The 10 Best True Crime Series on Viaplay

Viaplay offers Scandinavian and international true crime enthusiasts a carefully curated selection of documentaries exploring murders, disappearances, and criminal investigations, with particular emphasis on Nordic cases that remain largely unknown to global audiences.

Top True Crime Series on Viaplay

1. The Voices from the Grave (Røster fra Graven)

This Norwegian documentary series examines cold cases across Scandinavia where forensic breakthroughs and new witness testimonies have reopened investigations decades after the original crimes. The series features exclusive interviews with detectives, forensic experts, and family members who never gave up seeking justice. Each episode focuses on one case, providing detailed reconstructions and access to police archives. The production quality rivals international true crime standards while maintaining authentic Scandinavian storytelling approach. Notable episodes include the 1970 Isdalskvinnen mystery and several unsolved murders from the 1980s.

2. Murder by the Coast (Dolda Mord)

Swedish investigative journalists revisit seaside murders that shocked coastal communities throughout the Nordic countries during summer tourist seasons. The series reveals how vacation destinations became crime scenes and examines the challenges police faced investigating cases involving transient populations. Each episode includes interviews with survivors, witnesses who remained silent for years, and detectives who worked the original investigations. The production spans six episodes covering cases from 1975 to 2005. Enhanced with archival footage and contemporary interviews, the series demonstrates how tourist economies complicated criminal investigations.

3. The Missing Children Files

This heartbreaking documentary series investigates child disappearances across Northern Europe, focusing on cases where families continue searching for answers decades later. The production team gained unprecedented access to police files, private investigators, and family archives containing photographs and personal belongings. Seven episodes examine cases from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, revealing patterns in how authorities initially handled these investigations. The series has directly contributed to renewed police interest in three cold cases. Expertly balancing sensitivity toward families with journalistic rigor, it represents some of Viaplay's most important true crime content.

4. Nordic Noir: Real Stories

Exploring the reality behind Scandinavia's fictional crime reputation, this series examines actual cases that inspired Nordic noir literature and television. Eight episodes connect real murders, police procedures, and criminal psychology to the cultural phenomenon of Scandinavian crime fiction. Criminal profilers, authors including Jo Nesbø, and retired detectives provide commentary on how reality influenced fiction and vice versa. The series covers landmark cases from the 1960s through 2010s that shaped public perception of Nordic crime. Production values emphasize atmospheric cinematography matching the noir aesthetic while maintaining documentary authenticity.

5. The Billionaire's Secrets

This investigative series delves into financial crimes, fraud, and mysterious deaths within Scandinavia's wealthiest circles, exposing how money and power influenced criminal investigations. Five episodes examine different cases involving business magnates, inheritance disputes turned deadly, and suspicious accidents that benefited specific heirs. Norwegian and Swedish journalists spent three years researching these cases, interviewing economists, lawyers, and former associates of the deceased. The series raises uncomfortable questions about equal justice and whether wealth purchases different legal outcomes. Several episodes resulted in renewed police scrutiny of previously closed cases.

6. Witness to Evil (Vidne til det Onde)

Danish crime documentary focusing on bystanders and witnesses whose testimonies proved crucial in solving major criminal cases across Scandinavia. Each of the six episodes profiles ordinary citizens who witnessed crimes, came forward despite personal risk, and helped secure convictions. The series explores psychological impact of witnessing violence and the courage required to testify against dangerous criminals. Interviews with witnesses, prosecutors, and protection officers reveal the witness protection challenges in small Nordic communities. The production highlights cases from 1985 to 2015 where witness testimony overcame circumstantial evidence gaps.

7. The Ritual Murders

Controversial documentary examining cases across Europe where murders involved ritualistic elements, occult symbolism, or claims of satanic motivation. The four-episode series separates sensationalism from facts, featuring forensic psychologists and cult experts who explain actual versus perceived ritualistic crimes. Cases span from 1980s Sweden to 2000s Norway, including the infamous Knutby murder. The production avoids exploitation while thoroughly investigating how media coverage amplified public fears about occult activity. Academic experts provide context about moral panics and how investigators distinguished genuine ritual elements from coincidental symbolism.

8. Cold Case Sweden (Kalla Spår)

Premiere Swedish true crime series revisiting the country's most perplexing unsolved murders with fresh investigative perspectives and modern forensic techniques. Ten episodes cover cases spanning 40 years, with dedicated cold case detectives explaining what evidence exists and what technological advances might finally provide answers. The series includes the Palme assassination context and lesser-known murders that devastated small communities. Families participate in emotional interviews, sharing how decades without closure affected their lives. Production quality matches international standards while maintaining distinctly Swedish investigative approach emphasizing thoroughness over sensationalism.

9. Border Control: Crime Edition

Documentary series following customs officials and border police across Nordic countries as they intercept smugglers, human traffickers, and criminals attempting to cross Scandinavian borders. Eight episodes reveal organized crime networks operating between Nordic nations and Eastern Europe. Real-time footage captures arrests, interrogations, and the coordination between multiple national police forces. The series provides rare insight into how Scandinavian cooperation functions in practice and the criminal exploitation of open Nordic borders. Cases include drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and trafficking operations that spanned multiple countries.

10. The Women Who Disappeared

Powerful documentary examining unsolved disappearances of women across Scandinavia, investigating potential connections between cases and systematic failures in initial police responses. Six episodes cover cases from 1970 through 2010, featuring interviews with families, feminist criminologists, and detectives who acknowledge early investigative mistakes. The series confronts uncomfortable truths about how authorities initially dismissed some missing women as runaways or voluntary disappearances. Modern investigators review case files with contemporary understanding of serial predators and violence against women. The production has contributed to legislative changes in how Nordic countries handle missing persons cases.

Why Viaplay Stands Out for True Crime

Viaplay's true crime collection distinguishes itself through authentic Scandinavian perspectives on criminal justice, emphasizing thorough investigation over sensationalism. The platform provides English subtitles for most content, making Nordic cases accessible to international audiences fascinated by Scandinavian crime culture. Many series feature exclusive access to police archives and families who rarely speak publicly. The streaming service continues expanding its true crime library with new original productions annually, cementing its position as the premier destination for Nordic true crime content.