If you just want the list, scroll to the bottom)
We all have traditions that feel like a part of us—those customs we never question and simply accept as a given. One such odd tradition in Norway, which isn’t common elsewhere, is watching thrillers and crime stories at Easter. Whether it’s movies, series, or books, Easter is the time we indulge in a good mystery. In Norway, we have several bank holidays, from Skjærtorsdag (Maundy Thursday) to the second day of Easter, making it the perfect little getaway. Most people even take a few extra vacation days, stretching the break into a full week off work. It’s a time when we head to the mountains or our cabins to ski, relax, and spend quality time with family. I love this tradition. Sure, the slopes can get crowded if you’re into downhill skiing, but it’s always a lot of fun.
I started thinking about this Easter crime tradition and how it’s a bit unusual, wondering where it all began. It turns out this strange custom dates back to the 1920s, thanks to a clever marketing stunt. The Norwegian publishing house Aschehoug released a detective novel titled The Crime of Easter (“Påskekrim”), timed perfectly to coincide with the holiday. It became an instant hit, tapping into the public’s desire for thrilling mysteries during Easter. The success of the book kickstarted the tradition of reading crime novels over Easter and eventually expanded to watching crime films and TV shows. Now, every year, there’s a new Easter crime series, along with reruns of classics—Agatha Christie is always a favorite.
I love diving into books and movies that suit the season. Here’s my top thrillers and crimes watch list:
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
- A dark and gripping Swedish crime thriller based on Stieg Larsson’s bestselling novel, following journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander as they uncover dark family secrets.
2. The Snowman (2017)
- A chilling adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s best-selling crime novel about Detective Harry Hole, who investigates a series of disappearances linked to a mysterious snowman.
3. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
- A haunting Argentine crime thriller that blends murder mystery with deep emotional storytelling. It follows a retired legal counselor trying to solve a cold case from his past.
4. Se7en (1995)
- A classic psychological crime thriller directed by David Fincher, featuring two detectives (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) as they hunt down a serial killer whose crimes are based on the seven deadly sins.
5. Zodiac (2007)
- Directed by David Fincher, this film takes a deep dive into the unsolved mystery of the Zodiac Killer, focusing on the obsessive pursuit by journalists and police in 1970s San Francisco.
6. Prisoners (2013)
- A tense and atmospheric thriller about a father (Hugh Jackman) who takes matters into his own hands after his daughter and her friend are kidnapped, and the detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) investigating the case.
7. Gone Girl (2014)
- Based on Gillian Flynn’s bestseller, this psychological thriller tells the story of the disappearance of a woman (Rosamund Pike) and the media frenzy that follows. It explores the secrets that lie within relationships.
8. Insomnia (2002)
- A Norwegian-American psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. A detective (Al Pacino) is sent to a small town in Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenage girl but struggles with his own guilt and insomnia.
9. Midsommar (2019)
- A disturbing psychological horror-thriller set in broad daylight, following a group of friends who attend a mysterious Swedish midsummer festival, uncovering dark secrets beneath its idyllic surface.
10. The Woman in the Window (2021)
- A psychological thriller about an agoraphobic woman (Amy Adams) who believes she has witnessed a crime in the house across the street, but the truth may be more complicated than she thought.
11. Mystic River (2003)
- Directed by Clint Eastwood, this emotionally gripping crime drama explores the tragic story of three childhood friends who are drawn together by a murder that brings up painful memories from their past.
12. The Night Manager (2016)
- A British-American miniseries based on the John le Carré novel. It’s a tense, thrilling story about a former soldier turned hotel manager who’s recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate the inner circle of an international arms dealer.
13. Wind River (2017)
- A chilling crime thriller set in Wyoming’s snowy landscape, where a wildlife officer and an FBI agent team up to investigate a young woman’s mysterious death on a Native American reservation.
14. Shutter Island (2010)
- Directed by Martin Scorsese, this psychological thriller follows two U.S. Marshals (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) investigating the disappearance of a patient from a mental institution, only to uncover deeper and darker secrets.
15. And Then There Were None (2015)
- Based on Agatha Christie’s famous novel, this miniseries follows ten strangers invited to an island, where they are systematically killed off one by one. A gripping mystery with plenty of twists.
16. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
- A stunning adaptation of Agatha Christie’s beloved detective novel, starring Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot. When a murder occurs on the luxurious train, Poirot must solve the case before the train reaches its destination.
17. Death on the Nile (2022)
- Another thrilling Agatha Christie adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot. On a luxurious cruise down the Nile, Poirot is forced to solve a murder that takes place amid a group of high-society passengers.
18. The Killing (2011-2014)
- A critically acclaimed Danish crime series that follows two detectives investigating the murder of a teenage girl in Copenhagen. The show delves deeply into the emotional and social impact of crime on everyone involved.
19. Sharp Objects (2018)
- Based on Gillian Flynn’s debut novel, this miniseries follows a troubled journalist (Amy Adams) who returns to her hometown to report on the murder of two pre-teen girls, only to confront painful memories from her past.
20. The Bridge (Bron/Broen) (2011-2018)
- A Swedish-Danish crime drama that begins with the discovery of a dead body on the Øresund Bridge. The series follows two detectives from Sweden and Denmark who are forced to work together to solve the crime.
21. The Vanishing (2018)
- A gripping Dutch thriller based on a true story, focusing on three lighthouse keepers who disappear mysteriously, leaving no trace. The mystery leads to a dark and chilling conclusion.
22. Luther (2010-2019)
- A British crime drama starring Idris Elba as the intense and troubled Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, tackling brutal crimes while dealing with his own personal demons.