When watching certain film you may notice that scenes look familiar to you, but not quite Berlin, but it is not quite Rome, nor any other city. Indeed, in the last 10-20 years Budapest has become a popular movie scene for either “playing” other cities, or simply presenting itself. Due to the numerous well-equipped studios nearby, the different atmospheres of Budapest’s streets, and probably the lower cost of production, the city’s “talent” is being used with pleasure. It is difficult to name a movie star who has not already been spotted in the city: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are frequent visitors in the last few years, and lately Tom Hanks and, Jude law have been enjoying Hungarian hospitality. Sometimes it’s just for short work, but more often these stars, spend months in Budapest.

Here are some films and videos, in which Budapest plays a part.

Michael Jackson – History Tease 

The first one is not a movie, but a video from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. You can clearly recognize Heroes’ square, where the statues are lit up, and you can even see the policemen in jackets on which “rendőrség” (police) is written.

Evita

Budapest as 1950’s Buenos Aires. Almost the whole movie was shot here, as the production was not allowed into the Argentine parliament. You can recognize Heroes square again, the Fine Arts’ Museum, and the Budapest streets in the below film. In fact Budapest does look like Buenos Aires: only the palm trees must have been difficult to place everywhere.

Spy

One of the latest Hollywood hits, starring Jude Law (whose romance with a Hungarian model was also a gossip subject) and Melissa Mccarthy, along with Jason Statham. It is not the first time Budapest has played a part in a spy movie: in 2001 Brad Pitt and Robert Redford shot Spy Game here, and the later parts of Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy, was shoot here. Outside scenes are for example in Zrinyi utca, near the Basilica, Széchenyi rakpart, and even outside of Budapest, such as the Lake Balaton. It is a movie where Budapest plays Budapest itself.

Underworld

This was one of the most time-consuming productions, spending about 4-6 months in Budapest. The opening scene with Klotild Palaces, Kossuth Lajos street, Ferenciek tere, and later on car speeding in Gozsdu udvar, or scenes at a metro station, almost all scenes are recognizable.

To check out where exactly these and other movies were shoot, please join a movie walking with talented youth of this interest.