Movies with Hungarian ties you might have missed

If you are an older reader of our news-outlet, you might have seen some of our articles where we wrote about blockbuster movies being filmed in Hungary. One of the latest was Netflix’s hit series, The Witcher, but Hungary is getting more and more attention from small and large producing companies alike. Hungary is home to many movies’ sets, some of them you would have never guessed, but if you have an eager eye or ear, you might have spotted some Hungarian references in some of your favourite movies.

If you are re-watching The Witcher to get ready for the upcoming season or you are just amazed at the beautiful landscape some of the shots the series has, look no further, we have a guide of the Hungarian venues in the series.

Budapest and Hungary, as a whole, is a beloved destination to filmmakers. The streets and landmarks of Budapest were used in many movies and series of several different genres. Huge names like Disney and smaller companies also make use of relatively cheap labour, yet high expertise and skill. And if the producers dream big and there are no existing scenery for their vision, fear not, as Korda Studios in Etyek can build any set you can imagine.

The Last Kingdom

One of the many hit series on Netflix, The Last Kingdom also has some Hungarian connections, as the previously mentioned Korda Studios provided the main set for the series. The studio built an entire medieval townscape and thanks to the magnificent camera work, they can utilise the set for several locations in the series, and the set’s narrow alleyways and many buildings can provide for exciting imagery.

If you had a keen eye, you might have spotted a few Mangalica (a Hungarian breed of curly-haired pig) while watching the show, and if you pay close attention to detail you can see how some of the locations have very similar buildings, now you know why.

Furthermore, in season 1, episode 7, the marshlands of the Severn look suspiciously similar to the bogs in Hungary. Which turns out is Hungarian.

There was a bog near one of Korda Studios’ locations which was transformed into a fishing village you see in the show, and a nearby lake was used to record water-bound storylines. And last but not least, as the main set was in Hungary, there are many Hungarian names in the credits; they helped make the sets, props and possibly many other things so the series could be as stunning as it is.

Lucifer

First, if you have not seen the show, you should check it out, it is incredible. Second, there is an unexpected Hungarian reference in the series. Lucifer (Tom Ellis), yes, the biblical character, and Detective Decker (Lauren German) team up to solve murders. In season 4 episode 2, they are solving a murder that happened in a reality show. When the duo is told what the contents of the victim’s stomach were, it leaves Decker wondering, but Lucifer knows the answer.