Filming is constantly taking place in Vilnius – you can spot film sets in different areas around town. In recent years, Vilnius has stood in for cities in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Lithuanian actors have appeared on screen, and hundreds of local film professionals have worked behind the scenes. So, which films and TV series can we see Vilnius in? Here are some productions currently easy to find on various legal streaming platforms.
Norwegian drama Nr. 24 | IMDb 7,5
In 2023, the Lithuanian-Norwegian co-production Agent Number 24 was filmed in Vilnius. The film tells the story of Norwegian resistance hero Gunnar Sønsteby, who was known by the code name “Agent Number 24.” He led the most successful resistance group in Europe during WWII. Sønsteby gave up his personal life — avoiding relationships, alcohol, and leisure — to dedicate himself to fighting the Nazi German Gestapo for many years.
Most of the movie was shot in Lithuania — in both Vilnius and Kaunas. For example, the Biomedical Sciences Library on Kaštonų Street in Vilnius was turned into Oslo’s Parliament building, where a bomb explodes in the film.
“When we make films set in Norway, we don’t always shoot them there. Sometimes we look for similar-looking places outside the country — and that was the case here. Parts of Lithuania have landscapes and architecture that are very similar to Norway and Oslo. You can even find stunning locations that resemble the early 19th century or even the Middle Ages,” said Agent Number 24 producer Espen Horn in an earlier interview.
You can watch the film now on Netflix.
Satirical Swedish series Whiskey on the Rocks | IMDb 7
This political drama takes viewers back to the tense Cold War era during the leadership of Ronald Reagan and Leonid Brezhnev, focusing on the 1981 political crisis sparked by a Soviet submarine that ran aground in Sweden’s military zone.
The filming turned Vilnius into Stockholm for a while. For example, the wooden, Scandinavian-style houses in the Žvėrynas district were used to portray a residential area in Stockholm, home to the show’s political characters. The Composers’ House, a Scandinavian-style building in Žvėrynas built in 1966, appears in the series as a key location for political meetings and retreats.
You can catch Vilnius as Stockholm — along with talented Lithuanian actors portraying major historical figures — on Disney+.
The Norwegian crime drama Wisting | IMDb 7,3
In the fall of 2023, the team behind the Norwegian crime drama Wisting returned to Vilnius to film the show’s fifth season.
One of Norway’s most expensive TV productions, Wisting first aired in 2019 and has since been shown internationally, including on BBC Four. The main character is police detective William Wisting, played by Norwegian actor Sven Nordin. The early seasons were based on bestselling novels by writer Jørn Lier Horst. Season two was also partly filmed in Vilnius back in 2021.
In the newest season — also shot in the Lithuanian capital — Wisting comes to Vilnius while investigating a mistake made by law enforcement, following unexpected new evidence in a case. Viewers will recognize many well-known Vilnius locations in the series, including the Narutis Hotel, Saint Germain restaurant, and Lukiškės Prison, where investigators question an inmate.
Season five of Wisting is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
German historical costume drama Sisi | IMDb 7
All four seasons of the hugely popular TV series Sisi were filmed in Vilnius. The fourth and final season was filmed in 2024 and is already being watched by audiences. Sisi has aired in over 120 countries, with a significant portion of the filming taking place in Lithuania, specifically in Vilnius, which was transformed into 19th-century Austria.
As in previous seasons, viewers around the world once again saw familiar spots in Lithuania: the University of Vilnius’ courtyards, which stood in for the Hofburg Palace, the streets of the Old Town, and the Riešė Hippodrome located just outside the city.
In the fourth season, viewers see the Empress grieving the death of her father. In an effort to save her childhood home — the Posendorf Castle — she challenges the best Bavarian jockey, and after uncovering a dark family secret, she’ll have to ask herself where her true home really is.
You can find the latest season on Lithuanian legal streaming platforms, and if you haven’t seen the series yet, it’s a great time to get acquainted with the story of Sisi!
Atkuriamoji BBC2 dokumentika Rise of the Nazis | IMDb 8,1
In 2023, the BBC2 documentary series Rise of the Nazis was filmed in Vilnius, transforming various locations in the city into 1950s-70s France, Germany, Argentina, and even Bolivia.
Rise of the Nazis is a British documentary series about the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, revealing lesser-known historical facts and offering insights from historians and war experts. The first season was filmed in Vilnius in 2019, and the creators later returned for the second and third seasons. Lithuanian actors appeared in the series, with Andrius Rožickas playing the lead role of Hitler.
In the fourth season, the focus shifts to the fate of former Nazis after the war, with the most notorious criminals being tried at the Nuremberg Trials — the first legal proceedings of their kind in history.
The story of a Swedish criminal in the series Clark | IMDb 7,3
Clark is a Swedish series based on the biography of one of the most controversial figures in modern Swedish history — Clark Olofsson. The incredible story of one of the first criminals to be called a “celebrity gangster,” was directed by Hans U. J. Akerlund, with Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård playing the lead role.
The legendary Swedish gangster began his criminal career with petty thefts in the 1960s and was later sentenced to prison for attempted murder. In prison, Clark befriended another criminal, Jan Erik Olsson, and together they later pulled off the biggest bank robbery in Stockholm’s history. This robbery was unusual because the robbers and hostages quickly formed a bond, sharing stories, experiences, and playing games. When the hostages were released, none of them testified against the robbers in court. Instead, they began raising money for the robbers’ defense. This crime ultimately led to the creation of the term “Stockholm Syndrome.”
In the Clark series, viewers will recognize locations in Vilnius such as Užupis, Rotušės Square, Lukiškės Prison, Etmonų Street, and Arklių Street. The Odminių Square also plays a significant role, becoming the famous Norrmalmstorg Square, where police officers observed the bank during the robbery.
The Vilnius Film Office invites you to take a tour inspired by the Clark series.
You can watch the series on Netflix.
The dystopian German drama Paradise | IMDb 6,3
You can watch the German film Paradise on Netflix. This futuristic action thriller quickly became one of the top 10 most-watched films on Netflix in Lithuania after its premiere. What might surprise many viewers is that part of Paradise was filmed in Lithuania, including in Vilnius. The city appears quite different from usual, with round towers, futuristic buildings, and familiar city silhouettes, streets, and neighborhoods, all bathed in the colors of a slightly dark, yet impressive, dystopian future.
Directed by Boris Kunz, the film is set in a near future where genetic engineering has advanced so much that people can transfer their ages to each other. Those living on the fringes of society trade youth, and a massive corporation profits from this life-changing opportunity. Against this backdrop, a young couple desperately tries to regain 40 years of lost life — this is the story told in Paradise. Over 400 professionals, mostly Lithuanians, worked on the film in Lithuania. Filming here lasted over 40 days, with several months of preparation.
Viewers of Paradise around the world will notice Lithuanian-speaking background actors, Lithuanian shop signs, street signs, and familiar Vilnius neighborhoods, along with unexpected views of Klaipėda and Palanga. The film also features well-known Vilnius locations, such as electric cars in street intersections, shots in the Keistuolių Theatre, Vingis Park, Gedimino Avenue, and many other spots in the city.
