Nordic noir shows have become a massive international hit in recent years, enchanting audiences with their atmospheric productions, emotionally challenged protagonists, and dark narratives. Though technically not a genre in the strictest sense, “Nordic noir” is an umbrella term applied to shows and movies from Scandinavian countries that follow vastly different stories but all share those aforementioned tropes. And, over the last few years, Netflix has established itself as the go-to streaming home for these dark Scandi-noir productions.
The streaming service is home to a sizable collection of Nordic noir shows, including some of the most acclaimed ones of recent years. But with the sheer size of the streamer’s library, it can be difficult to zero in on the truly amazing ones, which is why we’ve done the work for you. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the best Nordic noir shows on Netflix that aren’t just good — they’re masterpieces.
8
‘Deadwind’ (2018 – 2021)
A Finnish crime drama co-created and directed by Rike Jokela, Deadwind follows Sofia Karppi (Pihla Viitala), a recently divorced detective with the Helsinki police who is raising her young son and teenage stepdaughter. When she rejoins work at the Helsinki Police Department and is partnered with Sakari Nurmi (Lauri Tilkanen), they are assigned the murder case of a young woman found on a construction site, which leads Sofia and Sakari to a conspiracy involving a major city corporation and twisted politics.
Deadwind premiered in 2018 to critical acclaim, positively compared to successful Danish crime shows The Killing and The Bridge. A Nordic crime procedural at its finest, the series engages the audience with its dark mystery, atmospheric setting, and refined performances, delivering an experience that’s both emotionally complex and deeply satisfying. Though realistic and grim, Deadwind balances its narrative with immersive character drama, exploring Sofia’s personal struggles as she navigates high-level corruption and seeks justice for the victims.
7
‘The Nurse’ (2023)
A Danish true crime drama based on the eponymous 2022 novel by Kristian Corfixen, The Nurse recounts the horrific real-life events involving Danish nurse Christina Aistrup Hansen, who was convicted of the murder of four patients at the Nykøbing Falster Hospital in 2016. The crime thriller follows Christina’s (Josephine Park) rise at the hospital as the most admired nurse, charming everyone with her personality and efficiency, and quickly befriending newcomer Pernille (Fanny Louise Bernth). But when Pernille gets to know Christina better, she begins to suspect that Christina has more hiding beneath the glossy surface and starts digging into her activities, risking her own career.
Released in 2023, The Nurse was a big hit with viewers and critics, quickly climbing the charts on Netflix’s Top 10 list. It’s a compelling and suspenseful thriller that navigates an unsettling real-life incident in a dark and ominous narrative that will chill you to the bone. Elevated by the compelling performances of its talented cast, the Netflix original drama is easily one of the best crime shows of recent years.
6
‘The Åre Murders’ (2025)
A Swedish crime thriller based on Viveca Sten’s novels Hidden in Snow and Hidden in the Shadows, The Åre Murders follows Hanna (Carla Sehn), a Stockholm detective undergoing an internal investigation, who heads to the remote ski town of Åre for a break. When a teenage girl suddenly goes missing, Hanna immediately gets involved in the investigation, stepping on the toes of the local police. Partnering with Daniel (Kardo Razzazi), Hanna sets out in the foreboding, snow-clad town in search of the missing girl, only to uncover darker secrets and more brutal crimes.
Released in February 2025, The Åre Murders combines the stories from its two source novels to concoct a gripping murder mystery with fascinating detective work. Set in an eerie, frozen landscape, the Netflix original miniseries follows a puzzling plot and the personal stories of the two resolute detectives who brave all odds to find the truth. The show’s biggest highlight is Sehn’s impeccable performance as the central character, who is depicted as a flawed, complex woman fighting her personal demons.
5
‘The Glass Dome’ (2025)
A Swedish crime thriller created by author-screenwriter Camilla Läckberg, The Glass Dome follows criminologist Lejla Ness (Léonie Vincent), who returns to the small Swedish town of Granås to investigate the case of a local child who has gone missing. Lejla soon learns that the nature of the girl’s disappearance mimics the exact circumstances she endured in her childhood that left her traumatized. With the help of her adoptive father and retired police chief Valter (Johan Hedenberg), Lejla vows to find the child, despite her own emotional ordeal.
One of the latest Scandinavian shows on Netflix, The Glass Dome presents a gripping psychological thriller story that deals with unsettling themes of past regressions and childhood trauma. It’s a slow-burning but tightly written show following a twisted plot of kidnapping and the long-term effects of disturbing childhood experiences. Unfolding in a non-linear fashion through the perspective of a complex, layered protagonist, The Glass Dome is heavily reminiscent of German shows like Dark and Dear Child.
4
‘Equinox’ (2020)
Created by Tea Lindeburg, Equinox is a one-of-a-kind Danish supernatural folk horror thriller based on the podcast Equinox 1985. The plot begins in 1999, when a group of high school students on a trip vanish without a trace, including a young girl named Ida, whose nine-year-old sister, Astrid (Danica Curcic), is left traumatized by the incident, giving her strange nightmares and inexplicable visions. Twenty-one years later, when Astrid, now a radio show host, is contacted by one of the survivors from 1999, she begins investigating Ida’s mysterious disappearance, uncovering a sinister conspiracy spanning decades.
Released in 2020, Equinox has been highly praised for its cinematography, haunting atmosphere, and Curcic’s gripping performance. The show’s narrative blends Nordic folklore, Danish mythology, supernatural horror, crime, and sci-fi elements into a thrilling tale that instantly pulls the audience into the story, keeping us on the edge of our seats throughout its six episodes. The series has been favorably compared to shows like Stranger Things and the German sci-fi show Dark, though the Danish thriller leans more towards mythological and folk horror fantasy themes.
3
‘Borgen’ (2010-2022)
Created by Adam Price, Borgen is a Danish political drama that follows the rise of Birgitte Nyborg Christensen (Sidse Babett Knudsen), a minor center-left politician who shockingly becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark. Other prominent characters include Birgitte’s husband Phillip (Mikael Birkkjær), media fixer Kasper Juul (Pilou Asbæk), TV 1 news editor Torben Friis (Søren Malling), news anchor Katrine Fønsmark (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen), and journalist Hanne Holm (Benedikte Hansen). The series focuses primarily on Birgitte’s political career while also exploring the impact of her sudden rise to power on her marriage and motherhood.
Borgen is a critically acclaimed series that blends personal drama and political thriller in a compelling narrative, creating a constant tension between Birgitte’s private life and public duties, depicted through Knudsen’s nuanced portrayal. The BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning series has so far been compared to popular political dramas like The West Wing and House of Cards. But unlike those shows, Borgen takes a less dramatized approach, with more nuance and arguably more emotional restraint than its American counterparts.
2
‘Katla’ (2021)
An Icelandic supernatural mystery thriller created by Baltasar Kormákur and Sigurjón Kjartansson, Katla revolves around the small community of the Icelandic town of Vik, where the eruption of the titular volcano from a year earlier has caused the town to be deserted, leaving just a handful of survivors. Things take a turn when a mysterious woman who was supposed to have died 20 years ago suddenly arrives in town alive, along with several others who died in the past. The series stars Guðrún Eyfjörð, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Íris Tanja Flygenring, Valter Skarsgård, and Þorsteinn Bachmann.
On its release in 2021, Katla earned widespread critical acclaim for its depth of characters and storytelling, as well as its evocative and enigmatic setting. The series blends strong character drama with supernatural, mythological, and sci-fi elements, joining the ranks of Danish thriller Equinox and other successful supernatural shows on Netflix. The narrative explores themes of trauma, myths, and the impact of natural events on human nature in a post-apocalyptic setting.
1
‘The Chestnut Man’ (2021)
Adapted from the eponymous award-winning novel by Søren Sveistrup, who is also the creator of the hit Danish series The Killing, The Chestnut Man follows a series of murders where female victims are gruesomely killed, and eerie figurines made of chestnuts are left at each crime scene. When Copenhagen detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and her new partner Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) are assigned the case, their investigation leads them to a similar incident from 1987, where multiple people were killed on a farm. With the figurines as the only evidence, the two detectives find themselves racing against time to solve the crime before the killer claims another victim.
A twisted, disturbing murder mystery with striking features of cult horror, The Chestnut Man is a dark and surreal series that proved to be a big hit with genre fans. A brilliantly crafted show with masterful cinematography and arresting atmosphere, it is unsettling and breathtaking at the same time. Since its release, The Chestnut Man has been critically acclaimed for its story, direction, and strong characterizations, becoming one of the most popular Nordic noir shows of recent years.
- Release Date
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September 29, 2021
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Danica Curcic
Naia Thulin
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Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
Mark Hess
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