Mads Mikkelsen’s 10/10 Forgotten Masterpiece Trilogy Officially Releases on Free Streaming

Although forgotten, Mads Mikkelsen’s iconic trilogy that many of his fans might have missed watching is now available to stream for free on Tubi TV. Starting back in 1996, Mikkelsen starred in an iconic movie titled Pusher, and with two more parts added, it eventually came to be known as the Pusher trilogy.

Directed by iconic director Nicolas Winding Refn, Pusher saw Mikkelsen in a frenzied role (being his first proper movie), but audiences loved it beyond measure. The film received great ratings, and Pusher II pushed the ratings of the trilogy even further. Portraying the role of a manic partner in a deal gone wrong, Tonny, Mikkelsen shone in the role, and it was this movie that threw the actor into mainstream stardom.

What is Mads Mikkelsen’s Pusher Trilogy About?

Mads Mikkelsen in a still from Pusher | Credits: Balboa Entertainment

A 1996 Danish film that was set in the criminal underground of Copenhagen, Denmark, Pusher tells the story of a drug dealer named Frank (Kim Bodnia), who, after losing a large sum of money in a drug deal gone wrong, falls into desperation to repay the amount alongside his sidekick Tonny (Mads Mikkelsen).

Pusher II sees Mikkelsen’s Tonny serving his sentence and determined to change his life for the better. However, he has to fix his relationship with his father, pay loans, and care for his child. The film works as a catharsis for the character of Mads Mikkelsen; however, things aren’t always so simple.

Mikkelsen did not have his involvement in Pusher 3, but the film remains an integral part of the trilogy, especially in how high the ratings for the film were (93% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Why You Should Watch This Classic Trilogy

Mads Mikkelsen in a still from Pusher II | Credits: Billy’s People

Long before Casino Royale, Hannibal, or Doctor Strange, Mikkelsen’s portrayal in the films was the actor in his pure, rawest form. Rather than following a single protagonist across three films, the Pusher trilogy focuses on three protagonists. From Frank, the torch is passed to Tony, and eventually to Milo in Pusher 3.

The film strips away the glamor from crime. It’s gritty, documentary-style filmmaking with character studies that talk about the dangers of wrong decisions, drugs, and desperation.

The trilogy also helped launch Nicolas Winding Refn’s Hollywood career and shaped the modern Nordic crime aesthetic that several movies followed. Naturally, the Pusher Trilogy is a bignebale trilogy that needs a watch (or a rewatch), especially now that it’s free on streaming.

The Pusher trilogy is available to stream on Tubi.