The Oslo Opera House is one of the defining modern landmarks of the Norwegian capital. Opened in 2008 and designed by Snøhetta, it rises from the edge of the Oslofjord in Bjørvika with a sloping white-marble roof that visitors can walk across, giving the whole building the look of a glacier or iceberg emerging from the water. Its mix of stone, glass, oak, and aluminium has made it one of the most recognisable pieces of contemporary architecture in Scandinavia.
As a screen location, the Oslo Opera House has been used in Pax (2011), 22 July, The Snowman (2017), The Worst Person in the World (2021) and Tenet (2020).
In Pax, the Oslo Opera House appears at the end of the film after the story arrives in Oslo. The building is first seen from below, before the action moves up to the roof, where a concert takes place. This gives the film a clear final connection to Oslo and uses one of the city’s most recognisable modern landmarks as the setting for its closing scenes.
In Tenet, the Opera House roof is used in the scene where the Protagonist meets Neil and explains the scale of what they are up against. The broad white surface and open views across the harbour give the sequence a clean, futuristic feeling that fits the film’s cool and controlled visual style.
In The Snowman, the Opera House forms part of the film’s Oslo backdrop, helping place the story in the city’s newer waterfront districts. The building contributes to the film’s cold, polished urban atmosphere, contrasting with the darker and more disturbing elements of Harry Hole’s investigation.
In 22 July, the Opera House is one of the real Oslo locations used to ground the film in the city after the attacks. Here the building functions less as a dramatic set-piece and more as a recognisable modern landmark within the wider portrait of Oslo.
In The Worst Person in the World, the Oslo Opera House appears in the background during the scene where Julie and Eivind stand by a tree and kiss. Here the building is not used as a major set-piece, but as part of the emotional geography of Oslo itself. Its presence in the background helps anchor the moment in the city and adds to the film’s distinctly Oslo atmosphere, where recognisable urban spaces quietly become part of the characters’ intimate lives. The film is, of course, one of the key modern Oslo films, directed by Joachim Trier and released in 2021.
Pax (2011)
Tenet (2020)
The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Oslo Opera House (2024)
Pax
Pax is tied thematically to both Norway and Sweden, with the journey between Stockholm and Oslo forming the central axis of the story.
Tenet
Tenet was filmed across seven countries, with major scenes shot in Estonia, Italy, and Norway. Other key locations included India, Denmark, UK, and California.
The Snowman
The Snowman is a 2017 psychological thriller film directed by Tomas Alfredson and written by Peter Straughan, Hossein Amini, and Søren Sveistrup.
The Worst Person in the World
The Worst Person in the World was primarily filmed in Oslo, Norway, which director Joachim Trier treats as a central character in the story.
Ministry of Defence
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence in Oslo is the government ministry responsible for developing and implementing Norwegian security and defense policy.
Vippetangen
Vippetangen is used in the Norwegian movies Pastor Jarman kommer hjem (1958), and in the war movie Max Manus (2008).
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress has been used in Norwegian film as both a historical setting and a dramatic Oslo landmark. It appears in About Tilla and in Max Manus.
Enerhaugen Cafe
In Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole (2026), Enerhaugen Cafe serves as the real-life location for Boxer Bar, the pub where police officers go for a beer after work.
Grand Hotel Oslo
Grand Hotel is most directly connected to the Norwegian film Grand Hotel (2016), directed by Arild Fröhlich and starring Atle Antonsen, and Håkon Gomez Bøhmer.
Botsen
Botsen is best known from the "Olsenbanden" film series, where it appears as the prison Egon Olsen is released from at the start of many of the films.
Ferner Jacobsen
In Grand Hotel, Ferner Jacobsen appears in a scene where Axel Farstad’s attempt to present himself with some dignity despite his chaotic personal situation.
Gamlebyen gravlund
In Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole (2026), Gamlebyen gravkapell in Gamlebyen gravlund is used for Ellen Gjelten’s funeral.
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) is the administrative headquarters of the city council and municipal government in Oslo, Norway, inaugurated in 1950.