These are the best English cinemas in Budapest if you don’t speak Hungarian
Watching films is part of our daily lives. Who wouldn’t like to watch a great film? If you are living in Budapest, it might be tough to find a cinema that plays English pieces as well, as most films are dubbed in Hungary. Here’s our list of cinemas in Budapest that do offer English films as well.
Művész Cinema
Művész Cinema is in District 6. It has a cosy atmosphere and there is a café right next door as well, if you would like to discuss the film with your friends. The films here are in Hungarian, but some of them have English subtitles. There are both vintage and new films here: surely, everyone can find something that they like.
Puskin Cinema
Very similarly to Művész Cinema, Puskin Cinema offers Hungarian films with English subtitles. The cinema is located in the downtown area, in District 5. The movie hall is astonishing, a historic hall with its original design and sculptural features. This cinema offers art films as well as new Hollywood productions. Sometimes there are kids’ puppet shows on the program. Right next to this great arthouse cinema, there is a bar, where you can enjoy light meals or a refreshing beer with your friends.
Toldi Cinema
Toldi Cinema is in the fifth district in Budapest. The cinema is quite modern, it has air-conditioning and WiFi. This modern arthouse cinema is a very popular meeting point for young people. It is cosy, located in the heart of the city and has a great selection of films. What else would you need?
Cinema City
Cinema City is probably one of the biggest cinema chains in Hungary. Fortunately, they have realised that there is a high demand for English films, so they provide pieces with original English sound or English subtitles. Cinema City offers the freshest and greatest films. Cinema City has multiple locations in Budapest, the cinema halls are usually in shopping centres.
On the Buda side, you can visit Allee, while on the Pest side, there are Westend and Arena Mall. What is unique about the cinema in Arena Mall is that there is a VIP ticket option. By buying a VIP ticket, you are entitled to eating unlimited food before the film (choosing from a variety of dishes). In addition to that, you can refill your popcorn and drink during the film. If you don’t live in Budapest, don’t worry. Cinema City offers English films in countyside cinemas too from time to time, such as Pécs, Debrecen and Szeged.
Etele Cinema
The Etele shopping centre is relatively new and so is its cinema. There is usually a great variety of English films here. This cinema also has a Premium ticket option, which is like Arena Mall’s VIP ticket. You can have a nice meal before your film if you buy that ticket. Etele cinema has a special cinema hall for kids, so make sure to check it out as well!
Films in other languages
If you are looking for films in other languages, here are some options. Institut Français offers French films usually with English and/or Hungarian subtitle. The films are usually French productions. The ticktets are extremely cheap. During the Italian Film Week, you can watch films in Italian in Művész Cinema. Make sure to check the dates online!
If you know other cinemas that offer movies in foreign languages, make sure to let us know in the comment section!
Pity not more cinemas throughout the country show the original films. It for sure would help improve language skills. Now people rather watch a film online or I should say have too.
Great tip about the Italian week!
Etele Cinema has introduced to “Monday Originals” program. Every Monday they show most of the dubbed films in their original language for 1490 HUF, but without Hungarian subtitles. (good for expats, not so good for native speakers here) https://etelecinema.hu/post/1318
Urania’s most screenings are on original language with a cheaper ticket compared to ArtMozi and multiplex. https://urania-nf.hu/en
Cinema MOM offers several screenings per week in their original language, however it’s the most expensive cinema in the country. https://cinemamom.hu
Do we know whether the dubbing situation is something dictated by the Hungarian film distribution companies? I personally haven’t met a person here who prefers the dubbed versions, but I wouldn’t know more about it.