Movies Made in Norway

Norway is the kind of place that makes cinematographers whisper, “Is this even legal?” Fjords that look Photoshopped,
snowfields that behave like a built-in light reflector, and modern architecture so sleek it practically comes with its
own theme music. No wonder filmmakers keep showing up with drones, dolly tracks, and that one crew member whose entire
job is to say, “Wow” every 12 minutes.

This guide breaks down what “movies made in Norway” can mean (produced there, filmed there, or both), then dives into
a practical, fun list of notable movies filmed in Norwayplus how to experience these places in real life without
accidentally auditioning for a rescue helicopter cameo.

What “Movies Made in Norway” Really Means

People use the phrase in a few different ways:

• Norwegian productions: movies funded/produced primarily by Norwegian companies and talent.
• Movies filmed in Norway: productions (Norwegian or international) that shot scenes on Norwegian locations.
• Movies set in Norway: stories that take place in Norway, even if filming happened elsewhere.

This article focuses on the second categorymovies filmed in Norwaywhile also highlighting a few
Norwegian-made films that showcase the country from the inside out.

Why Norway Keeps Getting Cast in Major Films

1) Nature with instant “production value”

Norway’s landscapes don’t just look prettythey look expensive. Sheer cliffs above deep fjords, icy plateaus,
black-sand-and-stone shorelines, and mountain roads that seem designed for chase scenes (even when your “chase” is just
a rental car trying to locate the next gas station).

2) Four seasons (sometimes in one day)

Need winter? Norway can deliver serious snow and clean, dramatic light. Need summer? Long daylight hours create a soft,
extended “golden hour” feeling that photographers and directors love. The weather is also the ultimate improv coach:
you may plan a sunny establishing shot and end up with moody fog that makes your movie look instantly more mysterious.

3) Modern architecture that looks like sci-fi already happened

Oslo’s contemporary landmarks and Norway’s design-forward hotels and cabins give filmmakers a futuristic vibe without
building everything on a soundstage. Sometimes the real world is already the set.

4) Film-friendly infrastructure

Norway has experienced crews, location services, and a reputation for supporting large productionsespecially in
regions that want to showcase their landscapes. And yes: incentives and rebates can play a role in bringing projects
north, particularly for location-heavy shoots.

At-a-Glance: Norway’s Most “Cinematic” Film Regions

• Oslo: modern architecture, waterfront vistas, gritty urban streets, stylish interiors.
• Western Norway (fjords): cliffs, ferries, winding roads, waterfalls, postcard-level scenery.
• Mountains & inland valleys: glaciers, plateaus, cabins, wilderness drama.
• Far North: Arctic light, tundra vibes, and winter that means business.

List of Notable Movies Filmed in Norway (International & Big-Budget)

Below is a curated list of well-known films that shot memorable sequences in Norway. It’s not every single title ever
filmed there (that list would be longer than a director’s cut), but it covers the movies people most often search for
when planning a Norway “film locations” trip.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

If you’ve seen the cliff sequence and thought, “Surely that’s a green screen,” Norway would like a word. The film used
Preikestolena famous rock plateau above Lysefjordfor a showdown that looks like gravity itself is
part of the cast. It’s the perfect example of Norway’s superpower: make the impossible look real, and make the real
look slightly impossible.

Traveler tip: Preikestolen is a hike, not an escalator. Weather changes quickly, edges are serious,
and you’ll want proper shoes and a little humility. (The fjord doesn’t care how good your outfit looks.)

No Time to Die (2021)

Bond films are basically travel posters with a license to explode things, and Norway’s winter landscape delivers a
stark, beautiful contrast to the franchise’s usual glam. Scenes associated with Norway include icy lakes and dramatic
coastal roads that scream “high stakes,” even when nothing is happening except a car being extremely determined.

A useful reality check: big productions often combine multiple places to create one “movie location.” Some shots are
genuinely Norwegian; others may be filmed elsewhere while representing Norway on screen. Either way, the result is a
moody, northern atmosphere that feels unmistakably Scandinavian.

Tenet (2020)

Norway’s capital shows off a cool, modern edge that fits a high-concept spy thriller. One of the reasons Oslo works on
film is that it can look clean and futuristic without losing textureglass, stone, water, and sharp angles that
practically invite secrets.

Another fun behind-the-scenes truth: “Oslo” on screen can be a carefully assembled puzzlereal Oslo moments combined
with other European locations to create a seamless cinematic geography. It’s international espionage even in the
location planning.

Dune: Part One (2021)

The film needed Caladan to feel like an “ocean world”: windswept, rugged, and ancient. Coastal Norway delivered that
moody scalecliffs, surf, and weather that looks like it has opinions. Norway’s scenery helps sell the idea that this
isn’t just a planet; it’s a history you can stand inside.

Black Widow (2021)

When a story needs “remote, hard-to-reach, beautiful, and slightly lonely,” Norwegian fjord regions show up like
they’ve been waiting by the phone. The film uses Western Norway to suggest an off-grid refugedramatic mountains,
quiet water, and the kind of landscape where someone can disappear… or at least take a very introspective walk.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Before every franchise had a digital volume stage, you went outside and hoped your eyelashes didn’t freeze. Norway’s
snowy terrain helped establish the look and feel of the ice world “Hoth.” Even decades later, those winter visuals
still feel tactile: snow underfoot, wind in the frame, and that unmistakable “this is real weather” energy.

Ex Machina (2014)

This film is a masterclass in using architecture as a character. A key Norwegian location is the
Juvet Landscape Hotel areaminimalist, glassy, and surrounded by wilderness. The contrast is the
point: sleek human control versus enormous natural indifference. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to sip
coffee thoughtfully… and also check if the walls are listening.

Nordic Noir & Snowy Thrillers Shot in Norway

The Snowman (2017)

Based on Jo Nesbø’s work, this thriller leans into Norway’s winter mood: long shadows, cold air, and city streets that
feel both modern and ominous. The production shot substantial material on location in places associated with Oslo and
Bergen, capturing a very specific “Nordic noir” atmosphere that a backlot can’t easily fake.

Whether you love the film, hate the film, or only remember the snowman’s unsettling face (valid), it’s a strong
reminder that Norway can do “beautiful” and “creepy” in the same frame.

Norwegian Movies That Naturally Showcase Norway

If you want Norway through Norway’s own storytelling lens, these homegrown titles are a great starting point:

Troll (2022)

A modern monster movie anchored in Norwegian landscapes and folklore. The fun here is the collision: ancient myth
meets present-day infrastructure, with mountains and tunnels that feel like they were designed to awaken something
gigantic at the worst possible time. If you like your scenery with a side of “uh-oh,” this is a solid pick.

Trollhunter (2010)

Part mockumentary, part folklore adventure, and entirely committed to the idea that the woods might be hiding
something. Norway’s forests and rugged terrain aren’t just backgroundthey’re the joke, the tension, and the payoff.
It’s a great example of how Norwegian films use the landscape as a living presence rather than a pretty postcard.

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

Not every Norway movie is about glaciers, spies, or creatures the size of a commuter train. This acclaimed drama uses
Oslo as a real, lived-in citycafés, streets, apartments, and everyday beauty. If you want a film-location trip that
includes “walk, think, eat something good,” Oslo is your star.

How to Plan a Norway Film-Locations Trip (Without the Chaos)

Pick your “movie mood” first

• Action-stunt mood: fjords, cliffs, dramatic roads (think Western Norway).
• Sci-fi design mood: Oslo architecture and modern interiors.
• Snow-world mood: mountains, winter routes, and northern regions.
• Folklore mood: forests, valleys, and small towns that feel wonderfully “off the map.”

Remember: the weather is a co-director

Wind, rain, fog, and snow can transform a viewpoint in minutes. Build flexibility into your itinerary. If you show up
to a famous vista and see nothing but cloud, congratulations: you’ve just experienced Norway’s commitment to realism.

Respect locations like a professional crew would

Stay on trails, follow local rules, and keep drones legal and considerate. Some places are fragile; others are private.
Norway is scenic, not a prop closet.

FAQ: Movies Filmed in Norway

Are famous movie locations easy to reach?

Some are simple city stops (Oslo). Others require planning, hiking, or seasonal timing (cliffs, remote coasts, winter
roads). “Easy” in Norway often means “beautiful, but bring layers.”

Do films shoot entirely in Norway when they’re set there?

Not always. Productions commonly combine locations across countries for logistics, budgets, and weather. Norway might
provide signature exteriors while interiors or additional scenes happen elsewhere.

What’s the best season for a film-location trip?

Late spring through early fall is easiest for hiking and road trips. Winter is magical for snow visuals but requires
more caution, shorter days, and comfort with cold conditions.

Experience Add-On: A “Movie Norway” Journey You Can Actually Do (About )

If you want the movie-magic feeling without the stunt team, imagine building your trip like a film montageone that
swaps explosions for waffles and replaces dramatic cliff-hanging with “I took a break because I respect my knees.”

Start in Oslo, where the city does two things at once: it feels relaxed and quietly stylish, but also
looks like a setting where a mysterious briefcase could appear at any moment. Walk along the waterfront, find a high
viewpoint, and pay attention to how often water shows up in the city’s lines and reflections. This is the same visual
logic filmmakers love: clean angles, open space, and architecture that frames people like they’re part of a designed
scene. If you’re chasing the “Tenet mood,” the trick is to move slowlylet the city’s minimalism do the work.

Next, shift your soundtrack from “urban suspense” to “epic nature score” by heading toward the mountains or fjord
regions. In Norway, the journey is part of the show. Trains and roads often look like they were built to reveal
landscapes at the exact moment you’re most likely to gasp. This is where you start understanding why big productions
come here: you don’t have to invent scale. It’s already waiting outside the window.

If you pick a famous hike like Preikestolen, treat it like a real location shoot: check conditions,
pack layers, and give yourself time. The best moments aren’t always at the “hero shot” viewpoint. They’re in the
in-between: mist moving across the fjord, sudden sun through clouds, and that shared, quiet excitement on the trail
when strangers realize they’re all walking toward the same “how is this real?” reveal. The plateau at the top can feel
like standing inside a wide-angle lensspace, wind, and a view that makes your phone camera panic a little.

For a different kind of cinematic thrill, seek out places where design meets wilderness. Norway’s
modern cabins and hotels can feel like “Ex Machina” without the existential dread (unless your brain insists on
providing its own). You’ll notice how Norwegian design often frames nature rather than competing with itbig windows,
simple materials, and calm interiors that make outside look even more dramatic. It’s the opposite of flashy luxury:
the landscape is the status symbol.

Finally, end your trip with something very un-movie-like and therefore perfectly Norwegian: a slow meal, warm coffee,
and the acceptance that weather might rewrite your plans. That’s not a travel inconvenience hereit’s part of the
experience. Norway’s film locations aren’t just “places where a scene happened.” They’re places where the scenery is
still performing, every day, whether or not anyone yells “Action!”