Budapest is increasingly stealing the spotlight in all kinds of films, bringing a touch of Eastern European sparkle to the silver screen.
The dazzling Hungarian capital has served as the backdrop for countless big-budget productions, including "Blade Runner 2049," "Red Sparrow," "Inferno," "The Spy," "Evita," "Atomic Blonde," "Tinker Bell" and many more.
Hollywood stars, among them Angelina Jolie, Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford and Jennifer Lawrence, have made the city their home while shooting in the area.
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Recent films such as "Colette," "The Spy Who Dumped Me," "The Terror" and "Robin Hood" have brought even more marquee names to Budapest in the past few months.
Thanks to investment from the Hungarian National Film Fund, the country's film industry has become one of the most influential forces in the European movie business.
During its classic era, which ran through the 1950s and 60s, the country's film industry was more or less synonymous with its communist past.
Everything shifted in the early 2010s, when the Hungarian-born producer Andy Vajna, the man behind the "Terminator" and "Rambo" films, helped Hungary break into the modern movie business after taking on the role of the country's film commissioner.
"We created an attractive tax incentive scheme for film production," Vajna explains in an interview, referring to the 25 percent tax rebate that films shot in Hungary are eligible for.
"Hungary and Budapest offer beautiful locations and well-equipped infrastructure for filmmaking. For example, Hungary is home to the largest water reservoir in continental Europe, which was used in the film "Blade Runner 2049."
"We don't just focus on developing and financing Hungarian films; the Hungarian National Film Fund has also launched an education and internship program to strengthen the Hungarian film industry."
This means that Hungary and Budapest are not only hosting big-budget productions but are also building a thriving film industry of their own, as evidenced by "Son of Saul," the Oscar and Golden Globe winner, and "On Body and Soul," which took home the Golden Bear.
Here are 10 stunning spots in Budapest that you may already recognize from the big (or small) screen.
Gellert Hotel and Baths
The Gellert Hotel and Baths: Set on the banks of the Danube, the Gellert Hotel and Baths appeared in the 1996 film "Evita." The comedy "I Spy," starring Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson, was also filmed in and around this breathtaking building.
Gellert Baths
Located on the banks of the Danube, the Gellert Hotel and Baths play a major role in both local and international film shoots.
First opened in 1918, this magnificent building is a striking example of the Art Nouveau architecture built in Hungary during that period.
Elizabeth Taylor stayed at the hotel with Richard Burton while shooting the film "Bluebeard" in 1972, and it was here that the actor gave her the priceless heart-shaped "Taj Mahal" diamond, valued at 8.8 million dollars.
Madonna appeared at the Gellert during the shooting of the 1996 film "Evita," which chronicles the life of Argentine political leader Eva Peron, and the comedy "I Spy," starring Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson, was also filmed in and around the building.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace
The 179-room Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace is a favorite home base for celebrities and film moguls while they shoot in Budapest.
Completed in 1906, the Art Nouveau building rises above the Danube at the foot of the famous Chain Bridge.
Today it is one of the most luxurious hotels in Budapest, and the building itself has been used as a location for many films, including the comedy "Spy," starring Melissa McCarthy and Jude Law.
The famous moped scene, in which McCarthy chases down a would-be assassin, was shot on the forecourt, and the interiors and fireplaces can be seen throughout the film.
Film buffs can soak up the atmosphere while sipping a cocktail in the bar and lobby lounge beneath its famous ornate chandelier.
The Whale Building
The Whale Building, set on the banks of the Danube, is one of the most cutting-edge architectural gems in Budapest.
Designed by the Dutch architect Kas Oosterhuis, this sleek structure was nicknamed "The Whale" by locals for its striking resemblance to the marine mammal.
The building houses a shopping center packed with boutiques, bars and restaurants, and it also serves as a conference center as well as a location for many films and television productions.
In Ridley Scott's science fiction film "The Martian," the building stood in for NASA headquarters, and it also appears in the CBS television series "Ransom," which was filmed in the city by Korda Productions.
The film studio has also contributed to the success of many major blockbusters shot in and around Budapest, including "Mars 2," "Robin Hood" and "Blade Runner 2049."
Andrassy Avenue and the Octagon
Built in 1887 to connect the city center with the city park, Andrassy Avenue makes a gorgeous backdrop for big-budget films.
A recognized World Heritage Site, this tree-lined avenue is surely a place worth seeing during a stay in Budapest.
Lined with high-end fashion brands and charming cafes, the street is the perfect spot to spend a few hours soaking up the elegance of a boulevard in the style of the Champs-Elysees.
This boulevard's filmography includes "Evita," whose crowd scenes were shot along the famous avenue and at the Octagon intersection, while the 2012 film "Bel Ami," starring Robert Pattinson, transformed the Budapest street into 19th-century Paris.
The best way to discover this stunning avenue is to stroll from Heroes' Square down to the Hungarian State Opera House and the basilica. Along the way you can take in most of the key landmarks mentioned in this article.
St. Stephen's Basilica
This magnificent neoclassical building began its journey in 1851 and was finally completed in 1905, designed by several different architects.
Along with the Parliament, it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Budapest.
The interior is decorated with intricate ceiling frescoes and can hold more than 8,500 visitors, making it the largest church in Hungary.
The streets surrounding the basilica featured in Tom Hanks's 2016 blockbuster "Inferno," and scenes from the NBC drama "The Royals" were also shot here.
"Evita" was only partly filmed in Buenos Aires for safety reasons, with various scenes shot in front of St. Stephen's Basilica and all across Budapest.
Tourists can visit the site by climbing to the top of the famous dome, which also appears in many film and television productions.
Gozsdu-udvar
The famous Gozsdu-udvar in Budapest's seventh district is a favorite with tourists thanks to its daytime flea market and its chic bars and restaurants.
The courtyard was built in 1900 and makes an appealing location for film crews.
In Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1988 film "Red Heat," the courtyard was used to depict the shabby streets of Moscow.
Tony Scott's film "Spy Game," starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt, was also filmed at Gozsdu-udvar, alongside numerous television commercials and photo shoots.
One of the best places to soak up the true atmosphere of this bazaar is the famous Spiler bar and restaurant, popular with locals and tourists alike.
The Hungarian State Opera House
The Hungarian State Opera House is one of the most stunning buildings on Andrassy Avenue, giving Hungarians the finest opera and ballet productions.
It hosted the premieres of Elton John's musicals "Billy Elliot the Musical" and "The Marriage of Figaro," as well as big-budget productions.
Director Francis Lawrence shot the opening scenes of "Red Sparrow," starring Jennifer Lawrence, here, and in Woody Allen's 1975 film "Love and Death" the building stood in for the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
Scenes from Steven Spielberg's 2005 film "Munich" were also shot on the streets around the main opera house building, and the classic 1998 film "The Phantom of the Opera" used the Hungarian State Opera House as a primary filming location.
The Hungarian Parliament Building and the Danube River
The Hungarian Parliament Building is now the top tourist attraction in Budapest, drawing more than 600,000 visitors a year.
It is the second-largest parliament building in Europe and arguably the most beautiful.
Set on the banks of the Danube, the Parliament has been used in dozens of films and television productions.
In the film "Transporter 3," starring Jason Statham, viewers got to see the Parliament and St. Stephen's Basilica, while the opening sequence of "Atomic Blonde," starring Charlize Theron, was shot on the riverbank. A replica of the Berlin Wall was also constructed and used in various parts of the city to create a realistic stand-in for the German capital.
Visitors can see the landmark in all its glory by taking a Danube river cruise, which stops not far from the Parliament Building.
Heroes' Square
Built in 1896, Heroes' Square makes a stunning backdrop for any film.
This breathtaking spot is one of the main tourist attractions visited by holidaymakers in Budapest, and it is home to the tomb of the unknown soldier, the seven Magyar chieftains and statues of other important Hungarian leaders.
In 2013, Budapest and its surroundings hosted the filming of the blockbuster "A Good Day to Die Hard," with the city standing in for Moscow, and Heroes' Square was used quite extensively in the film.
Today tourists can pose for photos in front of the large Budapest sign set right in front of the famous monument.
Liberty Square
Liberty Square is a unique filming location that is home to the American embassy, a park, cafes and a venue for concerts and film productions.
Scenes for the film "Blade Runner 2049" were shot here and on the surrounding streets.
Korda Productions helped film the interiors of a vintage Las Vegas casino, shot inside the old Budapest Stock Exchange building on the square that appears in the film.
The square was also used in the films "Spy" and "Atomic Blonde" and, as ever, continues to draw the attention of locals and tourists alike.
