M. X. Oberg (née Matthias X. Oberg) was born in Hamburg on September 13, 1969. The son of a merchant grew up in several European countries. He attended the Rudolf-Steiner-Schule and worked as a train conductor and Karate instructor. After directing three shorts, he made his feature-length debut with "Unter der Milchstraße" ("Under the Milky Way", 1995).

Following the tragicomedy "Undertaker's Paradise" (2000), which is set in Wales, he blended Japanese comic art and conventional film in the thriller "Stratosphere Girl" (2003). In 2011, he completed the documentary "Ein Ton Blau", which addresses the creation, reception and commercial exploitation of art.

Oberg returned to fiction with the 2016 psychological drama "Zazy": The film relates the story of a young woman who tries to manipulate the wife of a TV host in order to fulfill her own dream of becoming a media star.