From "Dune" to "Wicker," how this ‘tiny’ European country became a hub for Hollywood

Hungary has become a major hub for Hollywood productions, with films such as "Dune," "Evita," "Inferno," and the upcoming "Wicker" shot in Budapest and other parts of the country. The nation's film industry dates back to the late 19th century, when the Lumière brothers brought their cinematograph to Budapest in 1896.

Hungarian-born figures like Adolph Zukor, co-founder of Paramount Pictures, and William Fox, founder of Fox Film Corporation, helped shape the American movie industry.

Production costs in Hungary are 30% to 50% cheaper than in the U.S., and Budapest offers diverse landscapes that can double for other European cities. Origo Studios, about 20 minutes north of Budapest, hosted large parts of "Dune" and "Inferno."

The industry faced uncertainty after former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paused a 30% production rebate, though the scheme was restarted in December with a cap for the first half of 2026. The new government has proposed supplementing the rebate by 63 billion Hungarian forints ($193 million), and Deputy Prime Minister Anita Orbán has promised a "stable and predictable framework" for film-making.

"Wicker," starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, was filmed at Korda Studios and used local Hungarian designers, a shift toward hiring domestic talent for major international films.