Written by Jake Maslin. Published: October 27 2025
As defined by
the streaming era and the accessibility of media from around the
world, international filmmaking and viewing continue to become
universal. With companies like the Criterion Collection, among
others, audiences have been exposed to thousands of titles from
foreign lands, expanding the landscape of what there is to
consume. In this edition of “Global Expansion”, we’ll dive
into 5 essential Northern European film directors and some of their
notable films!
1.
Ingmar Bergman (Sweden)
The first
order of business here is to discuss not only a Northern European
movie legend but a director widely considered by film communities
to be one of the most prestigious filmmakers of all time. Ingmar
Bergman was born in Sweden in 1918 and passed away in his home
country in 2007, but not before he provided the world with several
cinematic masterpieces. Most notably, Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (1957) is regarded as one of
the greatest movies ever made and is among other visually and
psychologically evocative films such as Persona (1966) and Wild Strawberries (1957).
WHERE TO
WATCH:
The
Seventh Seal – HBO Max
Persona – HBO Max
Wild
Strawberries – HBO Max
2.
Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark)
Moving over
to Denmark, Thomas Vinterberg is one of the best working directors
in the industry today. His early career consists of films
derivative of the “Dogme 95” movement, a style that included
handheld cameras, radical realism, and used little to no lighting
or effects. The Celebration (1998) is an excellent
example of this style used by Vinterberg, who more recently
directed two of the 21st century’s best films out of Northern
Europe: Another Round (2020) and The Hunt (2012).
WHERE TO
WATCH:
The
Celebration – Criterion Collection
The
Hunt – Prime Video, Pluto TV, Tubi
Another
Round – Prime Video, Hulu, Tubi, PLEX
3.
Joachim Trier (Norway)
Norwegian
filmmaker Joachim Trier is another contemporary director who has
produced some of the best work in Scandinavia as well. Garnering
two Oscar nominations for his modern masterpiece in The Worst
Person in the World (2021), Trier has also provided audiences
with other films taking place in the Norwegian capital with Oslo, August 31st (2011) and Reprise (2006). More
recently, Trier debuted his latest film Sentimental Value (2025) at the Cannes Film Festival, which releases later this
year.
WHERE TO
WATCH:
The Worst
Person in the World – Tubi
Oslo,
August 31st – MUBI
Reprise – VOD/Digital
Sentimental Value – In theatres November 7
4.
Ruben Östlund (Sweden)
Another
director hailing from Sweden, Ruben Östlund is also an
Oscar-nominated contemporary artist whose work is gaining more and
more prominence. Most recently, his two Academy nods came from his
work on Triangle of Sadness (2022). Before his critically acclaimed
social satire, Östlund released The Square in 2017, and in
2010, a personal favorite of mine, his short film “Incident By a
Bank”.
WHERE TO
WATCH:
Triangle
of Sadness – Hulu
The
Square – Prime Video, Hulu, Pluto TV, Tubi
Incident
By a Bank – YouTube (see below)
5.
Lars Von Trier (Denmark)
Though a
heavily controversial figure both publicly and artistically, the
Dane Lars Von Trier is one of the most notable filmmakers of the
21st century. Von Trier is known to push the boundaries in story,
visuals, and in style, becoming an extremely influential director.
Both Dogville (2003) and Melancholia (2011) come to mind when
talking about Von Trier; however, don’t expect anything but dark,
bleak, and edgy.
WHERE TO
WATCH:
Dogville – MUBI
Melancholia – PLEX
