From Cannes award winners to Oscar-winning masterpieces, we bring together the Nordic films that continue to captivate audiences and spark debate years after their release.
As the weather turns colder and evenings draw in earlier, our choice of films begins to change, too. There is something about this time of year that makes the quiet, introspective world of Nordic cinema feel particularly inviting, especially when watched from beneath a warm blanket.
Our selection of must-watch Nordic films ranges from Ingmar Bergman’s timeless masterpieces to contemporary productions from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Although Finland and Iceland lie outside the Scandinavian Peninsula, we have broadened our selection to embrace the Nordic countries as a whole. After all, these films share a certain stillness, a sense of solitude and an unexpected warmth beneath their seemingly cold exteriors. And as winter begins to make its presence felt, perhaps that is exactly what we need.
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The Worst Person in the World (2021)
IMDb: 7.7
The film that brought Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve international recognition and earned her the Best Actress award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, The Worst Person in the World is the final instalment in director Joachim Trier’s Oslo trilogy. Exploring love, identity, freedom and the uncertainties of adulthood, the film initially feels like a romantic comedy before gradually transforming into an existential drama. Its protagonist, Julie, lives with the consequences of her choices, yet seems to mourn the lives she never chose as well. The film also received two nominations at the 2022 Academy Awards, for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay.
The Hunt (2012)
IMDb: 8.3
Directed by Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg, The Hunt tells the story of Lucas, a kindergarten teacher who finds himself falsely accused because people are more willing to believe what others believe than to discover the truth. Attempting to rebuild his life, Lucas faces a devastating allegation of abuse following a few words spoken by a young girl. Despite the absence of evidence, his friends, colleagues and neighbours turn against him. Widely regarded as one of Mads Mikkelsen’s finest performances, his portrayal of Lucas earned him the Best Actor award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The film’s original Danish title, Jagten, means “the hunt”, an unsettling reminder that the prey in this story is not an animal, but a human being.
Persona (1966)
IMDb: 8.0
One of the most significant psychological films in cinema history, Persona is essential viewing for anyone interested in Nordic cinema. Directed by Swedish filmmaker and playwright Ingmar Bergman, the film follows Elisabet Vogler, a stage actress who suddenly stops speaking during a performance. Yet the story belongs just as much to Alma, the nurse assigned to care for her. As Elisabet remains silent, Alma begins to speak more, and the dynamic between the two women gradually shifts. Frequently ranked by critics among the greatest films ever made, Persona is a masterpiece that raises unsettling questions about identity, intimacy and how well we can ever truly know another person.
Another Round (2020)
IMDb: 7.7
Another of Thomas Vinterberg’s best-known films, Another Round, originally titled Druk, once again stars Mads Mikkelsen. Blending humour with melancholy, it explores the midlife crisis and the creeping monotony of everyday existence. During a gathering, a group of friends decide to test the theory that maintaining a certain level of alcohol in the bloodstream can make people more confident and relaxed. In their search for a renewed sense of vitality, they turn to an external source of encouragement. The film explores lost time, masculinity and emotional needs, freedom and control. It won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2021, the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language and four major honours at the 2020 European Film Awards, including Best Film, Director, Screenwriter and Actor. Mikkelsen’s dance sequence in the finale also became something of a sensation. Incidentally, the actor trained as a dancer in his younger years.
Oslo, August 31st (2011)
IMDb: 7.6
The second instalment in Joachim Trier’s Oslo trilogy, Oslo, August 31st is adapted from French author Pierre Drieu La Rochelle’s 1931 novel Le Feu Follet. It offers a deeply affecting exploration of modern loneliness, depression, fear, addiction and the possibility of beginning again. The film follows Anders, a man in his early thirties who returns to Oslo after undergoing treatment for addiction. For him, the city represents a life he no longer possesses. His friends have married and started families, while he feels he has wasted much of his own time. He idealises other people’s lives and struggles with a profound sense of alienation. Oslo is his home, yet somehow no longer feels like it. We also recommend Reprise, the first film in Trier’s trilogy.
Wild Strawberries (1957)
IMDb: 8.1
One of Ingmar Bergman’s most celebrated works, Wild Strawberries is a landmark of cinema that explores ageing, regret, loneliness, the fear of death and the need to confront the past. The film follows Isak, a respected physician who looks back on his life and begins to reassess his choices, revealing that professional achievement does not necessarily bring happiness. Its opening features one of cinema’s most famous dream sequences: wandering through deserted streets, Isak encounters a clock without hands. The image can be interpreted as a symbol of time running out and death approaching, but his dreams also represent the emotions and fears he has suppressed throughout his life. Winner of the Golden Bear at the 1958 Berlin International Film Festival, Wild Strawberries helped consolidate Bergman’s international reputation and remains a defining influence on generations of filmmakers.
Sick of Myself (2022)
IMDb: 7.1
Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, Sick of Myself is a dark comedy about how the desire for attention can gradually become pathological. Examining the social media era’s obsession with visibility, narcissism, the attention gained through victimhood and competition within modern relationships, the film follows Signe, a young woman living in Oslo. Initially, she begins taking medication with harmful side effects to attract attention. As time passes, her behaviour becomes increasingly extreme, and she inflicts ever greater harm upon herself. For Signe, suffering has become a means of securing the affection and attention of others. Screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, the film played an important role in establishing Borgli’s international reputation.
Sentimental Value (2025)
IMDb: 7.7
Reuniting director Joachim Trier and actress Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value is a remarkably nuanced Norwegian drama about family trauma, emotional wounds passed down through generations, father-daughter relationships and the healing potential of art. At its heart lies a difficult question: can someone make amends for the pain they have caused loved ones through art alone, without ever speaking openly about it? Following their mother’s death, two very different sisters reconnect with their estranged father. The family home becomes one of the film’s most important elements, a silent witness to their shared history, losses and childhood traumas. As the house changes, so too do the relationships within the family. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2026. If you enjoyed Wild Strawberries or The Worst Person in the World, this is another film you should not miss.
The Promised Land (2023)
IMDb: 7.7
Directed by Nikolaj Arcel, the Danish period drama The Promised Land is a powerful exploration of ambition, class divisions, power, human dignity and the sacrifices people are willing to make to prove themselves. Mads Mikkelsen takes the leading role once again, although this time the story unfolds in the 18th century. He plays Ludvig Kahlen, a retired army captain from a poor background who is determined to rise through the social ranks. Exploring the struggle against nature and society, injustice, the pursuit of power and the redefinition of family, the film earned Mikkelsen the Best Actor award at the 2023 European Film Awards. It also received recognition for its cinematography and costume design. Adapted from Ida Jessen’s novel Kaptajnen og Ann Barbara, the film draws inspiration from a real historical figure. With its grand visual style, compelling conflicts and strong narrative, The Promised Land offers a more classical approach to the period drama.
Triangle of Sadness (2022)
IMDb: 7.2
Directed by Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness is a Swedish black comedy that takes aim at wealth, beauty and the absurdities of social hierarchy. Carl and Yaya are a young couple working in the fashion industry. Carl is a male model, while Yaya is both a model and a social media influencer, and their relationship is marked by a constant struggle for power. When they are invited aboard a luxury yacht filled with some of the world’s wealthiest people, things inevitably take an unexpected turn. There is also an intriguing story behind the film’s title: in cosmetic medicine, the “triangle of sadness” refers to the area between the eyebrows where frown lines appear. Östlund borrowed the expression after hearing it from a cosmetic surgeon, using it to criticise a society more concerned with erasing visible signs of unhappiness than addressing the unhappiness itself. The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, marking Östlund’s second victory following The Square (2017). It also received three Academy Award nominations in 2023, for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Fallen Leaves (2023)
IMDb: 7.2
Directed by Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, Fallen Leaves is a romantic drama with elements of black comedy, and another essential addition to our Nordic cinema selection. A remarkably understated, melancholic yet surprisingly hopeful film, it explores loneliness, love, working-class life and the determination to keep searching for happiness despite life’s disappointments. Set in Helsinki, it follows Ansa, a supermarket employee, and Holappa, a man struggling with alcohol addiction, whose chance encounter sparks an unlikely connection. This is hardly a conventional grand romance. The two characters struggle to communicate, attempt to get to know one another and encounter a series of unfortunate circumstances along the way. Working-class realities and economic insecurity are woven into their story, while the characters sometimes respond to even the most absurd situations with complete indifference. Although set in the present day, the film incorporates old songs, clothing, radios and other details reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s. Fallen Leaves also connects with Kaurismäki’s earlier films Shadows in Paradise, Ariel and The Match Factory Girl. It won the Jury Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and was also awarded the 2023 FIPRESCI Grand Prix.
Lamb (2021)
IMDb: 6.3
Directed by Icelandic filmmaker Valdimar Jóhannsson, Lamb is a deeply unsettling and unusual film that explores motherhood, loss, grief, nature and humanity’s desire to possess what does not necessarily belong to it. Its ending, in particular, has left many viewers astonished. At first, the film barely resembles a horror story. It follows María and Ingvar, a couple living in isolation amid the Icelandic countryside. One day, an extraordinary creature is born in their barn, and the couple decide to raise it as their own child. Eventually, something happens that neither could have anticipated. Icelandic folklore frequently features encounters between humans and supernatural beings, and the film draws on this tradition to construct its mysterious narrative. Iceland’s vast landscapes, mist-covered mountains, cold climate and unforgiving natural environment become an essential part of its haunting silence. Lamb won the Prize of Originality in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and received the Best Film award at the 2021 Sitges Film Festival.
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