Explore the most visually breathtaking and emotionally gripping Iceland movies of all time — stories carved by nature and crafted by brilliant Icelandic filmmakers.
Although small in population, Iceland has produced an extraordinary body of cinematic work that continues to make waves around the world. With its haunting landscapes, rich folklore, and deep emotional undercurrents, Iceland movies are celebrated for their artistic depth, existential storytelling, and unique tonal blend of stillness and tension.
Over the past few decades, Iceland’s cinema has grown from indie obscurity to international acclaim, thanks to visionary directors, unforgettable performances, and stories that resonate beyond borders. From surreal comedies to bleak survival dramas, these films not only reflect the national character but also challenge conventional storytelling with their poetic minimalism.
This curated guide takes you through 25 essential Iceland movies that every film lover should experience. Whether you’re drawn to remote villages blanketed in snow, sagas of isolation and endurance, or quiet meditations on human connection, these films open a rare cinematic window into the Icelandic soul.
Iceland Movies That Leave a Mark
1. Rams / Hrútar (2015)
- Starring: Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Theodór Júlíusson
- Director: Grímur Hákonarson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Runtime: 93 minutes
In a remote Icelandic farming valley, two estranged brothers who haven’t spoken in decades must come together to save their prized sheep from a deadly disease. “Rams” is a quietly powerful tale of pride, grief, and the deep, unspoken bonds between family and land. With sparse dialogue and sweeping visuals of Iceland’s harsh terrain, the film captures the stoicism and resilience that defines much of Icelandic rural life.
2. Jar City / Mýrin (2006)
- Starring: Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir
- Director: Baltasar Kormákur
- Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Runtime: 93 minutes
Based on Arnaldur Indriðason’s bestselling crime novel, “Jar City” follows a brooding detective investigating a bizarre murder case tied to genetic disease and buried secrets. As the investigation unfolds, it exposes Iceland’s darker undercurrents, from scientific ethics to generational trauma. This gripping thriller showcases the unique tone of Iceland movies — slow-burning, cerebral, and emotionally cold yet compelling.
3. 101 Reykjavík (2000)
- Starring: Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Victoria Abril
- Director: Baltasar Kormákur
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Runtime: 88 minutes
A hilarious and eccentric coming-of-age story set in downtown Reykjavík, this cult favorite follows a thirty-something slacker whose life spirals when he falls for his mother’s Spanish lover. “101 Reykjavík” is a quintessential Icelandic comedy — absurd, moody, and full of unexpected warmth. It’s a snapshot of Reykjavík’s nightlife and a generation caught between rebellion and apathy.
4. Woman at War / Kona fer í stríð (2018)
- Starring: Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, Jóhann Sigurðarson
- Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Runtime: 101 minutes
A middle-aged choir teacher leads a double life as a passionate environmental activist sabotaging Iceland’s aluminum industry. As she plans her most daring act, unexpected news changes everything. “Woman at War” blends satire with heroism, turning eco-terrorism into a whimsical yet powerful act of defiance. This standout among Iceland movies offers breathtaking visuals and a feminist message delivered with charm and urgency.
5. Of Horses and Men / Hross í oss (2013)
- Starring: Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Charlotte Bøving
- Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Runtime: 81 minutes
A surreal, darkly comedic mosaic of rural lives intertwined through their relationships with horses. From sexual tension in the fields to tragicomic accidents, each vignette explores the strange harmony between humans and animals. With stunning shots of Iceland’s natural beauty and an oddball tone, it’s one of the most unforgettable Iceland movies for its blend of myth, nature, and absurdity.
6. The Deep / Djúpið (2012)
- Starring: Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Stefán Hallur Stefánsson
- Director: Baltasar Kormákur
- Genre: Biography, Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Runtime: 95 minutes
Based on a real-life shipwreck in 1984, “The Deep” follows a lone fisherman who miraculously survives in freezing waters after his boat sinks off the coast of Iceland. The film dives into the psychological and physical endurance required to stay alive in such brutal conditions. Gritty, raw, and deeply moving, it’s a prime example of how Iceland movies draw power from both natural forces and human spirit.
7. Cold Fever / Á köldum klaka (1995)
- Starring: Masatoshi Nagase, Lili Taylor
- Director: Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 7.0
- Runtime: 85 minutes
A young Japanese businessman embarks on a journey through Iceland’s winter wilderness to perform a ceremonial ritual for his deceased parents. As he encounters quirky locals and surreal obstacles, the film becomes a meditation on grief, spirituality, and cultural collision. “Cold Fever” is a beautifully strange road movie that captures the soul of Iceland with outsider eyes.
8. Let Me Fall / Lof mér að falla (2018)
- Starring: Elín Sif Halldórsdóttir, Eyrún Björk Jakobsdóttir
- Director: Baldvin Zophoníasson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 7.3
- Runtime: 136 minutes
A brutally honest depiction of drug addiction and its consequences, this haunting film traces the friendship and downfall of two teenage girls drawn into Reykjavík’s underground world. “Let Me Fall” doesn’t shy away from the darkness — it’s raw, unflinching, and tragically real. Among Iceland movies, it stands out for its emotional intensity and social relevance.
9. Echo / Bergmál (2019)
- Starring: Tinna Hrafnsdóttir, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson
- Director: Rúnar Rúnarsson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.6
- Runtime: 79 minutes
An experimental film composed of 56 vignettes capturing everyday life in Iceland during the Christmas season. From factory floors to living rooms, “Echo” reflects a nation’s soul through fragmented moments of silence, humor, tension, and tenderness. It’s not just one of the most artistic Iceland movies — it’s a cinematic meditation on collective identity and shared solitude.
10. Volcano / Eldfjall (2011)
- Starring: Theódór Júlíusson, Margrét Helga Jóhannsdóttir
- Director: Rúnar Rúnarsson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 7.1
- Runtime: 95 minutes
After retiring from his job as a school janitor, a gruff older man begins to face the emotional rift between himself and his family. But when tragedy strikes, he’s forced to reckon with his past and embrace a second chance at love and redemption. “Volcano” is a moving, slow-burning drama that proves Iceland movies can be both emotionally intimate and universally resonant
11. A White, White Day / Hvítur, hvítur dagur (2019)
- Starring: Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir
- Director: Hlynur Pálmason
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Runtime: 109 minutes
In a remote Icelandic town, an off-duty police chief becomes obsessed with proving that his late wife was having an affair. As grief consumes him, his relationship with his granddaughter hangs in the balance. “A White, White Day” is an emotionally charged exploration of love, loss, and masculine vulnerability. Few Iceland movies dive so deeply into the psychological cost of silence.
12. Against the Ice (2022)
- Starring: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Joe Cole
- Director: Peter Flinth
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
- IMDb Rating: 6.5
- Runtime: 102 minutes
Based on a true expedition, this harrowing survival drama follows two men stranded in Greenland in 1909. While technically a Danish film, much of it is shot and produced in Iceland, capturing its glacial wilderness. “Against the Ice” is a slow, brutal tale of endurance that reflects the themes common in Iceland movies — nature as both majestic and merciless.
13. Noi the Albino / Nói albinói (2003)
- Starring: Tómas Lemarquis, Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson
- Director: Dagur Kári
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Runtime: 93 minutes
Set in a remote fjord village, this cult classic tells the story of a rebellious, intellectually gifted teenager seeking escape from his dead-end life. “Noi the Albino” is quirky, melancholic, and visually striking, blending absurdism with tragic inevitability. A standout among Iceland movies for its existential tone and icy visual metaphors.
14. Children of Nature / Börn náttúrunnar (1991)
- Starring: Gísli Halldórsson, Sigríður Hagalín
- Director: Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 7.3
- Runtime: 82 minutes
This Oscar-nominated film follows an elderly man who escapes a nursing home with an old flame to return to the countryside where they grew up. Poetic and reflective, it captures the Icelandic reverence for nature and the past. “Children of Nature” remains one of the most internationally recognized Iceland movies.
15. Under the Tree / Undir trénu (2017)
- Starring: Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir
- Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Runtime: 89 minutes
What begins as a petty dispute between neighbors over a shady tree quickly spirals into darkly comic violence and passive-aggressive chaos. “Under the Tree” is a sharp, disturbing satire of suburban tensions and Icelandic politeness unraveling into mayhem. One of the boldest Iceland movies in tone and execution.
16. The County / Héraðið (2019)
- Starring: Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson
- Director: Grímur Hákonarson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Runtime: 92 minutes
A widowed farmer takes a stand against corruption in her local co-op, igniting a rural rebellion. “The County” is a stirring tale of courage and grassroots resistance, anchored by a powerhouse female lead. It blends social critique with pastoral visuals, making it one of the most politically engaged Iceland movies of recent years.
17. Sparrows / Þrestir (2015)
- Starring: Atli Óskar Fjalarsson, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson
- Director: Rúnar Rúnarsson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Runtime: 99 minutes
A teenager is sent to live with his estranged father in a small rural town and faces the brutal reality of adulthood. “Sparrows” is a coming-of-age story stripped of sentimentality, full of quiet tension and emotional depth. A haunting entry in the canon of Iceland movies focused on generational disconnect and rural decay.
18. Black’s Game / Svartur á leik (2012)
- Starring: Thor Kristjansson, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
- Director: Óskar Thór Axelsson
- Genre: Crime, Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Runtime: 104 minutes
A gritty crime thriller based on real events, this film dives into the criminal underworld of Reykjavík in the 1990s. As drug dealing and violence spiral out of control, “Black’s Game” offers a darker side of Iceland rarely seen on screen. One of the more action-driven Iceland movies with a cult following.
19. Paris of the North / París norðursins (2014)
- Starring: Björn Thors, Helgi Björnsson
- Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.6
- Runtime: 95 minutes
A recovering alcoholic teacher’s quiet life in a northern Icelandic town is disrupted when his estranged, hard-drinking father visits. “Paris of the North” balances awkward comedy with genuine emotional beats. It’s a charming, low-key gem among Iceland movies that captures awkward family bonds and rural isolation.
20. Metalhead / Málmhaus (2013)
- Starring: Thora Bjorg Helga, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson
- Director: Ragnar Bragason
- Genre: Drama, Music
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Runtime: 97 minutes
Following the death of her brother, a grief-stricken young woman adopts his love of heavy metal and begins rebelling against her conservative farming village. “Metalhead” is a deeply emotional character study about loss, rage, and self-expression. Its raw sincerity and rural setting make it one of the most unique Iceland movies ever made.
21. Life in a Fishbowl / Vonarstræti (2014)
- Starring: Hera Hilmar, Thorsteinn Bachmann
- Director: Baldvin Zophoníasson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Runtime: 130 minutes
This emotionally complex drama weaves together the lives of three very different people in Reykjavík: a former athlete turned alcoholic, a single mother working as an escort, and a successful banker hiding his dark past. “Life in a Fishbowl” dives into the emotional depths of modern Icelandic society, making it one of the most layered Iceland movies in recent years.
22. Reykjavik-Rotterdam (2008)
- Starring: Baltasar Kormákur, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson
- Director: Óskar Jónasson
- Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 6.4
- Runtime: 88 minutes
This fast-paced crime thriller follows a former smuggler pulled back into the underworld to support his family. Set across Reykjavík and the port of Rotterdam, it combines gritty action with character-driven tension. “Reykjavik-Rotterdam” was later remade in Hollywood as “Contraband” — a testament to its impact among Iceland movies.
23. The Seagull’s Laughter / Mávahlátur (2001)
- Starring: Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir, Ugla Egilsdóttir
- Director: Ágúst Guðmundsson
- Genre: Drama, Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Runtime: 105 minutes
Set in a 1950s Icelandic fishing village, this stylish film tells the story of a seductive widow who disrupts the social order upon her return from America. With lush cinematography and sharp feminist undercurrents, “The Seagull’s Laughter” is one of the most elegant and subversive Iceland movies ever made.
24. Heartstone / Hjartasteinn (2016)
- Starring: Baldur Einarsson, Blær Hinriksson
- Director: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
- Genre: Drama, Coming-of-age
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Runtime: 129 minutes
Two teenage boys spend their summer navigating adolescence in a remote Icelandic village. As their bond is tested by emerging sexuality and emotional turmoil, “Heartstone” offers a powerful, tender portrayal of youth and identity. Among Iceland movies, it’s hailed for its authenticity and emotional resonance.
25. Cold Light / Kaldaljós (2004)
- Starring: Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Kristbjörg Kjeld
- Director: Hilmar Oddsson
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.6
- Runtime: 90 minutes
This haunting drama centers on a man grappling with memories from his traumatic childhood. Told through nonlinear flashbacks and psychological introspection, “Cold Light” is visually and emotionally stark, echoing the best traditions of slow cinema.
📟 Conclusion
From tales of survival and isolation to stories of rebellion, faith, and unexpected humor, these 25 Iceland movies reveal the astonishing range and artistry of Iceland’s filmmakers. They invite viewers into starkly beautiful worlds shaped by nature and history, and characters who often face the extreme — both externally and within.
As Iceland movies continue to captivate international audiences, it’s clear these films are not only visually striking but also emotionally profound. For more on how Nordic cinema influences global storytelling, visit the Nordic Film & TV Fund.
