Get the popcorn ready! It’s time to relax, sit back, and boost your Finnish studies by watching some great movies. Watching Finnish movies is arguably the best way to immerse yourself in the language and culture of Finland (after traveling to the country and interacting with Finns in real life, of course). How come? 

1. It’s fun! You can almost forget that you’re learning while you’re enjoying a movie. 

2. You’ll train your ear to listen to different dialects of spoken Finnish and can test your Finnish listening comprehension skills in a relaxed environment.  

3. You’ll pick up new words and reinforce the vocabulary, key phrases, and sentence patterns that you’ve already learned. 

4. You can always put on tekstitys (“subtitles”) if you need the extra help. 

The market for Finnish films isn’t huge, so the selection will always be limited compared to movies in English, French, and Spanish, for example. However, keep your eyes peeled for hidden Finnish gems on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and Google Play, and you’re sure to find something to watch. Another good place to check out is the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s streaming service Yle Areena, where you can watch Finnish movies online for free. Look out for kotimaiset elokuvat (“domestic movies”) on the site that are katsottavissa ulkomailla (“viewable abroad”).

In this Finnish movies list, we’ll present you with ten films that will make for a great introduction to Finnish cinema. As a bonus, we’ve added key vocabulary for each movie so you can make the most of watching them!

Valmiina elokuvailtaan! (“Ready for a movie night!”)

• Get into the spirit of things by learning Finnish words and phrases for going to the movies and streaming videos.

Table of Contents

1. Mies vailla menneisyyttä (“The Man without a Past”)
2. Muumipeikko ja pyrstötähti (“Comet in Moominland”)
3. Poika ja ilves (“Tommy and the Wildcat”)
4. Napapiirin sankarit (“Lapland Odyssey”)
5. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
6. 21 tapaa pilata avioliitto (“21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage”)
7. Mielensäpahoittaja (“The Grump”)
8. Ikitie (“The Eternal Road”)
9. Veljeni vartija (“My Brother’s Keeper”)
10. Tuntematon sotilas (“The Unknown Soldier”)
11. Lopuksi

1. Mies vailla menneisyyttä (“The Man without a Past”)

Mies vailla menneisyyttä is a 2002 comedy-drama about an unnamed man who suffers complete memory loss after a run-in with violent muggers and is forced to start his life over from scratch. Despite the bleak setting, the movie is brimming with director Aki Kaurismäki’s trademark deadpan humor and is one of his best-loved movies. The movie was well-received by international audiences too, and it won the Grand Prix at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Finnish learners in particular will appreciate the fact that most of the dialogue is in standard Finnish and clearly enunciated.

In this quote from the movie, M (the titular character) talks to an electrician who has helped him:

M: “Mitä olen velkaa?” (“What do I owe you?”)

Electrician: “Jos näet minut suullani katuojassa, käännä selälleni.” (“If you see me lying face down in the ditch, roll me onto my back.”)

 Useful vocabulary:

• muisti (“memory”)
• muistinmenetys (“amnesia”)
• henkilöllisyys (“identity”)
• kontti (“shipping container”)
• Pelastusarmeija (“Salvation Army”)
• vartija (“guard”)
• vastoinkäyminen (“misfortune”)
• raitis (“teetotaler”)

En tiedä kuka olen. (“I don’t know who I am.”)

• If you enjoy The Man without a Past, watch for the other two movies in Kaurismäki’s Finnish trilogy: Kauas pilvet karkaavat (“Drifting Clouds”) and Laitakaupungin valot (“Lights in the Dusk”).
• To learn more about Helsinki, the setting of the movie, check out our Top 10 Finnish Cities and Regions lesson series.

2. Muumipeikko ja pyrstötähti (“Comet in Moominland”)

Muumipeikko ja pyrstötähti (literally: “Moomintroll and the comet”) is a classic animated movie based on Tove Jansson’s novel of the same name. The collaborative Japanese-Finnish-Dutch production premiered in Finland in 1992.

A remastered 4K version of this family favorite was released in 2020, the 75^th anniversary of the Moomin franchise. Directed by Antti Jokinen, the new version preserves the charming ‘retro’ feel of the original movie but features some minor changes (such as the removal of wine glasses from one of the scenes!) and a couple of new Finnish songs.

In this quote from the movie, Nuuskamuikkunen (“Snufkin”) talks about the comet:

“Olen kuullut kerrottavan siitä. Se on tähti, jolla on pitkä leimuava pyrstö. Se syöksyy tyhjän ja pimeän avaruuden läpi. Pyrstötähti voi syöksyä minne vaan…vaikka tänne.” (“I’ve heard stories about it. It’s a star that has a long flaming tail. It’s hurtling through the empty and dark space. It can land anywhere…even here.”)

 Useful vocabulary:

• luonnonilmiö (“natural phenomenon”)
• tähtitorni (“observatory”)
• pyrstötähti (“comet”)
• seikkailu (“adventure”)
• maailmanloppu (“the end of the world”)
• nilkkarengas (“anklet”)
• hylky (“shipwreck”)
• pyörremyrsky (“tornado”)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=tqfO9_tcNIg

• For more family-friendly feature-length entertainment, watch for movies featuring popular children’s characters such as Rölli, Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu, Onneli ja Anneli, and Risto Räppääjä.
• If you love Tove Jansson’s characters, why not visit the Moomins and their friends in Moominworld, one of Finland’s top tourist attractions?

3. Poika ja ilves (“Tommy and the Wildcat”)

Poika ja ilves is a 1998 adventure film about a friendship that develops between a 12-year-old boy and a tame lynx he tries to protect. Konsta Hietanen stars as Tomi (“Tommy”) while Leevi the wildcat is portrayed by a lynx named Väinö from the Ranua Wildlife Park. A remastered version of the movie was released in 2019. 

In this quote from the movie, Tomi is telling Jaska about his father’s plans with the lynx:

Tomi: “Faija aikoo päästää sen vapaaksi.” (“Dad means to set it free.”)

Jaska: “Se ei pärjää luonnossa. Turha toivo.” (“It won’t survive in the wild. A vain hope.”)

Useful vocabulary:

• Lappi (“Lapland”)
• eläinpuisto (“wildlife park”)
• poronkasvattaja (“reindeer herder”)
• kesy (“tame”)
• erämaa (“wilderness”)
• helikopteri (“helicopter”)
• salametsästäjä (“poacher”)

• If you love nature, Metsän tarina (“Tale of a Forest”) and Järven tarina (“Tale of a Lake”) are other must-see Finnish movies, featuring stunning footage of Finnish landscapes and animals! Tunturin tarina (“Tale of the Sleeping Giant”) concludes the documentary trilogy in 2021.

4. Napapiirin sankarit (“Lapland Odyssey”)

Napapiirin sankarit (literally: “the heroes of the Arctic Circle”) is one for the comedy lovers. The movie follows the misadventures of Janne and his best friends as they try to acquire a Digibox to placate Janne’s disappointed and angry girlfriend, Irina. The movie won several Jussi Awards as well as the Vuoden Murre award for its positive portrayal of a Peräpohjola (Far-Northern) dialect.

In this quote from the movie, Irina is threatening to leave Janne:

“Mie en pyytäny sinua siivoamaan. Mie en pyytäny sinua tiskaamaan, en kolaamaan lunta. Mie tahoin, et sie kävisit ostamassa meille digiboksin. Sulla oli koko päivä aikaa. Sie hommaat sen digiboksin aamuun mennessä tai tämä oli tässä.” (“I didn’t ask you to clean. I didn’t ask you to do the dishes, or to plough the snow. I wanted you to go and buy us a Digibox. You had an entire day. You will get that Digibox by the morning, or we’re finished.”)

Useful vocabulary:

• digiboksi (“Digibox”)
• käytetty (“used”)
• lähibaari (“local bar”)
• taksikuski (“taxi driver”)
• puhalluttaa (“breathalyze”)
• takavarikoida (“confiscate”)
• lumikelkka (“snowmobile”)

• If you like Lapland Odyssey, you’re in luck: the movie has two sequels, Napapiirin sankarit 2 and Napapiirin sankarit 3.


• Are you an advanced Finnish learner? Then head over to our level 4 audio lesson to learn more about the Finnish Lapland.

5. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a Finnish fantasy-horror movie that attracted a fair amount of international attention. Released in 2010, this funny Finnish movie reveals the sinister truth about Santa Claus as an expedition to Korvatunturi by a British research team has some unintended consequences. It’s a prequel to two short movies: Rare Exports Inc. (2003) and Rare Exports: Official Safety Instructions (2005).

In this quote from the movie, two local kids are having an exchange after spying on the research team:

Pietari: “Juuso, oota! Ne on haudannu joulupukin!” (“Juuso, wait! They’ve buried Santa Claus!”)

Juuso: “Uskotsä tyhmä vieläkin joulupukkiin?” (“You dummy still believe in Santa Claus?”)

 Useful vocabulary:

• joulupukki (“Santa Claus”)
• jouluaatto (“Christmas Eve”)
• tonttu (“elf”)
• tunturi (“fell”)
• teurastamo (“slaughterhouse”)
• lämpöpatteri (“radiator”)
• sudenkuoppa (“wolf pit”)
• perunasäkki (“potato sack”)
• pipari (“gingerbread”)

• To learn about real Finnish Christmas traditions, head over to our YouTube channel.

6. 21 tapaa pilata avioliitto (“21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage”)

21 tapaa pilata avioliitto is a 2013 comedy about the complications of romantic love. In the movie, Sanna Manner (portrayed by Armi Toivanen) is preparing a dissertation in which she argues that a long marriage is an unnatural arrangement for humans. The movie holds the record for the most viewed Finnish movie directed by a woman. 

In this quote from the movie, Sanna’s friend Aino is asked what she wished for when she was blowing her birthday candles:

Friend: “Mitäs toivoit?” (“What did you wish for?”)

Aino: No, lasta. Ja miestä. (“Well, a child. And a man.”)

Friend: “Siinä järjestyksessä?” (“In that order?”)

Aino: “Ihan sama missä järjestyksessä, kuhan tulis nyt nopeesti.” (“I don’t care in what order as long as they get here fast.”)

Useful vocabulary:

• väitöskirja (“dissertation”)
• hääpäivä (“wedding day”)
• mennä kihloihin (“to get engaged”)
• mennä naimisiin (“to get married”)
• avioliitto (“marriage”)
• avioero (“divorce”)
• pariskunta (“couple”)
• romanttinen rakkaus (“romantic love”)
• pettää (“to cheat on someone”)
• seksikäs (“sexy”)
• jatkot (“afterparty”)

• Are you interested in checking out more movies by Finnish female directors? Watch for Saara Cantell’s Tulen morsian (“Devil’s Bride,” literally: “fire’s bride”), an historical drama about witch hunts on Ahvenanmaa (“Åland”) in the 17^th century. Zaida Bergroth’s Miami, a crime drama and road movie revolving around two estranged siblings, is another great option. 

7. Mielensäpahoittaja (“The Grump”)

Mielensäpahoittaja is a 2014 comedy about a grumpy 80-year-old man, who pines for the good old days and couldn’t care less about the new-fangled ideas of the younger generations. The movie is based on a novel by Tuomas Kyrö and is directed by Dome Karukoski. A sequel directed by Tiina Lymi, Ilosia aikoja, mielensäpahoittaja (“Happier Times, Grump”), was released in 2018.

In this quote from the movie, the Grump is suspicious of a bath:

The Grump: “Minä en oo koskaan ollu tommotteessa.” (“I’ve never been in that kind of thing.”)

Daughter-in-law: “Ammeessa?” (“In a bathtub?”)

The Grump: “Saunassa on pesty napanuoran leikkaamisesta asti.” (“I’ve bathed in the sauna since the cutting of the umbilical cord.”)

Useful vocabulary:

• pahoittaa mielensä (“to hurt one’s feelings”)
• nuoriso (“young people”)
• yli-ikäinen (“overage”)
• emäntä (“housewife,” “wife”)
• miniä (“daughter-in-law”)
• nykyihminen (“modern human”)
• metsuri (“lumberjack”)
• helppoa kuin heinänteko (“easy as pie,” literally: “as easy as making hay”)

8. Ikitie (“The Eternal Road”)

Ikitie is a 2017 historical drama based on a novel by Antti Tuuri and directed by Antti-Jussi Annila. The movie follows the story of an American-Finnish man named Jussi Ketola (portrayed by Tommi Korpela), who upon returning to Finland in the 1930s, is abducted from his home and forced to walk the Eternal Road towards Soviet Russia.

In this quote from the movie, Jussi reacts to advice he’s given:

Man: “Lopeta pakeneminen.” (“Stop running.”)

Jussi: “Jos mä olisin vapaa niin eihän mun mihinkään tarvis paeta.” (“If I were free, I wouldn’t need to run anywhere.”)

 Useful vocabulary:

• Lapuanliike (“Lapua Movement“)
• kommunisti (“communist”)
• itäraja (“eastern border”)
• rajanylitys (“border crossing”)
• maanpetturi (“traitor”)
• Neuvostoliitto (“the Soviet Union”)
• kolhoosi (“kolkhoz”)
• amerikansuomalainen (“Finnish-American”)
• siirtolainen (“migrant”)
• tunnustus (“confession”)
• vakooja (“spy”)
• teloittaa (“to execute”)

9. Veljeni vartija (“My Brother’s Keeper”)

Veljeni vartija is a 2018 biographical drama about the Finnish rap artist Cheek (Jare Tiihonen) and his twin brother, Jere Tiihonen. The movie depicts the stormy childhood and youth of the brothers (both portrayed by Antti Holma) as well as Cheek’s rise to fame, his love life, and his battles with mental health. Hip-hop music features prominently in the movie, and several Finnish celebrities, including stand-up comedian Ismo Leikola, appear in cameo roles. 

The movie was completely crushed by critics, but it was an audience favorite and went on to win the 2018 People’s Choice Jussi Award. Veljeni vartija is the movie to watch if you’re interested in Finnish slang expressions. 

In this quote from the movie, Ismo Leikola is trying to convince Cheek that he needs a bodyguard in Los Angeles:

Cheek: “En mä oikeesti tarvii ketään. Eihän kukaan edes tunne mua.” (“I really don’t need anyone. No one knows me.”)

Ismo: “Mieti, sä oot räppäri! Siis tääl on pultsareillakin henkivartijat.” (“Think, you’re a rapper! Here even drunkards have bodyguards.”)

Useful vocabulary:

• kaksoisveli (“twin brother”)
• faija (“dad” slang)
• suomiräppi (“Finnish rap music” slang)
• tehdä musaa (“make music” slang)
• rimmata (“to rhyme”)
• biisi (“song” slang)
• kaksisuuntainen mielialahäiriö (“bipolar disorder”)
• lääkitys (“medication”)
• henkivartija (“bodyguard”)
• vetää raja (“to draw a line”)

• Visit FinnishPod101 to learn more music-related Finnish vocabulary.

10. Tuntematon sotilas (“The Unknown Soldier”)

Tuntematon sotilas is a World War II drama that tells the story of a Finnish machine gun company (konekiväärikomppania in Finnish) fighting in the Continuation War against the Soviet Union. Directed by Aku Louhimies, the 2017 movie is the third rendering of Väinö Linna’s classic 1954 novel of the same name for the big screen.

The movie was released as a part of the official program celebrating 100 years of Finnish Independence. It had a huge budget for a Finnish movie at 7 million euros, attracted a record-breaking audience on its opening weekend, and it’s the first Finnish movie that’s been seen by over a million viewers in nearly 50 years. A five-part TV series based on the movie was broadcast in 2018.

In this quote from the movie, there’s an exchange between Russian and Finnish soldiers:

Russian soldier: “Suomen pojat, tulkaa hakemaan leipää!” (“Finland’s sons, come and get some bread!”)

Finnish soldier: “Tuu sinä hakemaan leipäs päälle voita!” (“You come and get butter for your bread!”)

Useful vocabulary:

• Jatkosota (“Continuation War”)
• armeija (“army”)
• sotilas (“soldier”)
• taistelu (“battle”)
• vastahyökkäys (“counterattack”)
• vallihauta (“trench”)
• tarkka-ampuja (“sniper”)
• panssarivaunu (“tank”)
• konekivääri (“machine gun”)
• kilju (a type of homemade sugar wine)
• ryssä (“Russkie,” “Russian” derogatory)
• kotirintama (“homefront”)
• Sota ei yhtä miestä kaipaa. (“War does not miss one man.” proverb)

11. Lopuksi

Have you seen any of the titles on our Finnish movies list? In your opinion, what are the best Finnish movies for language learners? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts and tips with fellow learners!

FinnishPod101 has lots of tools to help you if you have trouble following the dialogue in Finnish movies. Keep our Finnish-English dictionary handy to look up any unfamiliar words and hone your listening comprehension skills by making use of our extensive library of audio and video lessons. For even more video content, visit our YouTube Channel.

Have fun learning with FinnishPod101!