This Danish actor has a memorable appearance and undeniable talent. Mads Mikkelsen is equally at home in elite art house films and Hollywood blockbusters.
He can very convincingly portray on the screen any character: from a marginal drug dealer to an elegant intellectual. But one thing’s for sure: all movies with Mads Mikkelsen from our list are worth your attention.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
- Genre: Action, Adventure
- USA production / 2023
- Budget: $295 000 000
- Directed by James Mangold
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys Davis, Toby Jones, Olivier Richters, Jill Winternitz, Thomas Kretschmann
1969. Planet Earth is in danger again. The Nazi Waller, who has escaped retribution, has managed to infiltrate the U.S. Government and is on his way to find an ancient and powerful artifact. This is the Destiny Dial, capable of changing the course of all things on Earth. Once again, archaeologist Indiana Jones comes to the rescue of humanity.
The creation of the artifact called “Destiny Dial” was most likely inspired by the Antikythera mechanism, raised in 1901 from the board of a sunken ancient ship. Scientists called this find the world’s first computer. The mechanism was used to calculate the trajectories of celestial bodies and allowed to determine the date of almost fifty astronomical events.
The film is expected to premiere on May 18, 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Bastard
- Genre: Drama, history
- Norway production / 2023
- Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Magnus Krapper, Gustav Lind, Kristin Kuyt Torp, Amanda Collin, Jakob Ulrik Lohmann, Søren Malling, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Felix Kramer, Morten Hee Andersen
The middle of the 18th century. The Jutland Peninsula. It is not a place for pleasure walks, but a harsh and unfriendly edge of Europe. The cold sea coast is riddled with sand dunes and remnants of glaciers, and the vast wastelands are full of wild beasts and outlaws.
It was to this remote region that Frederick V, King of Norway and Denmark, sent the soldier and adventurer Ludwig von Kalen. There he meets a mysterious woman named Anne Barbara, who will become the love of his life.
The historical film based on Ida Jessen’s novel “Captain and Ann Barbara” is scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2023.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
- Rating IMDB – 6.2
- Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family
- UK, USA production / 2022
- Budget: $200 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $407 150 844
- Directed by David Yates
- Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Catherine Waterston, Mads Mikkelsen, Oliver Masucci
The 1930s. Humanity is on the brink of a great war, and in the world of wizards and wizards Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Green-de-Wald are preparing for one last decisive battle.
The Dark Wizard wants to seize power and become the new Supreme Leader of the wizarding world. To do so, Grindel-Wald needs a magical being to point at him at the “Cilin Walk” ritual. To make sure this happens, the dark wizard’s henchmen attack Qilin and kidnap her newborn foal.
At the beginning of the prequel, the role of Green DeWald was played by Johnny Depp. But he was forced to leave the project because of his participation in the scandalous lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Six months after the start of filming Depp was replaced by no less charismatic Mads Mikkelsen.
Chaos Walking
- Rating IMDB – 5.7
- Genre: Fantasy, fantasy, action, adventure
- USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Luxembourg production / 2021
- Budget: $125 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $26 508 132
- Directed by Doug Lyman
- Cast: Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Damien Bichir, David Oyelowo, Kurt Sutter, Cynthia Erivo, Bethany Ann Lind, Mads Mikkelsen, Nick Jonas, Ray McKinnon
The distant future. Humanity has moved to conquer the universe. On one of the colonized planets called “New World”, the natives exterminated all the women of the arriving earthlings. A strange anomaly operates in the New World: all human thoughts are heard and seen by all around. But some colonists know how to control them and hide them from others.
Teenager Todd Hewitt lives in a place called Prentissstown, run by the cruel David Prentiss. One day the boy finds a crashed spaceship in the woods, and in it – the only survivor. To his amazement, it turns out to be a real girl.
The literary basis for the sci-fi action film was the first part of writer Patrick Ness’s teen fantasy series, “Chaos Walking”.
Riders of Justice
- Rating IMDB – 7.5
- Genre: Drama, comedy, action, crime
- Denmark, Sweden, Finland production / 2020
- Worldwide gross: $2 000 861
- Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolai Li Kaas, Andrea Heik Gadeberg, Lars Brügmann, Nicholas Breaux, Gustav Lind, Roland Møller, Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt, Anne Birgitte Lind, Omar Shargawi
The wife of military man Markus was killed in an accident – a collision between two trains. But mathematician Otto, who was traveling with the woman in the same carriage, does not agree with the official version of the tragedy.
The man is convinced that the local criminal group, the Knights of Justice, is behind the accident. Otto, in the company of two like-minded men, visits Markus and convinces him to avenge the death of the woman he loves.
The American media company Lionsgate has bought the rights to the English-language version of the Danish comedy with black humor. The director, lead actors, and premiere date are currently unknown.
Another Round
- Rating IMDB – 7.7
- Genre: Drama, comedy
- Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands production / 2020
- Worldwide gross: $12 742 455
- Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Rante, Maria Bonnevi, Helena Rheingor Neumann, Sousse Wold, Magnus Sjörup, Silas Cornelius Van, Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt
According to the Norwegian psychotherapist Finn Skærderud, a small amount of alcohol in the blood will increase a person’s efficiency and make life happier. This highly controversial assertion decided to test on themselves four teacher friends.
Surprisingly, it worked. And then the buddies decide to increase their blood alcohol levels.
The final dance in the film about the experiments with alcohol was performed by Mads Mikkelsen himself. Few people know that the actor is a professional gymnast and dancer. The Dane graduated from the Ballet Academy of Gothenburg and for almost 10 years was a member of Denmark’s most famous dance company.
Polar
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Militant, Criminal
- USA, Germany production / 2019
- Directed by Jonas Okerlund
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Catherine Winnick, Faye Wren, Ruby O. Fee, Matt Lucas, Robert Maillet, Anthony Grant, Josh Cruddas, Lovina Javari
The contract requires that Duncan Wiesla, a.k.a. “Black Kaiser,” be retired at age 50, the best hitman in the Damocles organization. At the same time he is to receive eight million dollars from his employer. If, of course, he survives.
Turning six decades will be the most difficult task for the Black Kaiser. After all, his employer, Mr. Blat, wants to sell the company, and paying pensions to former employees is not part of his plans. Instead, Mr. Blat sends his best killers to Duncan.
On several occasions Mads Mikkelsen has already played the role of a hero with a damaged left eye. These include Le Cipher in “Casino Royale”, One-Eyed in “Valhalla Rising”, Rochefort in “The Three Musketeers”, John in “Adams æbler” and Cicely in “Polar”. “Polar” was no exception to this list. One of Duncan Weasel’s eyes is covered with a blindfold.
At Eternity’s Gate
- Rating IMDB – 6.9
- Genre: Drama, Biography, History
- Ireland, Switzerland, UK, France, USA production / 2018
- Worldwide gross: $11 257 695
- Directed by Julian Schnabel
- Cast: Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Oscar Isaac, Mads Mikkelsen, Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuel Seigner, Niels Arestrup, Ann Cossigny, Amira Casar, Vincent Perez
A film about an artist ahead of his time, Vincent Van Gogh. The artist, always in need of money and doubting his talent, settles down in Arles, France.
There, thanks to the beauty of nature, he receives a powerful charge of creative energy and begins to create again. But his creative breakthrough is replaced by bouts of madness, and the artist dies.
The period of life in Arles is the flowering of the artist’s creativity. It was during this time that Van Gogh painted his most famous paintings: Sunflowers, Starry Night, and Self-Portrait with Severed Ear. Today the average price per painting by the artist, who sold only a few of his works during his lifetime, exceeds $66 million.
Arctic
- Rating IMDB – 6.8
- Genre: Drama, adventure
- Iceland production / 2018
- Worldwide gross: $249 817
- Directed by Joe Penna
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smaradottir, Tintrinay Tiknasuk
This is one of the best films about survival in the cold. In the middle of the Arctic wilderness, pilot Overgaard’s plane is in distress. The pilot survives, but finds himself all alone in the middle of endless ice and snow. For days on end, Overgaard tries to survive the snowy captivity. And one day he got lucky. A rescue helicopter received his signal.
But the pilot lost control and the helicopter crashed not far from Overgaard’s camp. In the cockpit of the helicopter, the pilot found a seriously wounded girl, and with her a map with the coordinates of the meteorologists’ base. Realizing that the woman would die without medical help, Overgaard decides to take her to the base alone.
The drama was filmed in Iceland in almost arctic conditions. One day there was such a strong wind that its gust tore a couple of doors off the hinges of one of the film crew’s cars.
Rogue One
- Rating IMDB – 7.8
- Genre: Sci-fi, action, adventure
- USA production / 2016
- Budget: $200 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $1 056 057 273
- Directed by Gareth Edwards
- Cast: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Henry, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen
High-ranking officials of the Galactic Empire have forced the talented engineer Galen Erso to develop a superweapon, the Death Star. The forces of the Galactic Empire are opposed by the Rebel Alliance, intent on destroying Erso’s creation.
The engineer manages to send the rebels a message about the location of the blueprints for the new weapon and the way to destroy it. Accompanied by the Alliance’s intelligence captain Cassian Andor, Galen Erso’s daughter, a girl named Jin, is sent in search of the documents.
A prequel to the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope. At the box office, the sci-fi film grossed over a billion dollars and ranked twentieth on the list of the highest-grossing projects in the history of cinema.
Doctor Strange
- Rating IMDB – 7.5
- Genre: Fantasy, fantasy, action, adventure
- USA production / 2016
- Budget: $165 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $677 718 395
- Directed by Scott Derrickson
- Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Zara Pitian
The most precious thing neurosurgeon Stephen Strange has is his talented hands. But an unexpected accident put an end to the ambitious surgeon’s career. Since official medicine can do nothing to help Strange, he is forced to seek unconventional methods of treatment.
The former doctor goes to Nepal. There he meets a woman with incredible strength and magical powers. After persistent training with her, Strange becomes a powerful sorcerer and enters the fray with enemies from other dimensions who want to enslave mankind.
Mads Mikkelsen played the role of the main antagonist of the project – the sorcerer Kecelius. And the actor does not consider his character to be a villain or a bad man. According to the actor, he simply has a different view on things and his own ways of achieving his goals.
Men & Chicken
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Fantastic, drama, comedy, detective
- Denmark, Germany production / 2015
- Worldwide gross: $4 765 472
- Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, David Densik, Nicolai Lee Kaas, Søren Malling, Nicolas Breaux, Ole Testrup, Bodil Jörgenson, Kersten Lefeldt, Lisbeth Dahl, Rikke Louise Andersson
The brothers Elias and Gabriel are very different. Elias doesn’t work anywhere, and Gabriel teaches philosophy. After their father dies, Elias and Gabriel discover that they have different mothers and a completely different biological parent. It is a scientist named Evelio Thanatos, engaged in stem cell research.
Elio and Gabriel go in search of their real father and find three more brothers. But the newfound cousins are not at all happy to see Elias and Gabriel and are clearly hiding something.
The main filming of the comedy took place in the abandoned hospital complex Belitz-Heilstetten, consisting of more than 60 buildings. The construction of the hospital began as early as 1898. And during the First World War, Adolf Hitler was treated here. Nowadays, the historic buildings of the hospital are a favorite site for European filmmakers.
The Salvation
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Action, thriller, drama, western
- Denmark, UK, South Africa, Sweden, Belgium production / 2014
- Budget: €10 500 000
- Worldwide gross: $1 363 964
- Directed by Christian Leving
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Eric Cantona, Michael Persbrandt, Douglas Henshall, Michael Raymond-James, Jonathan Price, Alexander Arnold, Nanna Oland Fabricius
1870s. John and his brother Peter move from Denmark to the United States, to the Wild West. The men live away from their families for a long time. Finally, John is visited by his wife and 10-year-old son. But the stagecoach in which John’s family was traveling is attacked by bandits. They kill the woman and the boy.
The enraged man finds the killers and reprisals them. But one of the bandits turns out to be the brother of the head of the local gangsters named Delarue. The leader of the bandits opens a hunt for the Dane.
The Western was filmed in South Africa, not far from Johannesburg, where a Wild West town setting was built from scratch.
Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas
- Rating IMDB – 6.1
- Genre: Drama, history
- France, Germany production / 2013
- Worldwide gross: $813 550
- Directed by Arnaud de Pallières
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Melusine Mayans, Delphine Chillot, David Cross, Bruno Ganz, Denis Lavan, Roxanne Durand, Paul Barthel, David Bennent, Swann Arlo
France. 16th century. Michael Koolhaas, a merchant and horse trader, lives by the laws of God and in harmony with his conscience. On his way to the fair through the possessions of a feudal lord, he becomes a victim of his greed. The baron’s assistants take away the merchant’s thoroughbred horses and use them for hard labor.
Koolhaas decides to restore the truth in court, but the bribed judges side with the baron. The merchant decides to complain higher, but the baron kills Koolhaas’s wife in retaliation. Unable to obtain justice by legal means, the man decides to declare war on the baron.
The third film after “Jagten” and “En kongelig affære” with Mads Mikkelsen, in which he plays a man who wants to restore justice by his own efforts. And the second, in which his character gets his head cut off. The first was the same “En kongelig affære” from 2012.
Charlie Countryman
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Thriller, crime, action, drama, melodrama, comedy
- USA, Romania production / 2013
- Worldwide gross: $443 990
- Directed by Fredrik Bond
- Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen, Til Schweiger, Rupert Grint, James Buckley, Ion Caramitru, Vincent D’Onofrio, Melissa Leo, Andrew Finty
An American named Charlie is totally confused and has lost the meaning of life. Just recently his mother died, and the guy tries to numb the pain of loss with drugs. In a delirium his mother’s ghost begs him to go to the other side of the world, to Bucharest.
On the plane, Charlie meets a man named Victor, who tells him a lot about his daughter Gabriela. Suddenly Victor dies, and his spirit begs Charlie to meet Gabi. Upon meeting the girl, Charlie falls in love with her at first sight and finds himself embroiled in a crime spree.
Psychologists call people like the main character of the movie Charlie a child molester or an adult child. As a rule, it is a single man in his thirties with an IQ above average, working in an office. A characteristic feature of the child-adult is the retention of childhood hobbies (comic books, toys, etc.) and a stubborn unwillingness to grow up.
The Hunt
- Rating IMDB – 8.3
- Genre: Drama
- Denmark, Sweden production / 2012
- Budget: $3 800 000
- Worldwide gross: $15 843 274
- Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Vedderkopp, Lasse Vogelström, Sousse Wold, Anne Louise Hassing, Lars Rante, Alexandra Rapaport, Sebastian Bull Sarning, Steen Ordell Guldbrand Jensen
One of the best films starring Mads Mikkelsen. A 42-year-old kindergarten teacher named Lucas is caught up in a bad story. One of the underage female students falsely accused him of sexual harassment. Overnight, Lucas becomes an outcast. Can the man prove his innocence?
The director of the psychological drama, Thomas Vinterberg, and the lead character, Mads Mikkelsen, disagreed about what Lucas should have done. Vinterberg thought that the protagonist could have moved away and lived peacefully in his new surroundings. And Mikkelsen is convinced that fleeing is in any case a defeat.
A Royal Affair
- Rating IMDB – 7.5
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, biography, history
- Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany production / 2012
- Worldwide gross: $14 758 997
- Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
- Cast: Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Trine Durholm, David Densik, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Cyron Björn Melville, Bent Meiding, Harriet Walter, Laura Brault
18th century. Denmark is ruled by the mentally ill King Christian VII. The young ruler is married to a young British woman, Caroline Mathilde, who is also intelligent and educated. But Christian neglects his wife and spends all his time drinking and in brothels.
The young queen’s attention is drawn to her husband’s personal physician, Dr Johann Friedrich Struensee. This taciturn and wise man soon becomes Caroline’s lover.
The historical drama is based on real events. Johann Friedrich Struensee was a Danish statesman and lover of Queen Caroline Matilda. Struensee used his unlimited influence over the incapacitated King Christian VII to carry out a series of progressive reforms in the country. He was executed for his affair with the queen in 1772.
The Three Musketeers
- Rating IMDB – 5.7
- Genre: Action, Adventure
- USA, Germany, France, UK production / 2011
- Budget: $75 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $136 714 484
- Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson
- Cast: Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich, Matthew McFadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Mads Mikkelsen, Gabriella Wilde, James Corden, Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz
A young Gascon named D’Artagnan travels to Paris to follow in his father’s footsteps as a Musketeer. But on his arrival, the intemperate and proud provincial insults and challenges three of the king’s musketeers, Athos, Aramis and Porthos, to a duel.
Suddenly the Cardinal’s guards appear at the scene of the duel, and D’Artagnan helps the Musketeers repel their attack. Athos, Porthos and Aramis take the Gascon into their company. Soon they will all have to fight for the honor of the Queen of France and uncover Cardinal Richelieu’s plot.
Cult director Quentin Tarantino included this adventure film with Mads Mikkelsen in his list of the best films of 2011.
Clash of the Titans
- Rating IMDB – 5.8
- Genre: Fantasy, action, adventure
- USA, UK, Australia production / 2010
- Budget: $125 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $493 214 993
- Directed by Louis Leterrier
- Cast: Sam Worthington, Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arterton, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Alexa Davalos, Jason Fleming, Pete Postlethwaite, Liam Cunningham, Ashraf Barhom
One day people forgot the true greatness of the gods, considered themselves equal and defied their creators. For this the gods decided to destroy the city of Argos. If its ruler, King Cepheus, does not sacrifice his daughter, the beautiful Andromeda, the city will be wiped off the face of the Earth.
The half-god half-man Perseus, son of Zeus himself, accepts the challenge of the gods. He vows to save Argos and the beautiful girl. To do so, he must defeat the jellyfish Gorgon, who turns everything in his path into stone.
After the movie was released, Zeus’ phrase, “Release the kraken!” became one of the very first memes on the Internet. The phrase is still in use today, and in different contexts it can mean anything from “something is about to happen” to “oh, that’s it.
Valhalla Rising
- Rating IMDB – 6.0
- Genre: Fantasy, action, drama, adventure
- Denmark, UK production / 2009
- Budget: £4 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $282 737
- Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Maarten Steven, Gary Lewis, Ewan Stewart, Jamie Seaves, Alexander Morton, Stewart Porter, Matthew Hare, Gordon Brown, Gary McCormack
It is the destiny of the silent Pict, nicknamed “One-Eyed Man,” to kill. He is captured by Scandinavian pagans and forced to fight on a leash with slaves like him, condemned to death.
One day One-Eyed is sold, but he breaks free and kills his tormentors in cold blood. He leaves alive only the servant boy, who from now on will be his voice. One-Eyed’s goal now is to make his way home and find peace.
The idea for the film came to director Nicholas Winding Refn after the news that ancient Scandinavian runes had been found in North America. Scientists did not agree on how the runes ended up on the other side of the world. And Refn decided to offer his own version.
The Door
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Thriller, Drama, Detective
- Germany production / 2009
- Worldwide gross: $204 894
- Directed by Anno Saul
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Jessica Schwartz, Valerie Eisenbarth, Thomas Thieme, Tim Seifi, Stefan Gebelhoff, Susan Anbech, Heike Makatsch, Nele Trebs, Thomas Arnold
Can you change what you can’t change? Five years ago, artist David Andernach went out with his neighbor’s mistress while his 5-year-old daughter drowned. Several years have passed, but the man can’t forgive himself for his daughter’s death.
Then one day he finds the door that leads back to that ill-fated day. David tries to change the past, not even imagining what it might lead to.
Mads Mikkelsen is a polyglot. In addition to his native Danish, he speaks fluent Swedish, German, English and French. In the psychological thriller, Mikkelsen played a role entirely in German. But since it was still apparent that German was not the actor’s native language, his remarks were duplicated.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, music
- France, Japan, Switzerland production / 2009
- Worldwide gross: $5 753 490
- Directed by Jan Kuhnen
- Cast: Anna Mugralis, Mads Mikkelsen, Elena Morozova, Natasha Lindinger, Grigory Manukov, Radivoye Bukvich, Nicolas Wod, Anatole Taubman, Eric Demarets, Clara Guellblum
She was interested in him even then, at the “Night of Modern” on May 29, 1913. It was on that day that the scandalous premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking ballet The Sacred Spring took place, and Gabrielle Chanel was able to discern genius in the composer.
Seven years passed. Stravinsky is forced to emigrate from revolutionary Russia. Chanel suggests he stay at her country residence. Between the great composer and the no less ingenious couturier a passionate love affair begins.
Biographers are still arguing about whether Igor Stravinsky and Coco Chanel had an affair. Some argue that it was only Chanel who was infatuated with passion. And others say that Stravinsky loved the talented fashion designer until his death.
One thing remains unchanged: acquaintance undoubtedly influenced the creativity of both. In 1920, Chanel created her immortal perfume Chanel No. 5, and Stravinsky’s music took on a new, even more avant-garde sound.
Flame & Citron
- Rating IMDB – 7.2
- Genre: Action, thriller, drama, melodrama, war, history
- Denmark, Germany, Norway, France, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic production / 2008
- Budget: DKK 45 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $10 040 153
- Directed by Ole Christian Madsen
- Cast: Tore Lindhardt, Mads Mikkelsen, Stine Stengade, Peter Mügind, Mille Lefeldt, Christian Berkel, Hanns Zischler, Klaus Riis Estergaard, Flemming Enevold, Lars Mikkelsen
Europe in the flames of World War II. Denmark is occupied by German troops. Two members of the Danish resistance movement, named Flame and Citron, successfully conduct operations against the occupying forces.
They carry out bombings, kill traitors and help Jews escape. But the Nazis are already too close to the group, and the lives of the antifascists hang in the balance.
This war drama about World War II is based on real events. Jørgen Haugen Schmit (Citron) and Bent Forschu-Wind (Flame) were members of a Danish anti-fascist resistance group. Both were killed in October 1944. The anti-fascists were posthumously awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom.
Casino Royale
- Rating IMDB – 8.0
- Genre: Action, thriller, adventure
- UK, Czech Republic, USA, Germany, Bahamas production / 2006
- Budget: $150 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $616 502 912
- Directed by Martin Campbell
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino, Simon Abkarian, Isaac De Bankole, Jesper Christensen
The beginning of the career of the most famous agent of the British secret services, James Bond. He is not yet as impeccable, elegant and unflappable as we are used to. Bond manages to prevent a terrorist attack planned by the mysterious Le Chiffre, a banker and financier of terrorist organizations.
To make up for lost money, Le Chiffre organizes a poker tournament at the famous Royal Casino in Montenegro. MI6 sends Bond to Montenegro to prevent the banker from winning.
One of the most famous adventure films starring Mads Mikkelsen. The action film is based on Ian Fleming’s very first book “Casino Royale” and is the twenty-first film in the series about the British super agent “007”.
Exit
- Rating IMDB – 5.8
- Genre: Thriller, Drama, Detective
- Sweden production / 2006
- Directed by Peter Lindmark
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel Fröhler, Kirsti Eline Thorhaug, Børje Alstedt, Kristina Ternqvist, Johan Rabeus, Ia Langhammer, Henrik Norlen, Joanna Dixon
The venture company of two Swedes, Thomas and Wilhelm, thrives. But one day someone brutally murders Wilhelm in his own apartment. The first suspicion falls on his companion, Thomas, as he is contractually obligated to take out a huge insurance policy.
Thomas tries to call a lawyer. Thomas’ former partner, Morgan, who allegedly committed suicide seven years ago, picks up the phone. Morgan threatens Thomas’ family. So the man decides to hide from the police to get to the bottom of this.
The slogan of the Swedish thriller: “There is a very thin line between money and loyalty”.
Prague
- Rating IMDB – 6.7
- Genre: Drama
- Denmark production / 2006
- Worldwide gross: $1 518 579
- Directed by Ole Christian Madsen
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Stine Stengade, Borjivoj Navratil, Jana Plodkova, Josef Vinar, Milan Dušek, Martin Dusbaba, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Radim Kalvoda
Christopher hasn’t seen his father since he was a child. And now, after twenty-five years, he is forced to go to Prague to pick up his body for burial.
His father’s death has awakened old childhood resentments in the man’s soul, with the problems of the present mixed in. Christopher learns that his wife is cheating on him. In the prosperous and ancient Prague, the hero has to get to know his lost father anew and take a different look at his family life.
Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who plays the main role in the film, takes a very responsible approach to working out the image. Before working on any character, he asks a lot of questions to find out exactly what his character should be. According to the actor, he is very “clingy” and to find out the details can easily call the director and at 1 am.
After the Wedding
- Rating IMDB – 7.7
- Genre: Drama
- Denmark, Sweden, UK, Norway production / 2006
- Worldwide gross: $11 632 723
- Directed by Susanne Bier
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgaard, Sidse Babette Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen, Neeral Mulchandani, Mona Malm, Tania Sharma, Swini Khera, Minal Patel, Vallabh Gada
Danish-born Jacob Petersen has run an orphanage in Mumbai, India, for many years. The orphanage is struggling financially. In a little while, the children will end up on the dirty streets again. But Jacob can’t let that happen.
He finds a philanthropist in Denmark who is willing to sponsor the continued care of the Indian orphans. But the philanthropist has one condition. Jacob must come to Copenhagen in person and sign the contract.
During one of the competitive screenings, parts of the film were mixed up and the film was shown in the wrong order. Despite the incoherent storyline, the psychological drama was highly praised by the audience.
Adam’s Apples
- Rating IMDB – 7.7
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
- Denmark, Germany production / 2005
- Worldwide gross: $2 421 577
- Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
- Cast: Ulrich Thomsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Breaux, Paprika Steen, Ali Kazim, Ole Testrup, Nikolai Li Kaas, Gird Lofquist, Lars Rante, Peter Reichgardt
Neo-Nazi Adam Petersen is released early from prison with the condition of living in a small Danish village for three months. The man must live in a church run by a priest named Yven.
Ewen has rules of residence. Each “guest” must choose a goal and achieve it in three months. As a joke, Jacob chooses to make apple pie. Yven agrees, but with a condition. The ex-prisoner must grow his own apples in the orchard.
The filmmakers had planned to spend a considerable amount of money to create a computer-generated scene in which crows eat apples. The episode ended up costing much less because a Czech company provided the filmmakers with trained crows.
Pusher II
- Rating IMDB – 7.3
- Genre: Crime, Drama
- Denmark, UK production / 2004
- Worldwide gross: $34 113
- Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Leif Sylvester, Ann Sørensen, Eivind Hagen-Traberg, Kurt Nielsen, Carsten Schröder, Maria Ervolter, Dan Dommer, Sven Erik Eskeland Larsen, Jean Pierre Pölev
Just before his release, small-time drug dealer Tony learns that he has become a father. Now the young man is willing to do anything to achieve success in the underworld.
The boy’s father, a famous gangster named Duke, reluctantly gives his son a job. But everything he takes up, ends in failure. Maybe Tonnie shouldn’t be a gangster at all.
The second part of the successful trilogy by Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn about drug dealers in Copenhagen. Refn was forced to make a sequel to the successful 1996 first film, Pusher, to cover his debts after the financial collapse of his 2002 film Fear X.
King Arthur
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure, War, History
- Ireland, UK, USA production / 2004
- Budget: $120 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $203 567 857
- Directed by Antoine Fuqua
- Cast: Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Mads Mikkelsen, Ray Winston, Stellan Skarsgard, Til Schweiger, Joel Edgerton, Hugh Dancy, Ray Stevenson
The Great Roman Empire has fallen into decline and is withdrawing its troops from Britain. After fifteen years of conscientious service, Arthur, also known as Artorius Caste, prepares to be discharged from service.
But before receiving his letters of discharge, Arthur and his loyal Sarmatians-Lancelot, Tristan, Gawain, Galahad, Bors and Dagonet-must complete one last task. They are charged with saving a noble Roman family from imminent capture by the oncoming Saxons.
Lucius Artorius Castus was a real historical character, a Roman military commander. At the beginning of the last century, it was suggested that he was the prototype of King Arthur. However, the years of Castus’ life do not coincide with the time of the invasion of the Saxons, from whose raids King Arthur, according to legends, defended Britain.
Torremolinos 73
- Rating IMDB – 6.5
- Genre: Drama, comedy
- Spain, Denmark production / 2003
- Budget: €2 400 000
- Worldwide gross: $2 416 771
- Directed by Pablo Bercher
- Cast: Javier Camara, Candela Peña, Juan Diego, Fernando Tejero, Mads Mikkelsen, Malena Alterio, Ramon Barea, Tom Jacobsen, Marie-Anne Espersen, Bjarne Henriksen
Business for the spouses Alfredo and Carmen is going from bad to worse. The publishing house where the man serves is about to go bankrupt, and Carmen has long lost her job. The couple is willing to do anything.
The publisher has asked the couple to make eight educational films for Denmark. And the whole point of the idea is that the films will actually be erotic. When Alfredo takes up this dubious offer, he discovers his talent as a director and screenwriter, and Carmen becomes a real porn star.
In the scintillating Spanish-Danish comedy Mads Mikkelsen plays the Danish porn star Magnus. In this case, the actor himself was recognized as a handsome man immediately after his film debut. And now Mikkelsen is constantly on the list of the sexiest men in Denmark.
The Green Butchers
- Rating IMDB – 7.2
- Genre: Drama, comedy
- Denmark production / 2003
- Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
- Cast: Nicolai Li Kaas, Mads Mikkelsen, Line Kruse, Ole Testrup, Bodil Jørgenson, Axel Erhartsen, Lili Veiding, Nicolas Breaux, Camilla Bendix, Elsebeth Steentoft
Two butchers, Sven and Bjorn, tired of their boss’s cruelty, decide to open their own butcher shop. But it’s not easy to start your own business in a small town where everyone knows each other.
On the first day of the shop, not a single person dropped in on their buddies. Frustrated by a bad start, Sven and Björn accidentally lock an electrician in the freezer. Remembering this only in the morning, the companions find him dead. And when the former boss comes into the shop, Sven sells him part of the corpse under the guise of chicken meat.
The black comedy won a lot of prizes at film festivals of various levels. At the Brussels Film Festival “De grønne slagtere” won the Grand Prix, and at the Portuguese Fantasporto festival it won prizes for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor by Mads Mikkelsen.
Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself
- Rating IMDB – 6.8
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy
- Denmark, UK, Sweden, France production / 2002
- Budget: $4 000 000
- Worldwide gross: $1 546 505
- Directed by Lone Scherfig
- Cast: Jamie Seaves, Adrian Rawlins, Shirley Henderson, Lisa McKinlay, Mads Mikkelsen, Julia Davis, Susan Wiedler, Robert McIntosh, Lorraine McIntosh, Gordon Brown
A young man named Wilbur has pronounced suicidal tendencies. But all his attempts to commit suicide are foiled by his caring brother Harbor. The brothers own a dusty bookstore, which is not profitable at all.
Harbor is in love with Alice, who works as a hospital janitor. The woman raises her daughter alone and can barely make ends meet. Harbor and Alice decide to get married, after which life gets better for everyone in this peculiar family. But Harbor has a dark secret that turns everything upside down.
The slogan of the dramatic comedy is, “The life he wanted to end was about to begin”.
Open Hearts
- Rating IMDB – 7.5
- Genre: Drama, melodrama
- Denmark production / 2002
- Worldwide gross: $1 692 272
- Directed by Susanne Bier
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Sonja Richter, Nikolai Li Kaas, Paprika Steen, Stein Bjerregard, Birte Neumann, Nils Olsen, Ulf Pilgaard, Ronnie Lorenzen, Pelle Bang Sørensen
The young couple Joachim and Cecile have their whole lives ahead of them. The lovers intend to get married. But tragedy strikes in their lives. Joachim is left paralyzed after a car accident.
Niels, who is married to the cause of the accident, turns out to be the young man’s doctor. Joachim gradually becomes embittered at the world and pushes his fiancée away. The unhappy Cecile is consoled by the same Niels, who begins to have real feelings for the girl.
The drama is set within the avant-garde movement Dogma 95, founded in 1995 by the great Lars von Trier. The Dogma manifesto contained 10 rules that its members had to adhere to. Films were to be shot without decorations and special effects, with a hand-held camera. All in all, “Dogma” was filmed 35 films.
I Am Dina
- Rating IMDB – 6.5
- Genre: Drama
- Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Denmark production / 2002
- Budget: NOK 141 000 000
- Directed by Ole Bornedal, Tony Spataro
- Cast: Maria Bonnevi, Gerard Depardieu, Christopher Eccleston, Bjørn Flåberg, Pernilla August, Amanda Jean Kvaklan, Hans Matheson, Jørgen Langhelle, Mads Mikkelsen, Wenke Foss
At an early age, a girl named Dina was responsible for the death of her own mother. After the tragedy, her father turned his back on the girl, completely transferring her upbringing to the servants.
As a result, Dina grew up to be a very beautiful, but wild and uncontrollable girl. The only person who pays attention to her is her music teacher, and her cello lessons become the only outlet in Dina’s life.
The literary basis for the drama film was a novel by writer Herbjörg Wassmo called “Diary of Dina” in 1989.
Shake It All About
- Rating IMDB – 6.0
- Genre: Drama
- Denmark, Germany production / 2001
- Budget: DKK 16 500 000
- Directed by Hella Joof
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Troels Luby, Charlotte Munch, Jesper Lohmann, Oskar Valse, Peter Frödin, Nikolaj Steen, Ditte Grabol, Morten Kirkskov, Henning Jensen
Things have become too complicated in architect Jacob’s life. Only yesterday he was happy with his lover Jorgen and was about to marry him. Today he is in love, and with a woman.
Jacob’s lover, Caroline, is pregnant and the wife of Jorgen’s brother. Jacob is completely confused about his feelings, but soon he will have to make a final choice.
At the 2002 Moscow International Film Festival, the Danish-German film won the top prize for best film – a gold “St. George.
Mona’s World
- Rating IMDB – 5.2
- Genre: Comedy
- Denmark production / 2001
- Directed by Jonas Elmer
- Cast: Sydse Babette Knudsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Klaus Bondam, Bjarne Henriksen, Jesper Asholt, Bodil Udsen, Martin Buch, Metta Agneta Horn, Marianne S. Madsen
Bank teller Mona lives a simple and measured life. Home, work, work, home. Her only entertainment is her fantasies. In her reverie Mona imagines that her lover is a handsome man from the billboards.
But then one day fate gives Mona a chance. The bank where she works was attacked. And one of the robbers fell head over heels in love with her.
The most famous hostage-taking is the robbery at Norrmalmstorg Square (Stockholm, Sweden) in August 1973. The criminals took four hostages and held them for six days. After their release, the victims suddenly sided with the perpetrators and demanded their release. This behavior has become known in psychology as the “Stockholm Syndrome.
Flickering Lights
- Rating IMDB – 7.5
- Genre: Action film, comedy, crime
- Denmark, Sweden production / 2000
- Worldwide gross: $2 760 019
- Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
- Cast: Søren Pilmark, Ulrich Thomsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolai Li Kaas, Sophie Grobel, Iben Hiele, Fritz Helmut, Ole Testrup, Peter Andersson, Niels Anders Thorn
Thorkild the gangster will soon be forty years old, but there were no prospects in life. His youth is gone, and the gangster’s girlfriend has left him. During another mission Torkild gets a large sum of money, and he decides to pocket it. Together with other gang members Thorkild decides to run to Barcelona, but on the way their car breaks down.
To catch their breath and improve their health, the bandits stop at a deserted village. A few quiet days at the seaside turn tough gangsters into true romantics.
The drama “Blinkende lygter” was the ninth film in Mads Mikkelson’s film career. It was thanks to this film that the actor first came to fame in his homeland.
Bleeder
- Rating IMDB – 6.8
- Genre: Drama, crime
- Denmark production / 1999
- Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
- Cast: Kim Bodnia, Mads Mikkelsen, Rikke Luisa Andersson, Liv Korfixsen, Levino Jensen, Zlatko Buric, Klaus Flügare, Ole Abildgor, Gordana Radosavljevic, Marko Zecevic
A young man named Leo lives in a working-class neighborhood in Copenhagen with his girlfriend Louise. Leo is unhappy with his life, the constant lack of money, his small apartment, and the total lack of prospects in a job he does not like.
Unexpectedly for the guy, Louise gets pregnant. Leo is against the child, but his beloved brother Luis does not let him get rid of it. After the young man witnesses a fight between migrants, Leo buys a gun. And nothing good will obviously come of it.
The drama film was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, who often invites Mads Mikkelsen to his projects. Together the actor and the director worked on the films “Pusher”, “Pusher 2”, “Bleeder” and “Valhalla Rising”.
Angel of the Night
- Rating IMDB – 4.1
- Genre: Horror, comedy
- Denmark production / 1998
- Budget: $700 000
- Directed by Shaki Gonzalez
- Cast: Maria Stockholm, Mette Louise Holland, Thomas Willum Jensen, Svenn Johansen, Klaus Flügare, Hans Henrik Wöthmann, Ole Wiedmann, Karin Rørbeck, Lise-Lotte Norup, Christian Grönvall, Mads Mikkelsen
A girl named Rebecca inherits an old house that is notorious in the neighborhood. A mysterious book Rebecca finds in the house reveals the secret of her family’s history. It turns out that 100 years ago, her distant priest ancestor was supposed to kill a vampire, but he himself turned into a bloodsucker named Rico.
The vampire was incredibly powerful and ruined many people, but one day he disappeared without a trace. In the basement of the mansion, Rebecca finds a coffin with the remains of a huge bat. Without thinking twice, the girl begins a ritual capable of awakening Rico from years of sleep.
The spell that is meant to bring an ancient vampire to life is actually a listing of the vampire clans from the role-playing game Vampire: the Masquerade.
Wildside
- Rating IMDB – 6.4
- Genre: Drama
- Denmark, Iceland production / 1998
- Directed by Simon Staho
- Cast: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Mads Mikkelsen, Nukaka, Palina Jonsdottir, Savar Jorn, Jon Sigurbjörnsson, Ejidl Oulafsson, Finnur Johannsson, Hrönd Steingrimsdottir
Wherever you are, the past will find you. A man named Jimmy lives a measured family life in Iceland. But his peace is disturbed by a former friend, Ozzie. In their youth, Jimmy and Ozzie were inseparable friends and were partying in Thailand.
Ozzy offers his friend to shake off the old days and “sell” a shipment of drugs for him. But Jimmy is not happy about this course of events, so Ozzie decides to destroy his family in revenge.
The drama was filmed in Iceland, Mads Mikkelsen’s favorite country. Slogan of the film: “Two friends. One past. No future”.