12 Norwegian Movies Every Norway Enthusiast Should Watch

I know I know, you want to visit Norway, but right now, that’s just not possible. While we all do our best to endure this pandemic situation, there are loads of good Norwegian movies to watch in the meantime that hopefully ease your travel bug a bit. And if not, at the very least, they give you an insight into Norwegian culture and might also help you learn the language!

1. Den største forbrytelsen - Betrayed

Based on true events, Den største forbrytelsen is a movie about WWII in Norway. Following the lives of the Jewish Braude-family, the movie gives an impressive and saddening insight into war-time Norway - for the first time also shedding light on the fact that not just the German military, but also Norwegian officials were actively involved in the deportation of Jewish Norwegians.

The movie premiered in December 2020 and is the newest movie on this list - thus, it might not be available to watch everywhere just yet.

Where to watch: Check with your local cinema (if open) or TV network

2. Tottori! - Sisters: The Summer We Found Our Superpowers

Tottori! is another quite new movie, which premiered in Norwegian cinemas in the summer of 2020. It’s a children’s/family movie, which makes it easier to understand for those still trying to learn Norwegian.

It follows the two girls Vega and Billie who go hiking with their father when he falls down a mountain crack, leaving his two daughters alone to get help. The journey that follows is full of challenges - big and small - (as well as beautiful Norwegian scenery!) and forces the two sisters to overcome their fears.

Needless to say that this is a feel-good movie and thus, perfect for lockdown!

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

3. Trolljegeren - Troll Hunter

Trolljegeren is an absolute classic for any Norway enthusiast! Following a group of college students filming a documentary about unusual “bear attacks” in Western Norway, this movie is hilariously funny and manages to exaggerate some of Norway’s biggest cultural stereotypes really well.

Basically, the students get in over their head when they decide to follow Norway’s one and only troll hunter, who’s employed by the Norwegian government to cover up the “fact” that trolls actually exist in the country.

Where to watch: Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play / In the US, also available through Amazon Prime

But caution! Don’t watch if you’re Christian or you might have to fear for your life… lol!

4. Bølgen - The Wave

If Geirangerfjord is on your to-visit list, you might want to think twice about watching this movie! Based on the true threat that the mountain Åkerneset might collapse into the fjord sooner rather than later, resulting in a 100-meter-wave tsunami that will likely destroy the towns of Hellesylt and Geiranger nearby, this movie certainly isn’t for the anxious visitor to-be.

Similar tsunamis have already happened in Western Norway in 1905 and 1936, and while there is a thorough warning system in place nowadays, Bølgen pictures a horrifying scenario that no one wants to happen. The movie itself is very thrilling, though, so if you can see beside the fact that it could potentially become reality (albeit maybe not to the extent that is portrayed in the movie), it’s a great watch and an absolute must for any Norway enthusiast!

Where to watch: Available for streaming on Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

5. Skjelvet - The Quake

The sequel to Bølgen, Skjelvet is based on another natural disaster potentially hitting Norway at some point in the future. While the earthquake that hit Oslo in 1904 (that this movie is inspired by) wasn’t a very severe one, geologists agree that the city could face another, potentially bigger, earthquake one day.

With the same cast and characters of Bølgen, this movie again follows the people directly involved in the tragedy in another very thrilling watch that might not be recommend for any Oslo visitor to-be.

Where to watch: Available to stream at Amazon Prime / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

6. Tunnelen - The Tunnel

Another action drama, this time not a Bølgen sequel, though equally frightening, Tunnelen is inspired by the many mountain tunnels you can find in Norway - and their often quite poor (aka non-existent) safety measurements. It actually premiered at the same time when Ryfylketunnelen near Stavanger opened - the world’s longest subsea tunnel built so far - leading officials to create a

detailed safety video to prove just how good their security system really to prevent people from freaking out.

The movie portrays the dramatic events that follow when a fire breaks out in a mountain tunnel, trapping people on their way home for Christmas. Maybe not exactly a nice Christmas movie and certainly not one to watch right before embarking on a road trip in the country, Tunnelen definitely makes for a very exciting watch during otherwise boring lockdown.

Where to watch: Available to stream at Viaplay and Amazon Prime / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

7. Kongens Nei - The King’s Choice

Another WWII movie, Kongens Nei is a biographical one based on King Haakon VII at the time when Norway was occupied by the Nazis in 1940. The movie follows the King and Royal Family, as well as the government, during those first days of the invasion - first fleeing by train to Hamar, then being forced to head to Elverum where the Crown Princess and her children are sent to unoccupied Sweden, while the King and Crown Prince eventually have to flee into the woods when German forces bomb the area.

Where to watch: Available for streaming at HBO, Amazon Prime and Viaplay / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

8. Kon-Tiki

An adventure movie, Kon-Tiki portrays the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl on his mission to prove that Polynesia was actually first discovered by South Americans. Even though he cannot swim and is afraid of the water, he sets out to sail on an ancient wood raft from Peru.

Needless to say that this won’t exactly be a smooth crossing of the Pacific…

Where to watch: Available for streaming at HBO, Amazon Prime and Viaplay / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

9. 22 July

An American movie (in English, but with a Norwegian cast) about the terror attacks in Oslo and the island of Utøya on 22 July 2011. I remember that the movie was heavily discussed when it first aired in 2018, mainly because Norway being such a small country, the attack at that time hit hard and many people know someone who was directly involved or even lost someone themselves.

The movie 22 July focusses on the lead-up to the event, the attack itself, as well as on the aftermath - what survivors had to go through and the work of the lawyers involved - and is by no means an easy movie to watch. It’s quite realistic in its depiction and the fact that it is based on true events doesn’t make it any easier.

Nonetheless, it’s a well-produced movie that gives a deep insight into Norwegian society and contemporary culture, and as such, should definitely be on the list of anyone who’d like to learn more about the country and its people.

Where to watch: Netflix

10. Welcome to Norway

A hilarious comedy about the hotel owner Per Primus, who, facing the ruin of his business, decides to open a refugee centre in his hotel in order to save it. The establishment being situated in the middle of nowhere and the guy being racist, you can just about imagine the chaos he’s got himself into.

Among the 50 refugees that actually end up at his hotel is also the Congolian Abedi who turns Per’s life around. Want to find out how? Watch Welcome to Norway on Amazon Prime or rent/buy it on Youtube.

11. Disco

While a good majority of Norwegians, especially the younger generation, only visit church for special occasions (weddings, baptisms and the like), you can nonetheless find a lot of hardcore Christians in the country - especially in the so-called “bible belt” in Southern Norway. What it means to be part of the more extreme spectrum of Christianity is shown in Disco - a very impressive movie staring Josefine Frida Pettersen (also known from SKAM).

Portraying a young dancer who is influenced by family and congregation members to take to more extreme methods to get close to Jesus when she starts to fail in dancing competitions, Pettersen won the Norwegian Amanda Award as Best Actress for her role. Highly recommended!

Where to watch: Available for streaming (in Norway) on NRK / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

12. Flåklypa Grand Prix - Pinchcliffe Grand Prix

Personally, I’m not a big fan of animated movies - never have been - but if you ask any Norwegian about their favourite childhood movie, chances are they’ll mention Flåklypa Grand Prix. Telling the story of inventor Reodor who lives a solitary life with his animal friends in the mountains (so Norwegian!), who one day discovers that his design for a race car engine has been stolen and used to built a race car that wins the Formula One championships.

Determined to get revenge, Reodor decides to built his own race car in order to compete against the guy who stole his design. Thus, “Il Tempo Gigante” is made and Reodor enters the competition. Does he win at the end? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out!

Where to watch: Available to stream at Viaplay / Available to buy or rent on YouTube and Google Play

Do you have any recommendations for other Norwegian movies?
Leave a comment below and let everyone know! :)

Nordic Wanders