Nordic noir is easily one of the most popular emergent genres of the 21st century. While the streaming boom of the 2010s can largely be credited with popularizing Nordic noir as a concept, this particular trend has been alive and well in Scandinavian cinema for decades and includes some of the most notable European films of all time. In more recent years, the field has further expanded to include a huge variety of genres and narrative styles, ranging from the intensely dramatic to the darkly comedic and everything in between.
Though it’s not strictly speaking a genre in itself, the term “Nordic noir” is generally applied to Scandinavian movies and shows with tensethrillerplots, dark social commentary, and brooding cinematography. But that’s just the general outline, and individual filmmakers have pushed these tropes and themes to new heights over the years, creating some of the most engaging works of cinema ever produced. Read on to discover our ranked selection of the greatest Nordic noir movies of all time, including both landmark classics and underrated gems that deserve a lot more attention.
8‘In Order of Disappearance’ (2014)
Directed by Hans Petter Moland
A darkly comedic action thriller,In Order of DisappearancestarsStellan Skarsgårdas Nils Dickman, a carefree snowplow driver whose son dies of a drug overdose. When he discovers that his son was actually murdered, Nils sets out on a quest for vengeance that sparks a gang war. Besides Skarsgård, the movie also featuresPål Sverre Valheim Hagen,Bruno Ganz,Birgitte Hjort Sørensen,Anders Baasmo Christiansen,Hildegun Riise,Peter Andersson, and more in key roles.
In Order of Disappearancepremiered in competition at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival, receiving favorable reviews from critics. A wildly entertaining and cleverly written crime comedy, the film is essentially a revenge thriller that critiques the whole revenge movie genre without veering into parody. However, the movie sadly underperformed at the box office and is largelyoverlooked, despite the sheer fun it brings to the narrative.Hans Petter Molandalso directed an English-language remake,Cold Pursuit, which starsLiam Neesonand was released in 2019.
In Order of Disappearance
7‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2009)
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev
Based onStieg Larsson’s eponymous 2005 novel,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoois a Swedish-Danish crime thriller written byRasmus HeisterbergandNikolaj Arcel. The movie follows a journalist who is hired by a retired industrialist to find his missing niece, who disappeared over 40 years ago. As he investigates, the journalist receives unexpected help from a female hacker, and together they unravel a twisted, decades-spanning mystery. The film starsMichael NyqvistandNoomi Rapace, withLena Endre,Sven-Bertil Taube,Peter Haber, and more in key roles.
The first film in theMillenniumseries,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoowas quite favorably reviewed by critics and very successful at the box office. A sprawling film with graphic violence and gripping performances, the movie is easily one of the most internationally popular Nordic noir films of all time. The movie earned several accolades, including a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language, and inspired an English-language remake directed byDavid Fincherthat starsDaniel CraigandRooney Mara.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
6‘The Hunt’ (2012)
Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
A Danish psychological drama film,The HuntstarsMads Mikkelsenas Lucas, a divorced kindergarten teacher. Set in a small village around Christmas, the movie follows the events that occur when Lucas is falsely accused of sexually abusing a child, leading to mass hysteria and violent harassment. Besides Mikkelsen, the film also starsThomas Bo Larsen,Annika Wedderkopp,Lasse Fogelstrøm, and more in lead roles.
The Huntpremiered in competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and won Mikkelsen the festival’s Best Actor Award. Widely regarded as one of the best psychological dramas of all time, the film has been praised forMikkelsen’s performanceand the stellar direction. The movie went on to earn several more accolades, including the 2013 Nordic Council Film Prize, and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at both the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards.
5‘Headhunters’ (2011)
Directed by Morten Tyldum
Based onJo Nesbø’s eponymous 2008 novel,Headhuntersis a Norwegian action thriller movie that follows a successful corporate recruiter who moonlights as an art thief. When he discovers that one of his potential job prospects owns a valuable painting, he plans to steal it, but the theft is just the beginning of an escalating series of events that threaten to destroy everything he’s built. The movie starsAksel Henniein the lead role, withNikolaj Coster-Waldau,Synnøve Macody Lund,Julie Ølgaard, and more as supporting characters.
Headhunterspremiered in Norway in August 2011 to critical and commercial success, eventually becoming the highest-grossing Norwegian film of all time, but it’s still sorelyunderratedand underwatched by international audiences. A darkly comedic thriller full of unexpected twists, the film is an offbeat take on the Nordic noir genre that features all the hallmarks, yet takes a wildly different approach that sets it apart. The movie has received several accolades, including four Amanda Award nominations and a BAFTA nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
Headhunters
4‘Jar City’ (2006)
Directed by Baltasar Kormákur
Based on the 2000 novelMýrinbyArnaldur Indriðason,Jar Cityis an Icelandic noir thrillerinspired by real events. The film follows Police Detective Erlendur (Ingvar E. Sigurðsson) as he investigates the murder of an old man, finding links to a decades-old rape case, several missing persons cases, and controversial genetics research. Besides Sigurðsson, the film also featuresÁgústa Eva Erlendsdóttir,Björn Hlynur Haraldsson,Atli Rafn Sigurðsson, and more in key roles.
Jar Cityand the book it’s based on were both inspired by a real-life Icelandic controversy where it was discovered that people’s genetic data was being used without their knowledge. That fact makes this already chilling movie even more horrifying. It’s a grisly and gripping mystery film that ties together the past and present with buried secrets and unethical scientific practices, further enhanced by its masterful direction and near-perfect performances. An English-language remake produced by directorBaltasar Kormákurwas announced in the 2000s, but the project has been stuck in development hell for the past two decades.
3‘Insomnia’ (1997)
Directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg
Set in a town located above the Arctic Circle,Insomniais a Norwegian thriller film starring Stellan Skarsgård as Jonas Engström, a homicide detective who mistakenly shoots his partner. After covering up the accidental murder, Engström is haunted by the guilt of his actions, which manifests as terrible insomnia. Besides Skarsgård, the movie also featuresSverre Anker Ousdal,Bjørn Floberg,Gisken Armand,Maria Bonnevie, and more in key roles.
Arguably one of Stellan Skarsgård’s greatest film performances,Insomniapremiered in 1997 to critical acclaim, receiving praise for its writing, performances, and direction by debut directorErik Skjoldbjærg. The movie is a thoroughly engaging psychological thriller that presents a layered character study on par with the most prestigious works of philosophical literature. The film inspired an American remake of the same name in 2002, which was directed byChristopher Nolanand featuresAl Pacinoin the lead role.
2‘Border’ (2018)
Directed by Ali Abbasi
Based onJohn Ajvide Lindqvist’s eponymous short story,Borderis agenre-bendingSwedish fantasy thriller starringEva Melanderas Tina, a customs officer with an unusual appearance and an extraordinary sense of smell. When she encounters a suspicious man who looks like her, Tina discovers long-hidden secrets about her true identity and the horrifying secret behind a child pornography ring. Besides Melander, the film also featuresEero Milonoff,Sten Ljunggren,Jörgen Thorsson, and more in key roles.
Borderpremiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where it received near-universal acclaim and won the Un Certain Regard award. The film went on to earn several more accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and was selected as Sweden’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film. An unpredictable thriller with an unsettling story and brilliant performances, the movie combines fantasy, noir, andhorrorelements to create a truly unique and mind-blowing experience.
1‘The Guilty’ (2018)
Directed by Gustav Möller
A Danish crime thriller film,The Guiltywas the directorial debut of director and co-writerGustav Möller. The movie starsJakob Cedergrenas Asger Holm, a Copenhagen police officer who is under fire for using deadly force and assigned to handle emergency calls while awaiting his court hearing. When he receives a mysterious call from a potential kidnapping victim, it’s the start of a tense and harrowing night that gets increasingly complicated as time wears on. Besides Cedergren, the film also starsJessica Dinnage,Omar Shargawi,Johan Olsen, and more in supporting voice roles.
An ambitious, contained thriller set entirely within the confines of an emergency call center,The Guiltypremiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section. Highly acclaimed by critics and a box office success, the movie is easily one of the most successful thriller films of recent times, with brilliant performances and near-perfect writing. The movie was selected as the Danish submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was named one of the Top 5 Foreign Language Films of the year by the National Board of Review. An American remake directed byAntoine Fuquaand starringJake Gyllenhaalwas released in 2021.
