References to Germanic mythology continue to flow into modern popular culture from unexpected sources. Back in 2014, I wrote an article discussing some of the more notable examples of this cultural phenomenon. Curious readers can read the article on academia.edu ("The ‘Viking Apocalypse’ of 22nd February 2014: An Analysis of the Jorvik Viking Centre’s Ragnarǫk and Its Media Reception").

The most notable example of Norse mythology in popular culture in 2015 may turn out to be George Miller's critically lauded post-apocalyptic film Mad Max: Fury Road. The film opened Friday, May 15, and references to Norse mythology are made throughout. These references include frequent mention of the North Germanic concept of the afterlife hall Valhalla and the more widely attested notion of the valkyrie, ferocious female beings. Other elements of the plot, itself quite mythological, come from more uncertain sources, but the film echoes conflicts found in the Old Norse corpus and discussion found in secondary scholarship regarding, for example, the role of Odin in the history of the Germanic peoples.

In any case, I myself found the film to be quite refreshing—high recommendations from mimisbrunnr.info!