Nordic noir TV shows have been popular around the world since the 1990s, but the genre has received renewed interest in the last decade or so, largely thanks to the streaming boom. With international audiences seeking high-quality television, these gritty investigative thrillers have become a beloved facet of our shared cultural landscape. While there are many great shows available through paid streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, there are also a lot of great Nordic noir shows you can stream completely free on services like Tubi, Plex, and The Roku Channel. Read on to discover our selection of the very best Nordic noir shows you can stream online for free, from popular favorites to lesser-known gems.
For more recommendations, be sure to check out our lists of the best free Western shows on streaming, the best free movies with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and great Old Hollywood movies you can watch for free on YouTube.
Disclaimer: These titles are available in the US.
‘Wisting’ (2019 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Wisting
- Genre
-
Police Procedural
- Language
-
Norwegian, English
- Number of Seasons
-
5
- Debut Date
-
April 11, 2019
Created by Trygve Allister Diesen and Kathrine Valen Zeiner, Wisting is a Norwegian police procedural series that follows a senior investigator in Larvik and his daughter, a crime journalist. Sven Nordin stars as detective William Wisting, with Thea Green Lundberg as his daughter, Line Wisting. The show’s first three seasons also stars Carrie-Anne Moss as visiting FBI Special Agent Maggie Griffin. The first season is based on the novels The Caveman and The Hunting Dogs by Jørn Lier Horst.
Wisting was already a much-talked-about series in Norway ahead of its premiere because of its record-making budget. At €11.4 million, it was the most expensive drama ever produced in the country. The show received largely favorable reviews from critics and audiences upon its premiere and was renewed for four more seasons, the latest released in 2024. With a tense thriller plotline, great cinematography, and interesting characters, Wisting is an impeccably well-made crime drama that’s arguably one of the best Nordic noir shows ever made.
Watch on The Roku Channel
‘The Bridge’ (2011 – 2018)
IMDb: 8.6/10
The Bridge
- Genre
-
Nordic noir
- Language
-
Swedish, Danish
- Debut Date
-
September 21, 2011
Created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt, The Bridge is a Swedish-Danish crime series that kicks off with a corpse being discovered at the center of the Øresund Bridge, which links Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden. The first season follows Swedish detective Saga Norén (Sofia Helin) as she teams up with her Danish counterpart, Martin Rohde (Kim Bodnia), to investigate the case. Rohde returns in the second season but is replaced by Danish officer Henrik Sabroe (Thure Lindhardt) in the third and fourth seasons.
The Bridge was quite well-received by audiences and critics at the time of its premiere, praised for its bleak yet beautiful visions of Malmö and Copenhagen. The show’s second season received accolades as well, winning two Golden Nymph Awards at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival: Best European Drama Series and Best Actor in a Drama Series for Kim Bodnia. The series’ popularity spawned seven international adaptations, making it one of the most influential Nordic noir shows. With its dark, dramatic tone and well-developed storylines, The Bridge is one of the shows that has defined the contemporary Nordic noir series, making it a must-watch for genre fans.
Watch on Plex
‘The Killing’ (2007 – 2012)
IMDb: 8.4/10
Created by Søren Sveistrup, The Killing is a Danish police procedural show that follows Detective Inspector Sarah Lund (Sofie Gråbøl), with each season exploring a new case. Set in Copenhagen, the show’s first season revolves around the murder of a teenager whose body is found in a car linked to a mayoral candidate’s office. The series then follows the 20-day investigation, each episode covering one day of the case.
The Killing was quite well-received when it first premiered on the Danish national television channel DR1 in 2007, but it reached cult status after its international release. The show has developed a dedicated fanbase around the world, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. The series has received great praise for its well-crafted plot twists, complex storylines, acting, cinematography, and tone, as well as for the way it fleshes out its cases by involving the victim’s family and the political consequences of the investigation. The Killing has received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA win and three International Emmy nominations.
Watch on Plex
‘Before We Die’ (2021 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 63% | IMDb: 6.6/10
Created by Matt Baker and based on the Swedish thriller series of the same name, Before We Die follows a police investigator who is drawn into an underworld power struggle when her lover and colleague is murdered. Lesley Sharp stars as Detective Inspector Hanna Laing, whose story gets even more complicated when her estranged son becomes involved in the case. Besides Sharp, the series also stars Vincent Regan, Issy Knopfler, Kazia Pelka, Tijmen Govaerts, Patrick Gibson, Toni Gojanovic, Steve Toussaint, and more.
Before We Die premiered on Channel 4 in March 2021, receiving mixed reviews from critics. The series has been unfavorably compared to the original show, with criticisms of the writing and direction. While the British version doesn’t quite capture the intensity and character dynamics of its source material, Before We Die is still a fairly interesting watch with some solid performances that shine through in spite of the awkwardness of its adaptation.
Watch on Tubi
‘River’ (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.9/10
Created and written by Abi Morgan, River is a six-part British drama series centered on troubled Detective Inspector John River. Essentially a noir police procedural, the show stars Stellan Skarsgård as River, who is haunted by the recent murder of his colleague Detective Sergeant Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson (Nicola Walker). The series follows River and his new partner (Adeel Akhtar) as they take on fresh cases while attempting to solve Stevie’s murder. The show also stars Lesley Manville, Georgina Rich, Eddie Marsan, Turlough Convery, Sorcha Cusack, Steve Nicolson, and more.
River had an impressive critical reception when it first premiered on BBC One in October 2015, receiving praise for its take on themes of loss and grief. A well-rounded story that focuses on both character development and suspense, River is a masterfully crafted show with stellar performances. Veteran star Stellan Skarsgård delivers a compelling turn in the role of the traumatized central detective who works through intense guilt and tragedy to find the truth, sometimes even surprising himself.
Watch on Tubi
‘Rig 45’ (2018 – 2020)
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rig 45
- Genre
-
Drama, Crime, Thriller
- Language
-
English, Danish, Norwegian
- Debut Date
-
June 8, 2018
Directed by Per Hanefjord, Rig 45 is a Swedish suspense thriller set on an oil rig on the Northern Sea. The plot begins with a storm during Christmastime, during which one of the crew is found dead. When another body follows, the crew realizes that they are isolated from the world with a killer among them. The series stars Lisa Henni, Gary Lewis, Björn Bengtsson, David Dencik, Søren Malling, Jakob Oftebro, Judith Roddy, Catherine Walker, and more.
Often compared to the British series Vigil, Rig 45 had a fairly positive reception from audiences at the time of its premiere in 2018. A second season, titled Rig 45: Murder at Sea, was released in 2020, which was less favorably reviewed. While the show’s second installment may be a bit of a letdown, the first season presents a compelling locked-room mystery with solid performances and a twisty storyline. Sure, the show may be a bit uneven as a whole, but Rig 45 is still an enjoyable watch, especially for mystery fans who enjoy a fresh take on a familiar set-up.
Watch on Tubi
‘Trom’ (2022)
IMDb: 6.7/10
Trom
- Genre
-
Drama
- Language
-
Faroese, English, Danish
- Debut Date
-
February 17, 2022
A Faroese drama series created by Torfinnur Jákupsson, Trom is a six-part mystery thriller miniseries based on Jógvan Isaksen’s Hannis Martinsson novels. Ulrich Thomsen stars as Martinsson, a journalist who receives an unexpected message from a daughter he didn’t know about, claiming that her life is in danger. When she’s subsequently found dead, the authorities assume it was an accidental drowning, but Martinsson suspects the case may have had something to do with the victim’s anti-whaling activism.
Trom premiered on the Faroese national broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya in February 2022 to a positive audience reception. While the series is quite heavy on standard tropes of Nordic noir, it’s still a great watch that utilizes its beautiful location in the Faroes to full effect. Trom also has some compelling characters brought to life by a talented cast, as well as a sufficiently complex plot that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Watch on The Roku Channel
‘Arctic Circle’ (2018 – 2023)
IMDb: 6.9/10
Arctic Circle
- Genre
-
Drama
- Language
-
Finnish, English, Russian
- Debut Date
-
November 8, 2018
A Finnish-German crime drama, Arctic Circle is directed by Hannu Salonen and set in icy Finnish Lapland, one of the northernmost populated regions in the world. Iina Kuustonen stars as Finnish police officer Nina Kautsalo, who finds a nearly dead prostitute in the wilderness. When a deadly virus is found in the victim’s body, German virologist Thomas Lorenz (Maximilian Brückner) joins the investigation, and the two must work together to solve the case in a desperate race against time.
The series also stars Pihla Viitala, Clemens Schick, and Susanna Haavisto. Arctic Circle premiered on the Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihde in 2018 and received generally positive reviews. While the show’s plot does get a bit out of hand at times, it has received significant praise for its beautiful cinematography, compelling characters, and production value. The series has some great performances, especially by Brückner and Kuustonen, but the biggest draw is its gorgeous vistas of the Arctic.
Watch on Plex