Top 25 Nordic Noir Movies

The Hunt (Jagten) (2012)*
Drama – Social Drama – Small Danish Village – Close-Knit Community – Recently Divorced Decent Local kindergarten Man – Kindergarten Child / Best Friend's Daughter – Pedophile Accusation – Ostracism – Distress – Depression – Tension – Anxiety – Moral Dilemmas – Mistaken Identity – Tragic Irony – Distrust – Hate – Anger – Paranoia – Psychological Drama – Unsettling Atmosphere – Psychological Stress – False Guilt Complex – Child Psychology – Social Psychology – Societal Mistrust – Mass Hysteria – False Memory Phenomenon – Others – Thought-Provoking – Low-Key Thriller – Indie Film – Best 10's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-M

Headhunters (Hodejegerne) (2011)*
Crime – Action – Thriller – Crime Action Thriller – Successful Corporate Recruiter (Headhunter) – Double Life: Art Thief – Lavish Lifestyle – Arrogance – Insecurity – Infidelity – Valuable Painting Robbery Plan – Plan-gone-Awry – Cat-Mouse Game Theory – Skilful ex-Mercenary Painting Owner – Tracking-People Specialist – Deadly Manhunt – Suspense – Tension – Desperation – Confusion – Violence – Panic Attack – Survival Horror – Claustrophobic Dread – Unfathomable Terror – Extreme Escape Horror – Conspiracy Theory – Corporate Conspiracy – Corporate Spying – Frame-Up – Manipulation – Paranoid Thriller – Shadowy Conspiracy – Jeopardy – Ever-Present Danger – Insecurity – Mistrust – Paranoia – Intrigue – Others – Heist Thriller – Alpha Male Syndrome – Black Humour – WTF-Factor – Plot Twist – Jo Nesbø's 2008 Novel – Indie Film – Best 10's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Norway
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S

Thelma (2017)
Drama – Romance – Mystery – Fantasy – Thriller – Erotic Mystery Thriller – Ultra-Religious Christian Family – Introverted Young Woman – Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) – Extrasensory Perception – Inexplicable Psychokinetic Power – University Female Student Friend – Erotic Affair – Mysterious Epileptic Seizure – Coming-of-Age Tale – Psychological Horror Thriller – Claustrophobic Threat – Existential Dread – Cosmic Horror – Religious Paranoia – Psychosexual Thriller – Submissive Persona – Sexual-Awakening – LGBT – Lesbianism – Gender Anxieties – Sexual Repression – Guilt Complex – Childhood Trauma – Art-House Horror – Surrealism – Allegorical – Uncanny Experience – Others – Re-Watch Value – F a v e – Foreign Language – European – Norway
★★★★★★★ (7/10)

In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten) (2014)
Drama – Crime – Action – Comedy – Thriller – Crime Mystery Drama – Norway, Fictional Town – Mistress Murder Arrest – Stoic Snow-Plow Driver Civil-Servant – Citizen-of-the-Year – Son's Heroin-Overdose Death – Investigation – Mistakenly-Killed by Local Drug-Gang – Wrong-Place Wrong-Time Situation – Revenge Thriller – Take-Law-into-his-Hands – Son's Murderers Hunt – Track-Down Operation – One-by-One Murder – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Vigilante Justice – Black Comedy – Black Humour – Farce – Social Satire – Others – Cause-Effect Chain – Cynicism – Nihilism – Indie Film – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Norway
★★★★★★★ (7/10)-S

Lilya 4-Ever (Lilja 4-Ever) (2002)
★★★★★★★ (7/10)

The Keeper of Lost Causes (Kvinden i Buret) (2013)
Drama – Crime – Mystery – Thriller – Crime Mystery Thriller – Copenhagen’s Police Q-Department – Unresolved Crime-Cases Department – Mercurial Temperament Homicide-Detective – Helpful Arab-Migrant Assistant – Rising Female Politician Mysterious Disappearance Investigation – 5-Years Cold-Case – Presumed Dead – Police Procedural – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Kidnapping – Pressure-Chamber Imprisoned – Psychopath Abductor – Torture – Claustrophobic Terror – Race-against-Time – Neo-Noir – Urban Setting – Unsettling Atmosphere – Low-Key Lighting – Detective Story – Cynicism – Sadism – Professionalism – Intrigue – Others – Jussi Adler-Olsen's 2007 Novel – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★★ (7/10)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Män Som Hatar Kvinnor) (2009)
Drama – Crime – Mystery – Thriller – Crime Mystery Drama – Investigative Journalist – Abnormal Young Computer Hacker Research-Assistant – Missing Person Case – Presumed Murder Mystery – Privately Investigation – Whodunit – Suspense – Intrigue – Obsession – Mistrust – Paranoia – Psychosexual Drama – Misogyny – Rape – LGBT – BDSM – Sadism – Sexual Abuse – Sexual Torture – Psychological Thriller – Childhood Trauma – Claustrophobic Threat – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) – Neo-Noir – Urban Setting – Dark Atmosphere – Low-Key Lighting – Detective Story – Deception – Misdirection – Corruption – Cynicism – Stoicism – Irony – Fate – Others – Journalism – Social-Political Issues – Complex Scenario – Fascism – Nazism – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Sweden
★★★★★★★ (7/10)

Jar City (Mýrin) (2006)
Drama – Crime – Mystery – Thriller – Crime Mystery Drama – Reykjavík Iceland – 70-Year-Old Man Brutal Murder – Stoic Police Detective Investigation – Murder Mystery – 30-Years-Ago Dead-Man's Daughter Mysterious Death – Linked Murder-Cases – Police Procedural – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Shadowy Conspiracy – "Neurofibromatosis" Rare Genetic-Disease – Neo-Noir – Urban Setting – Dark Atmosphere – Low-Key Lighting – Detective Story – Hard-Boiled Characters – Police Corruption – Cynicism – Stoicism – Pessimism – Fate – Others – Complicate Plot – Multilayered Mystery – Icelandic National Mythologies (Genes) – Indie Film – Arnaldur Indriðason's 2000 Novel – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Iceland
★★★★★★ (6/10)

The Guilty (Den Skyldige) (2018)
★★★★★★ (6/10)

Insomnia (1997)
Drama – Crime – Mystery – Thriller – Crime Mystery Thriller – Norwegian Arctic Small-Town – Teenage Girl's Brutal-Murder – Murder Mystery – Enigmatic Swedish Homicide-Detective – Professional Issues – Murder Investigation-gone-Awry – Partner's Accidentally Murder – Exhaustion – Suspicions – Fear – Mistrust – Insanity – Paranoia – Cat-Mouse Game Theory – Manhunt – Suspense – Tense Pursuit – Manipulation – Psychological Warfare – Psychological Thriller – Unsettling Atmosphere – Insomnia – Narcolepsy – Disorientation – Hallucinations – Personal Struggles – Self-Deception – Existential Threat – Guilt Complex – Psychopath Villain – Delusional Disorder – Neo-Noir – Dark Atmosphere – Detective Story – Police Procedural – Deception – Anti-Heroism – Cynicism – Moral Ambiguity – Ironic Fate – Others – Complex Drama – Criterion Collection – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Norway
★★★★★★ (6/10)

The Absent One (Fasandræberne) (2014)
Drama – Crime – Mystery – Thriller – Crime Mystery Thriller – Copenhagen’s Police Q-Department – Unresolved Crime-Cases Department – Mercurial Temperament Homicide-Detective – Helpful Arab-Migrant Assistant – Danish Boarding-School – Twins-Brothers Mysterious Murder Investigation – 20-Years Cold-Case – Enigmatic Witness Track-Down – Police Procedural – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Group-of Young Upper-Class Students – Abuse – Torture – Claustrophobic Terror – Neo-Noir – Urban Setting – Unsettling Atmosphere – Low-Key Lighting – Detective Story – Femme Fatale – Cynicism – Sadism – Professionalism – Intrigue – Others – Nordic-Noir – Flashbacks – Jussi Adler-Olsen's 2008 Novel – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★ (6/10)

Riders of Justice (Retfærdighedens Ryttere) (2020)*
Drama – Action – Comedy – Drama – Dysfunctional Three-Member Danish Family – Tragic Train Explosion – Wife's Death – Repressed Soldier Husband – Love-Loss Trauma – Grief Trauma – Guilt Complex – Anger – Rage – Revenge Action Comedy – Three Data-Analysts Geeks – Conspiracy Theory – Brutal Biker-Gang Murder-Plan – Obsession – Vigilantism – Monomania – Cruelty – Violence – Suspense – Tension – Psychological Stress – Consequences Chain – Out-of-Control Spiral – Fate – Dish-Best-Served-Cold Justice – Screwball Revenge Comedy – Black Comedy – Situation Comedy – Character-Driven Comedy – Oddball Characters – Black Humour – Caustic Humour – Sarcasm – Sardonic Humour – Gang Parody – Deadpan Comedy – Others – Dramedy – Alpha-Male Syndrome – Stoicism – Sadism – Psychosexual Undertones – Master-Slave Relationship – BDSM – Sadomasochism – Domination – Sexual Abuse – Human Misery Study – Moral Dilemmas – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – F a v e – Indie Film – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★ (6/10)-S

Darkland (Underverden) (2017)
Drama – Crime – Action – Thriller – Crime Drama – Successful Heart-Surgeon – Iraqi Immigrant – Comfortable Life – 20-Year-Old Junkie Brother's Brutal Death – Love-Lose Trauma – Guilt Trauma – Police Apathy – Frustration – One-Man Investigation – Revenge Thriller – Copenhagen Crime Underworld – Drug-Dealers Gang Track-Down – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Action Sequences – Hand-to-Hand Combat – Violence – Vigilante Justice – Others – Nordic-Noir – Social Criticism – Cynicism – Realism – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★ (6/10)

Just Another Love Story (Kærlighed på Film) (2007)
★★★★★★ (6/10)

The Hunters (Jägarna) (1996)
Drama – Crime – Thriller – Drama – Stockholm Police-Officer – Abusive Father's Death – Northern Sweden Hometown Return – Estranged Brother Reconcile – Ideological Differences – Crime Thriller – Town's Dark Secrets – Large-Scale Illegal Reindeer/Moose Hunting – One-Man Investigation – Group-of Vicious Thugs – Scare Tactics – Local Conspiracy – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Dedication – Violence – Sexual Abuse – Simmering Danger – Neo-Noir – Urban Setting – Hard-Boiled Characters – Detective Story – Police Corruption – Cynicism – Sadism – Professionalism – Moral Conflict – Intrigue – Others – Nordic-Noir – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Sweden
★★★★★★ (6/10)

Pusher III: I'm the Angel of Death (2005)*
Drama – Crime – Thriller – Crime Drama – Copenhagen Crime-Underworld – Aged Serbian Drug-Lord – Drug-Empire Crumbles – Albanian Mafia Drug-Deal – New Drug-Shipment – Deal-gone-Awry – Ecstasy Pills Instead-of Heroin Request – Sale-Ecstasy Fatal Decision – Younger Gangsters-Generation New Moral-Codes – Disrespect – Frustration – Anger – Suspense – Tension – Rage – Extreme Violence – Brutal Murders – Set-Up – Betrayal – Paranoia – Downward Spiral – Fate – Others – Gangster Movie – Character Study – Gritty Realism – Cynicism – Nihilism – Disturbing – Shock-Value – Sequel – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★ (6/10)-S

Speak No Evil (Gæsterne) (2022)
Drama – Horror – Thriller – Drama – Conservative Danish 3-Member Family – Free-Spirited Dutch 3-Member Family – Past Vacation Fast-Friends – Reunion Plans – Remote Dutch Country-House – Misunderstandings – Eccentric Behaviour – Uncomfortable Moments – Frustration – Uncertainty Stress – Horror – Malevolent Hidden-Agenda – Impending Horror – Escape Thriller – Tragedy – Psychological Horror – Discomfort Sense – Claustrophobic Tension – Nightmarish Fears – Simmering Threat – Unsettling Horror – Others – Human-Psychology Study – Decision-Making Theory – Social Satire – Amoralism – Nihilism – Misanthropy – Slow-Burn – Disturbing – Shock Value – No-Exit Finale – Indie Film – Foreign Language – Denmark
★★★★★★ (6/10)

Enforcement (Shorta) (2020)
Drama – Crime – Action – Thriller – Crime Drama – Copenhagen Denmark – 19-Year-Old Muslim-Immigrant – Under-Police-Custody Death – Muslim Community Rises-Up – Anti-Police Riot – Anger – Survival Action Thriller – Copenhagen’s Suburban Muslims-Ghetto – Two Police Officers – Routine Patrol – Behind-Enemy-Lines Trapped – Alarm – Frenetic Pursuit – Two-Against-Many – Trapped Survival – Suspense – Tension – Fear – Uncertainty Stress – Escape Thriller – Others – Law-Enforcement Thriller – Good Cop/Bad Cop Dynamics – Police Brutality – Racial Discrimination – Social Segregation – Moral Ambiguity – Cynicism – Racism – Indie Film – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★ (5/10)

The Element of Crime (Forbrydelsens Element) (1984)
★★★★★ (5/10)

The Shooter (Skytten) (2013)
Drama – Crime – Thriller – Political Drama – Greenland Risky Oil-Drilling – Potential Ecological Consequences – Danish Government’s Environmental Broken-Promises – Determined TV-Journalist Woman – Political Debate – Vital Informations – Political Cover-Up – Societal Mistrust – Public Riot-Wave – Crime Thriller – Intelligent Geologist-Activist – Former Elite-Shooter – TV-Reporter Captivity – Hostage Situation – Danish Politicians Ultimatum – Start Killing-People Threaten – Panic-Grid – Suspense – Tension – Anger – Paranoia – Others – Environmental Thriller – Ecological Policies – Indie Film – Remake – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★ (5/10)

Those Who Kill: Shadow of Τhe Past (Den Som Dræber - Fortidens Skygge) (2011)*
Drama – Crime – Thriller – Crime Thriller – Copenhagen Denmark – Series-of Brutal Murders – Maniac Serial-Killer Case – Copenhagen Police Special-Unit – Psychiatrist-Criminologist Team-Up – Manhunt – Police Procedural – Serial-Killer's Psychological Profile – Race-against-Time – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Manipulation – Visceral Violence – Tragedy – Others – Criminal Behaviour Study – Danish Tv-Series Episode – Plot Twist – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★ (5/10)-M

Border (Gräns) (2018)
Drama – Crime – Mystery – Horror – Romance – Fantasy – Crime Drama – Female Customs-Inspector – Ape-Like Face – Extraordinary Sense – Human Emotions (Guilt/Fear) Smell-Ability – Missing-Childs Investigation – Local-Police Operation – Child-Pornography Case – Pedophile Network – Mystery – Mysterious Odd-Man – Remarkably Similar Physical-Features – Mystical Life – Suspicions – Mistrust – Obsession – Romance Fantasy – Strange Attraction – Romantic Relationship – Phantasmagoria – Troll Folklore – Folklore Horror – Psychological Horror – Discomfort Sense – Simmering Threat – Unsettling Horror – Supernatural Horror – Body Horror – Art-House Horror – Grotesque – Surrealism – Others – Animality – Disturbing – Shock Value – Slow-Burn – Ajvide Lindqvist's 2005 Short-Story – Foreign Language – European – Sweden
★★★★★ (5/10)

I Remember You (Ég Man Big) (2017)
★★★★★ (5/10)

Black's Game (Svartur á Leik) (2012)
★★★★★ (5/10)

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Flickan Som Lekte Med Elden) (2009)
★★★★★ (5/10)