Nordic noir

American  

[nawr-dik nwar] / ˈnɔr dɪk ˈnwar /

noun

1. a genre of fictional literature, television, and film set in Scandinavia and featuring dark, complex stories of crime that unfold within an otherwise ordinary or bland social environment, usually expressed in very plain language.

   I’d read a bit of Nordic noir, but it wasn’t until I watched a miniseries from Denmark that I realized how awesome this genre is.

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Etymology

Origin of Nordic noir

First recorded in 2005–10; modeled on film noir ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Nordic noir

Thursday on Viaplay, a Swedish-owned streaming service whose main business is Nordic noir, a genre so popular that many American streamers give it its own corner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

However, Nordic noir still seems to be going from strength to strength.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 3, 2020

I also got a glimpse of an Icelandic fantasy novel by Emil Hjörvar Petersen, “Crimson Hills,” which is billed as Nordic noir meets weird fantasy, and it seems a lot of fun.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 21, 2019

Glum and murky, Dublin Murders makes literal what French only alludes to in pursuit of a Nordic noir melancholy that doesn’t quite gibe with the series’ Irish setting.

From Slate ● Nov. 8, 2019

So, Danes are left with a mystery that belongs in a Nordic noir, one with elements of farce and filled with enraging twists.

From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2018