatten" ("Marriage in the Shadows"), released in 1947. It was the most successful film of the post-war period, attracting over 12 million viewers in total. His other notable films include "Die Buntkarierten" (1949), which was entered into the Cannes Film Festival, the "Ernst Thälmann films" (1954–55), and the science fiction film "Der schweigende Stern" (1960). Some of Maetzig's work has been described as East German propaganda particularly his two part series on Ernst Thalman (Ernst Thälmann - Sohn seiner Klasse, Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse), though nearly all his films in production from 1965-66 were banned by East German authorities. He also directed the film "Das Kaninchen bin ich" ("The Rabbit is Me") (1965), which was one of twelve films that were banned in East Germany after the 11th plenum of the SED's Central Committee for being too critical of the internal social problems within the country.