His international breakthrough role came in 2003 as Alex Kerner in Wolfgang Becker's German tragicomedy "Good Bye, Lenin!" which tells about a German family that lived during the unification of Germany. The film became one of the most successful German films to date, receiving nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and the BAFTA Awards and winning at the European Film Awards, German Film Awards, Cesar Awards, and London Film Critics' Circle among others. It was sold to more than 65 countries, reaching an estimated six million cinema-goers worldwide. In that year, Brühl won awards including the European Film Awards Peoples's Choice Award for Best European Actor and the European Film Award for Best Actor for the role. He also won his second German Film Award as Best Actor both his performance in the film and in "Elefantenherz". He then voiced Kenai in the German version of "Brother Bear".