My first introduction to Anders Thomas Jensen was very late, it was Riders of Justice (five years ago) and I was absolutely taken by his style of film. The way his cast worked and played off each other made for a film that was at times hiliarious, heart felts, and brutally violent. I immediately was a fan.

This month sees the release of his follow-up film The Last Viking and it might well be his best work to date boasting an another incredibly unqiue performance from Mads Mikkelsen and the rest of the cast are just on their absolute best.

For fans of his work, or perhaps new fans after this film’s release – it is a lot of fun to go back to watch his previous work where you will being to see the development of his crazy violent, yet thoughtful emotional, fairytales. Not only that but also seeing so many familiar Danish actors in the earlier years of their careers; whether it is Mads Mikkelsen post Pusher, the babyface of Nikolaj Lie Klaas, and the excellent Ulrich Thomsen – they all clearly love working together and it is a wonderful way to see that develop through these films.

Flickering Lights (2000)

Four small-time gangsters from Copenhagen steal a briefcase containing millions of krones from a high-profile mob boss. Instead of fleeing the country, they find themselves hiding out in an old, abandoned restaurant in rural Denmark, slowly realizing they might actually want to settle down and open a legitimate eatery.

Nordic Watchlist’s thoughts: If, like us, you have worked backwards through Anders Thomas Jensen’s filmography all of it begins to make sense when you watch his debut. Perhaps his weakest? Certainly not his weirdest – but it did have Sofie Grabol ‘egg blowing’

• UK: Stream on Viaplay or Arrow Video; rent/buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
• USA: Stream on Viaplay; rent/buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

The Green Butchers (2003)

Two eccentric butchers, Svend and Bjarne, decide to escape their arrogant boss by opening their own shop. Business is slow until a bizarre accident leads to them selling a highly unusual “specialty meat” that becomes an overnight sensation across the town.

Nordic Watchlist’s thoughts: This is where the director’s signature pitch-black humor really finds its groove. Mads Mikkelsen with a severely receding hairline and a sweat problem is a sight you won’t soon forget. It’s macabre, hilarious, and bizarrely sweet.

• UK: Stream on Viaplay, Arrow Video, or Plex; rent on Amazon Prime.
• USA: Stream on Viaplay; rent/buy on Apple TV.

Adam’s Apples (2005)

An aggressively optimistic priest, Ivan, takes in a neo-Nazi named Adam for community rehabilitation. When Ivan tasks Adam with a simple goal—baking an apple pie from the church’s apple tree—a surreal, violent battle of faith, cynicism, and biblical plagues ensues.

Nordic Watchlist’s thoughts: Arguably Jensen’s masterpiece before Riders of Justice. The chemistry between Mads Mikkelsen’s delusional priest and Ulrich Thomsen’s angry neo-Nazi is spectacular. It’s a deeply philosophical film wrapped in layers of absurd violence and pitch-black comedy not mention making you never listen to ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ without thinking of this band of chaos merchants!

• UK: Stream on Viaplay; rent or buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
• USA: Stream on Viaplay; rent or buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Men & Chicken (2015)

Two deeply bizarre, socially inept half-brothers discover upon their father’s death that they were actually adopted. Their journey to a decaying mansion on a remote Danish island to find their biological father introduces them to an extended family harboring some very strange genetic secrets.

Nordic Watchlist’s thoughts: Men & Chicken is Jensen at his most bizarre, unsettling and strangely heartfelt. The film’s off‑kilter humour, physical absurdity and unsettling family secrets create a world that is both deeply uncomfortable and unexpectedly tender. Mads Mikkelsen’s unhinged performance is a masterclass in controlled chaos, embodying the film’s theme that even the most dysfunctional people crave connection. Beneath the outrageous surface lies a surprisingly moving exploration of identity, belonging and the messy biology of being human.

• UK: Stream on Icon Film Channel or Pluto TV; rent/buy on Apple TV.
• USA: Stream on Viaplay; rent/buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Riders of Justice (2020)

When his wife dies in a seemingly tragic train accident, military man Markus returns home to care for his teenage daughter. However, when a statistics geek who survived the crash convinces him that the derailment was a coordinated assassination, Markus launches a brutal, grief-fueled mission for revenge.

Nordic Watchlist’s thoughts: Riders of Justice is one of Jensen’s most compelling blends of dark comedy and existential drama, anchored by a fierce, wounded performance from Mads Mikkelsen. What makes it so gripping is the way it dismantles the revenge‑thriller formula, replacing macho certainty with moral ambiguity, philosophical humour and a deep tenderness for broken people. Jensen uses violence not for spectacle but as a way to interrogate fate, coincidence and the human need for meaning. 

• UK: Stream on ITVX or STUDIOCANAL Presents; rent/buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
• USA: Stream on Viaplay: rent/buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

The Last Viking (2026)

Following a fifteen-year prison sentence for a massive robbery, Anker is finally released. He heads out to retrieve his stolen cash, which he had entrusted his brother Manfred to safely bury at their childhood home before going away. However, Manfred—who now goes by the name of John W. Lennon and lives with their sister Freja—cannot remember the exact location of the loot. What follows is an increasingly chaotic, emotional journey that introduces them to an Airbnb full of fellow psychiatric patients who also believe they are members of the Beatles.

Nordic Watchlist’s thoughts: The Last Viking channels Jensen’s signature mix of grit and melancholy, placing Nordic stoicism at the heart of an epic yet intimate story. The film’s rugged landscapes and raw character dynamics echo the timelessness of Scandinavian sagas while grounding them in modern emotional realism. Jensen’s direction keeps the tone sharp and human, letting moments of absurdity sit naturally beside moments of genuine heartbreak. 

The Last Viking is out in UK Cineams from the 26th June