Nordic dramas have a unique feel about them. Dark settings and stories, slow-building plots, and shocking conclusions are cooling in more ways than one. The chill of the stark landscapes seeps into your bones as the deepest secrets come to light. The semblance of normality is ripped apart to reveal sinister truths that lurk beneath everyday life.
For Nordic Norse fans, nothing else will do.
That's why we've rounded up the best Nordic dramas, both foreign language hits and inspired by them, that you can stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime right now. So grab a blanket, turn off the lights, and kick back with one of these great movies or TV shows.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo introduced much of the world to Norse Norse. The books and movies in the series moved audiences with their dark settings, moody characters, and shocking violence. The first series of films, shot in Swedish, is considered by many to be by far the best.
If you're not already familiar with the story, here's the short version:A journalist hires a young hacker to help him solve an old murder. The murder (as is always the case in Nordic crime dramas) is much more complicated than he expects, and he soon finds himself embroiled in multiple webs of deceit. And the hacker, Lisbeth Salander, has her own unsettling world to navigate.
Watch The Dragon Tattoo Trilogy on Netflix
Over a period of six days, this Norwegian thriller follows a die-hard journalist who uncovers some dark evidence about his own brother. He goes to print with him, but soon finds himself involved in a mystery that takes over the life of him..
Mammon delves into the world of politics and banking, exposing the corruption that bubbles on the surface, which is all a proper cliché. However, there are plenty of surprises along the way to keep things enticing. Everyone here seems to have dark secrets and it's only a matter of time before they're exposed.
Bouncing between scenic spots like Oslo and Bergen, and supported by some standout performances, Mammon proves that Norwegians are more than capable of producing dramatic dramas.
Watch Mammon on Amazon Prime
British TV BritBox vs. Acorn TV:Which is better for streaming British TV? BritBox vs. Acorn TV:Which is better for streaming British TV? Between BritBox and Acorn TV, you can stream the best British TV content. But which one should you subscribe to? Which is better? Read More has produced a host of great Nordic-style shows in recent years, and Fortitude is one of them. A murder surprises a small, remote Norwegian town near the Arctic Circle, and of course everything starts to fall apart after that.
Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Dormer, Sofie Gråbøl, and Dennis Quaid provide stellar support for this show, but even the supporting characters are well done.
If you're looking for a slow-burning, suspenseful ride into the deep arctic snows, you can't go wrong with Fortitude. There are two seasons available on Amazon Prime, and there are rumors of a potential third season in the works.
See Fortitude on Amazon Prime
This miniseries only has four episodes, which makes it very easy to gobble up. Iceland is a wonderful country, and its landscapes can be the perfect backdrop. The lava field uses them to great effect.
Helgi Marvin is a detective, excellently played by Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, who comes to investigate the suicide of a rich man on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Of course, things are not going to be exactly as they seem. This suicide may actually be a murder..
As Marvin investigates the case, his own personal life begins to overshadow the investigation. The best kept secrets that way begin to escape and our concerned leader must decide whether to overlook the crime to protect the family from it...
Watch Lava Field on Netflix
In Tin Star, Tim Roth plays a police detective named Jim Worth who has moved, with his wife and children, from London to a small Canadian town to try to escape his violent past. However, it's not long before everything he's trying to run from catches up:murder, deception, and twists are just around the corner and ready to leave their mark on him. Q>
The remote and desolate locations bring that wonderful Norse vibe, as do the mysteries that are unraveled throughout the episodes. While Jim battles his own demons, an oil company has invaded town and his daughter falls in love with a young troublemaker. Try as he can, Jim can't escape the bloodshed.
Watch Tin Star on Amazon Prime
When Bordertown first aired in his native Finland, more than a fifth of the country's population watched it. No wonder:the story is captivating, superbly shot, and deftly directed by Ville Virtanen as Sherlock's quirky detective Kari Sorjonen.
Sorjonen is working for the National Bureau of Investigation in Finland when his wife has just survived cancer. Hoping for a more peaceful life, the family starts near the Russian border. However, things don't go as planned as he uncovers sex trafficking, the drug trade, and more.
The uncovered murders are all connected to each other, but also to Sorjonen's family. So much for the quiet he wanted. But it's better for the creepy, claustrophobic thrills we enjoy.
Watch Bordertown on Netflix
Iceland may be known for its remarkably low murder rate (less than two per year, on average), but it's the perfect setting for a Nordic murder mystery. A limbless, headless corpse washes up in the harbor, and a storm ensures that no one can leave the small Icelandic town. It's up to the three-person police department to solve the crime.
Trapped was made especially poignant because it coincided with one of the few true murder mysteries in Icelandic history, as reported by The New York Times. If you like hearing about real-life crime, check out these true crime podcasts 8 Fascinating True Crime Podcasts Better Than Serial 8 Fascinating True Crime Podcasts Better Than Serial If you liked listening to Serial, we've found some similar ones and well investigated worthy true crimes to satisfy your craving for good investigative journalism. Read more.
The conflicted and jaded detective, the grim backstories, and the horrible secrets of seemingly mundane people make this a shining example of Nordic drama. The first season is now available on Amazon Prime..
See Stuck on Amazon Prime
Another example of the best of British crime dramas 10 British Crime Dramas You Must Watch on Netflix 10 British Crime Dramas You Must Watch on Netflix Crime is universal. However, crime drama, specifically its attitude and tone, differs depending on where you live. With that in mind, here are 10 British crime dramas every American should watch on Netflix. Read More David Tennant is, as usual, in cracking form, and both Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker contribute phenomenal performances.
While the murder of a child is the main driver of the plot, there is much more to this show. Viewers will see what suspicion, care, pain, and rebuilding do to the city and its residents.
The show is highly award-winning, with Colman receiving Best Actress at the 2014 BAFTAs. The grim British backdrop, dotted with magnificent architecture and sea views, is the perfect setting for this gripping story.
Watch Broadchurch on Netflix
The Scandinavian world is full of the darkness that hides behind the facade of everyday life. But there are also flashes of light. You just have to dig through the bodies to find them.
These movies and TV shows are great examples of Nordic drama, and they can all be streamed on Netflix or Amazon Prime as soon as you finish reading this article.
If this list of Nordic dramas has whetted your appetite for streaming media, check out the best period dramas on Netflix. The 12 best period dramas to watch on Netflix. The 12 best period dramas to watch on Netflix. in old world england. Here are the best period dramas on Netflix right now. Read more or the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.
