Ove is a 59-year-old widower living in a Swedish neighborhood where he strictly enforces local parking and waste-sorting rules. Recently let go from his job of many years, he struggles to find a place in a modern society he views as incompetent. He operates on a rigid philosophy of right and wrong, frequently clashing with bureaucrats, shop assistants, and anyone driving a foreign car. Underneath his irritable exterior, he privately grieves the recent loss of his wife and meticulously plans to end his life to join her, though his neighbors constantly interrupt him.

Sonja is Ove's recently deceased wife. She worked as a teacher for children with learning difficulties and possessed a bright, optimistic personality that directly contrasts with Ove's rigid worldview. She loved books, cats, and abstract concepts, consistently finding the good in people that society dismissed. Her absence leaves a massive void in Ove's daily routine, and he visits her grave regularly to update her on neighborhood events.

Parvaneh is a pregnant Iranian immigrant who moves into the house next door to Ove. She is direct, highly observant, and refuses to be intimidated by Ove's hostile attitude. Recognizing his isolation and sadness, she continuously fabricates reasons to ask for his help, demanding assistance with bleeding radiators, taking care of a stray animal, and learning how to drive a manual transmission.

A stray, battered feline with half a tail that loiters around Ove's neighborhood. It frequently stares at Ove judgmentally and refuses to back down from his shouting. After freezing in a snowdrift, it ends up living in Ove's house despite his loud protests that he is not running a pet hotel.

A smug, rule-obsessed bureaucrat representing the municipal government. Referred to by Ove as one of the "men in white shirts," he is responsible for enforcing the mandate to remove Rune from his home. He speaks to the elderly residents with condescending authority and parks his white Škoda in prohibited zones.

Rune is a long-time resident of the neighborhood who once co-founded the Residents' Association with Ove. The two men shared a close friendship built on enforcing community rules before a bitter falling out over car brands and neighborhood leadership. Rune now suffers from a debilitating illness, prompting government officials to try and forcibly remove him from his home.

Anita is Rune's exhausted but determined wife. She spends years battling municipal paperwork to keep her ailing husband at home rather than sending him to a state facility. She frequently attempts to bridge the gap between Rune and Ove, remembering the days when their families were close and shared dinners.

Parvaneh's husband, whom Ove simply refers to as "the Lanky One." He works as an IT consultant and represents everything Ove despises about modern men. He is tall, drives a foreign car, relies on parking sensors, and frequently injures himself while attempting basic manual labor.

An overweight young man who lives in the neighborhood. Jimmy grew up on the street with his mother and remembers Ove and Sonja from his childhood. He is friendly, constantly hungry, and eager to help out, casually ignoring Ove's insults to tag along on neighborhood inspections.

A local teenager who works as a mailman and café employee. Adrian struggles to repair a bicycle to impress a girl he likes, prompting Ove to step in and criticize his mechanical skills. He is initially defensive around Ove but softens when they discover a shared connection to Sonja.

A young man who works at the local café alongside Adrian. He wears distinctive eye makeup and faces severe tension at home with his father regarding his sexual orientation. This family conflict eventually pushes him to seek shelter elsewhere in the neighborhood.

A divorced man in his forties who owns a local towing company. He drives an Audi, which immediately lowers him in Ove's estimation. He dates a younger woman whose small dog terrorizes the neighborhood, though his professional towing resources eventually prove useful to the community.

A persistent local journalist investigating a recent incident at the train station. She uses modern investigative techniques that baffle and anger Ove, tracking him down via a credit card purchase. She later uses these same public records skills to assist the neighborhood against local officials.

Parvaneh and Patrick's three-year-old daughter. She takes an immediate liking to Ove, entirely ignoring his grumpy demeanor. She frequently draws pictures of him, notably using bright colors for Ove while sketching the rest of her family in black and white.