The Marco Effect

2021 2h 5m DA

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 133

ThrillerCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When a homeless Romani boy is arrested at the Danish border for possession of a missing public servant's passport, police inspector Carl Mørck and Department Q are tasked with finding the connection.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Viaplay Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cast

Ulrich Thomsen
Carl Mørck
Zaki Youssef
Hafez el-Assad
Sofie Torp
Rose
Anders Matthesen
Teis Snap
Luboš Oláh
Marco
Henrik Noël Olesen
Marcus Jacobsen
Thomas W. Gabrielsson
Hardy
Lisa Carlehed
Mona

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Martin Zandvliet
Writers: Martin Zandvliet, Thomas Porsager, Anders Frithiof August
Languages: German, Danish, Romanian, Czech
Countries: Denmark, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 0% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: German, Danish, Romanian, Czech.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Denmark, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Department Q Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Martin Zandvliet, shot by Aske Foss. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Sune Martin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Per Sandholt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Martin Zandvliet directs. Aske Foss behind the camera. Sune Martin scores. Per Sandholt cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Denmark, Germany. Dialogue in German, Danish, Romanian, Czech.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 0% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 5 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: German, Danish, Romanian, Czech.
4International production across 2 countries: Denmark, Germany.
5Part of the "Department Q Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Martin Zandvliet, shot by Aske Foss. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Sune Martin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Per Sandholt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Ulrich Thomsen and Zaki Youssef and Sofie Torp carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt10451312 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 8 themes, including "rape", "denmark", "swimmer", "swimming".
12Released under 16 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Aske Foss
Original score: Sune Martin
Editing: Per Sandholt
Production design: Gitte Malling
Makeup / hair: Tina Norup Helmark
Sound: Lars Ginzel
Stunt coordinator: Jacob Sebastian Malm Carlsen
Runtime: 125 min · 2h 5m
Status: Released
Budget: $8,000,000
Box office: $39,300
Return: 0% of budget
Original language: DA
IMDB: The Marco Effect (2021)

Part of

Department Q Collection

Movies adapted from the Department Q series of novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Also by

Martin Zandvliet

Community reviews

What people are saying

MovieGuys2025-10-10
★ 6/10
"The Marco Effect", is yet another author Jussi Adler-Olsen, Carl Morck franchise, crime thriller. This film see's some real changes to this series. Most notably, both of the lead actors have departed with experienced newcomers stepping into the role. The chemistry between the "new" detective Carl Morck and his police partner Assad,feels somewhat lacking. A situation not helped by a script that doesn't lend itself to character development. Instead, the story gives the impression its out to make a social point about the plight of displaced people/refugees, with everything else coming in second. Acting is undeniably excellent, this is a capable cast and there is a thriller on offer here but it feels rudimentary. In summary, its okay to have a social component to a film but that should not dominate the script, in the manner it does, in "The Marco Effect". As a long time fan this is, in my estimation, the least inspiring in the series, thus far. A moderate watch.

Production companies