The Handbook of Nordic Cinema is a comprehensive reference work providing an overview of cinema in the Nordic countries - Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland. Comparing the cinematic cultures of the five Nordic nations as well as Sápmi, it gives the readers a more comparative and general perspective of Nordic Cinema. Even though the Nordic countries are very different, and have very different cinematic traditions and media histories, they have many institutional and thematic elements in common. One example is how film production in all five countries, and in Sápmi too, is dependent on different forms of government support systems.

The main focus is on feature films but the book also presents chapters and central discussions on documentaries and animation as well as connecting film production in the Nordic countries to the emerging media situation with television and streaming services as central partners and competitors.

The inclusion of a number of smaller case studies and thematic explorations enables the Handbook of Nordic Cinema to broaden the understanding of individual genres including occupation dramas, comedies, animation and documentary. There is also thorough exploration of attitudes towards cultural motifs and elements - the roles of nature, crime, disaster and piracy.