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The Icelandic film industry is alive and well. And although you have plenty of Hollywood elite visiting the island to shoot on location for films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, there are plenty of prestigious local productions raking in the accolades. We reveal our picks of the top 20 best Iceland movies ever made.
The capital of Iceland offers prime shooting opportunities for some of the best Icelandic films situated in Reykjavík. What many don't know, is the city doubles as host to the Reykjavík International Film Festival each year as well. During this time, stars and fans of the silver screen alike flock to the island.
There, they network, watch exclusive screenings and reward remarkable work. But what many find most surprising is that the Icelanders can clearly hold their own among big-budget blockbusters.
If you would like to brush up on your local film knowledge (or Icelandic) before your trip, these are the 20 must-watch movies:
1. Lamb (2021)
Genre: Horror
Director: Valdimar Jóhannsson
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Gudnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Ingvar Sigurdsson
If Frankenstein had been a folk tale shot in Iceland, this would have been what the movie would’ve looked like. A sheep gives birth to a strange hybrid human/sheep baby and the family, who had suffered the loss of a child before, raises her as their own. But without truly understanding her origins and already-complex relationships, the story is bound to take a turn for the worst.
2. Beautiful Beings (2022)
Genre: Drama
Director: Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson
Cast: Birgit Dagur Bjarkason, Askell Einar Pálmason, Viktor Benóny Benediktsson, Snorri Rafn Frimannsson
As with most coming-of-age movies, you’ll need a strong stomach and heart of steel to tackle this Icelandic movie. A 14-year-old outsider befriends three boys his age, but the friendship faces its fair share of challenges.
3. Woman at War (2018)
Genre: Quirky Satire
Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
Cast: Halldóra Gerhardsdóttir, Jóhann Sigurdarson, Juan Camilo Román Estrada, Jörundur Ragnarsson
This is one of the Iceland films that were raking in awards. A fifty-year-old woman quietly leads a double life as an environmental activist. As she reaches a new milestone in her life – adopting a child – the mother-to-be plans her final (and biggest) activist operation yet.
4. Cop Secret (2021)
Genre: Action
Director: Hannes Pór Halldórsson
Cast: Audunn Blöndal, Egill Einarsson, Sverrir Pór Sverrisson, Steinunn Olina Porsteinsdóttir
This is your typical action movie. Expect loads of fights, car chases, shoot-outs and more when this troubled cop is on the hunt for a group of violent bank robbers.
5. Heartstone (2016)
Genre: LGBTQ Drama
Director: Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson
Cast: Baldur Einarsson, Blær Hinriksson, Diljá Valsdóttir, Katla Njálsdóttir
This is yet another one of the coming-of-age Icelandic movies, but with a twist. Two best friends from a small fishing village in Iceland grow up together, and soon love interests follow. But as one of the friends starts pursuing a girl, the other realize that their heart tugs in another direction.
6. Metalhead (2013)
Genre: Drama
Director: Ragnar Bragason
Cast: Thora Bjorg Helga, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Halldóra Geirhardsdóttir, Sveinn Olafur Gunnarsson
This is definitely one of the more unique movies in Iceland. After the death of her brother, a girl finds solace in metal music. She has to tread a fine line between healthy relationships, non-destructive behavior and her dreams of becoming a metal rock star.
7. Patient Seven (2016)
Genre: Horror Thriller
Director: Danny Draven, Paul Davis, Omar Orn Hauksson, Dean Hewison, Joel Morgan, Johannes Persson, Nicholas Peterson, Erlingur Thoroddsen Rasmus Wassberg
Cast: Michael Ironside, Jack Plotnick, Drew Fonteiro, Rane Jameson
Patient Seven is an Iceland movie about a renowned but sadistic psychiatrist. He starts his interview process for his new book with six mental patients at Spring Valley Mental Hospital. But his interviews only lead to more questions. Especially who actually belongs there?
8. The Deep (2012)
Genre: Action, Drama
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Olafur Darri Olafsson, Stefán Hallur Stefánsson, Joi Johannsson, Thora Bjorg Helga
This is one of the most authentic Icelandic movies ever made, since the movie is based on real events. It tells the story of a fisherman trying to survive the freezing ocean waters after his boat capsizes.
9. A White, White Day (2019)
Genre: Drama
Director: Hlynur Pálmason
Cast: Ingvar Sigurdsson, Ida Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Hilmir Snær Gudnason, Sara Dögg Asgeirsdóttir
This Iceland movie explores how far obsession can go and the impact it has on those around you. The story focuses on an off-duty police officer that tries to uncover the truth behind the suspicions that his wife had an affair with one of the local men.
10. Redux (2022)
Genre: Crime Drama
Director: Heimir Bjarnason
Cast: Bjárni Snæbjörnsson, Anna Hafpórsdóttir, Gudrún Gísladóttir
In an almost idyllic little village in the south of Iceland, a woman’s sister-in-law meets a tragic (and suspicious) end. But things take a turn for the worse when her brother suddenly disappears after her death.
11. Rams (2015)
Genre: Comedy Drama
Director: Grimur Hákonarson
Cast: Sigurdur Sigurjónsson, Theodór Júlíusson, Charlotte Boving, Jón Benónysson
In the purest of pursuits to ever grace our Iceland movie screens (saving their sheep), two brothers who have not spoken to each other for 40 years join forces.
12. I Remember You (2017)
Genre: Horror Mystery
Director: Oskar Thór Axelsson
Cast: Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Agústa Eva Erlendsdóttir, Sara Dögg Asgeirsdóttir, Elma Stefania Agustsdottir
This is probably one of the darkest Iceland films. A horrific suicide occurs inside a church. But things are not what they seem, and soon there are other deaths. What is the driving force of these incidents? Could it be the past literally coming back to haunt them?
13. Life in a Fishbowl (2014)
Genre: Drama
Director: Baldvin Zophoniasson
Cast: Hera Hilmar, Sveinn Olafur Gunnarsson, Porsteinn Bachmann, Atli Oskar Fjalarsson
A preschool teacher and single mother is trying to make ends meet by selling sexual services. A good family man finds himself in the snake pit of international banking. And a renowned poet is drinking himself to death. But what happens when their lives get intertwined?
14. 101 Reykjavík (2000)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Hilmir Snær Gudnason, Victoria Abril, Hanna María Karlsdóttir, Prúdur Vilhjálmsdóttir
In this Iceland movie, Hlynur is your typical loser. An unemployed man with no ambition whatsoever and still living with his mother whilst in his 30s. But add a lesbian flamenco teacher and drunken Reykjavík nights into the mix. Chaos soon erupts in the normally uneventful life of Hlynur.
15. Virgin Mountain (2015)
Genre: Heart-warming Drama
Director: Dagur Kári
Cast: Gunnar Jónsson, Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir, Sigurjón Kjartansson, Margrét Helga Jóhannsdóttir
This is one of the most endearing Iceland films. Fusi is a 40-year-old, reclusive man still living with his mother and stuck in the same old boring routine. But dancing classes soon changes his life.
16. When the Raven Flies (1984)
Genre: Action Adventure
Director: Hrafn Gunnlaugsson
Cast: Jakob Pór Einarsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Helgi Skúlason, Gotti Sigurdarson
This Iceland movie is very much in the veins of Braveheart. Only it’s not based on true life events, and it’s an Irish man seeking revenge against the Vikings who murdered his family. So if you enjoy action-period pieces, this one should definitely be on your watch list.
17. And Breathe Normally (2018)
Genre: Drama
Director: Isold Uggadottir
Cast: Kristín Póra Haraldsdóttir, Babetida Sadjo, Patrik Nökkvi Petursson, Kolbeinn Arnbjörnsson
This Iceland movie tells the story of what happens when a refugee from Guinea-Bissau, facing deportation, and a struggling single Icelandic mother meet.
18. Of Horses and Men (2013)
Genre: Comedy Drama
Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
Cast: Ingvar Sigurdsson, Charlotte Boving, Johann Pall Oddson, Kristbjörg Kjeld
If you’re expecting a horse movie such as Black Beauty or War Horse, this Iceland movie is not for you. Whilst you still have all the usual elements of a horse movie from majestic shots to more technical lingo regarding forelocks and gaits that only horse-lover will know, this story is just as much a commentary on the human condition as it is about the animal world of horses.
19. The Oath (2016)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Baltasar Kormákur, Hera Hilmar, Gísli Orn Gardarsson, Margrét Bjarnadóttir
What would you do as a father if your daughter falls in love with someone you don’t approve of? And what if the new boyfriend is a drug dealer? This Iceland movie is about a successful heart surgeon’s attempts to break this new couple up. He is willing to go to great lengths to ensure that they stay apart.
20. Under the Tree (2017)
Genre: Comedy Thriller
Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson
Cast: Steinpór Hróar Steindórsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sigurdur Sigurjónsson, Porsteinn Bachmann
This is one of the movies in Iceland that starts off quite light-hearted and turns dark pretty quickly. What starts off as a normal neighbourly dispute over a tree soon escalates to extraordinary and surprising levels.
More where this came from
Although these are just our top 20 picks, there is a myriad of great Icelandic movies to watch. There’s no need to stop after movie number 20! And once you’ve landed in Reykjavík, you’ll be sure to find a few locals more than happy to share their picks with you as well. If you enjoy streaming your movies, don’t forget to keep an eye out, as you’ll also be able to find quite a few Icelandic movies on Netflix - no matter where in the world you are.
