12 Best Norwegian Movies to Watch

By Vlad Zakh · September 1, 2026

Norway Drama thought provoking feel good

Norwegian cinema had a global breakout with The Worst Person in the World, but the industry behind it has been turning out sharp genre films and character dramas for years. Cold Prey puts snowboarders in an abandoned mountain hotel with a violent past, Reprise tracks two young writers’ friendship and rivalry, Oslo, August 31st follows a recovering addict through a single day, and The Wave has a geologist racing to warn his town of a tsunami. Troll Hunter, Headhunters, Elling, Kon-Tiki, Thelma and In Order of Disappearance round out the list.

Cold Prey (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A group of snowboarders shelter in an abandoned mountain hotel with a violent history.

Directed by Roar Uthaug · 1h 37m

Where to watch

Stream: Viaplay Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Reprise (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.4

Two young writers' friendship and rivalry unfold as one finds success and the other struggles.

Directed by Joachim Trier · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Oslo, August 31st (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A recovering addict spends one day in Oslo testing whether he can return to his old life.

Directed by Joachim Trier · 1h 35m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: MUBI Amazon Channel, Strand Releasing Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Wave (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A geologist races to warn his coastal town before a mountainside collapse triggers a massive tsunami.

Directed by Roar Uthaug · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

In Order of Disappearance (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A snowplough driver takes systematic revenge on the gang that killed his son.

Directed by Hans Petter Moland · 1h 55m

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Elling (2001)

TMDB ★ 7.4

Two former psychiatric patients try to build an independent life together in Oslo.

Directed by Petter Næss · 1h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Viaplay Amazon Channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kon-Tiki (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A Norwegian explorer sails a primitive balsa wood raft across the Pacific to prove an ancient migration theory.

Directed by Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg · 1h 58m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Headhunters (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A corporate recruiter's art-theft side hustle targets exactly the wrong former soldier.

Directed by Morten Tyldum · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Troll Hunter (2010)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A student film crew tags along with a government troll-hunter on his secretive nightly rounds.

Directed by André Øvredal · 1h 44m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A woman in her late twenties drifts through relationships and careers, unable to commit to either.

Directed by Joachim Trier · 2h 08m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Thelma (2017)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A sheltered college student's repressed feelings turn into a dangerous, uncontrollable supernatural power.

Directed by Joachim Trier · 1h 56m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blind (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A woman who has recently lost her sight retreats into her flat, where fantasy and reality begin to blur.

Directed by Eskil Vogt · 1h 36m · Rated NC-17

Where to watch

Stream: OVID · Rent or buy: Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

12 Best Norwegian Movies to Watch

Cold Prey (2006)

Reprise (2006)

Oslo, August 31st (2011)

The Wave (2015)

In Order of Disappearance (2014)

Elling (2001)

Kon-Tiki (2012)

Headhunters (2011)

Troll Hunter (2010)

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

Thelma (2017)

Blind (2014)

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