Christian Wagner studied German literature, theater arts and psychology in Munich in 1981. After getting from film schools three times, Wagner determined to learn filmmaking on his own. In 1982, he founded his own production company Christian Wagner Filmproduktion, which produced all of his projects including short films that he directed. In high school, he directed his first feature super 8 film Der Prophetor; his 16mm film Eingeschlossen frei zu sein (1982-84) received numerous awards. His debut film as writer, producer, and director, Wallers letzter Gang was a major success.

In 1985, Wagner founded the independent distributors cooperative, Der andere Blick in collaboration with the filmmakers Nico Hofmann and Jan Schütte, Werner Penzel, Nico Humbert, Donatello and Fosco Dubini. He is currently living in Munich as a producer, director and lecturer at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg and Filmschule Cologne. He also teaches film at workshops for the Goethe-Institut worldwide. Christian Wagner is a member of the European Film Academy and German Film Academy.