Hungary: The Hidden Star Behind The Brutalist
How Hungary Became the Unseen Hero of The Brutalist
Feb 5, 2025
Despite being set in the U.S., The Brutalist was almost entirely filmed in Hungary. Here’s how it became an essential part of the film’s success.
When The Brutalist swept multiple Golden Globes, it wasn’t just the film’s storytelling and performances that left an impression—it was the world it built. Although most of The Brutalist unfolds in the United States, almost all of the filming took place in Hungary. Over the past decade, Budapest’s sound stages and real-world locations have become a go-to for films of all sizes, offering an unbeatable mix of world-class facilities, experienced film crews, and the all-important tax incentives.
From prestige dramas to big-budget blockbusters, Hungary has become a favorite among Hollywood’s biggest productions. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune saga was shot there, as were recent critical darlings like Maria and Poor Things. Upcoming blockbusters, including Alien: Romulus and Brad Pitt’s highly anticipated F1, have also chosen Hungary as their base.
So when The Brutalist, the historical epic from Brady Corbet, needed to recreate 1940s and 1950s America on a limited budget, Hungary was the obvious choice.
“It helped that the film was set in an earlier period because there were places in Hungary that looked sort of lost in the past. For example, the industrial area in Budapest looked very similar to the industrial area of Philadelphia in the 1950s.” - said the film’s brilliant production designer, Judy Becker, who already transformed locations. For example Boston and Cincinnati to NYC for American Hustle.
Why Hungary?
As Judy Becker, explained to Elle Decor:
“You get a lot more for your money in Eastern Europe. It’s the only place the movie could have been done.”
But it wasn’t just about cost savings. Budapest’s diverse architectural landscape, which blends grand 19th-century buildings, communist-era brutalism, and untouched industrial zones, made it the perfect stand-in for mid-century America. The production team spent three months scouring the country for locations that could evoke the world of The Brutalist. And they found them.
Some Locations That Made The Brutalist
Mahart Gabonatárház Kft, Csepel Island
Before his rediscovery by the Van Buren family, protagonist Tóth (Adrien Brody) finds work shoveling coal. This sequence was filmed around the 13-story Mahart Gabonatárház Kft, a grain warehouse built in the 1920s on Csepel Island in the Danube. Still in operation today, the structure lent an air of authenticity to the film’s industrial-era struggles.
Andrássy Castle, Tóalmás
Andrássy Castle Ground, Tóalmás
The film’s elegant Pennsylvania mansion, home to the Van Buren family, was none other than Hungary’s own Andrássy Castle. Located 40 miles outside Budapest, this 1894-built grand estate boasts 50 rooms, a winter garden, and formal landscaped grounds—making it the perfect stand-in for an American aristocratic home.
Several key moments, including those featuring Harrison Van Buren (Guy Pearce) and Erzsébet Toth (Felicity Jones), were filmed on the castle’s sprawling property, which seamlessly transported audiences into the mid-century American elite.
The Art of Cinematic Economy
While The Brutalist carries the visual weight of a grand period drama, its production required resourcefulness. As Becker revealed to Variety:
“I know everyone says it doesn’t look like it, but it was probably the lowest budget period movie I’ve ever done by far… You have to really focus on how to show things in an economic way. I think that that makes you creative and smart.”
This strategic approach to location and design was made possible thanks to Hungary’s 30% tax rebate, one of the most attractive production incentives in Europe. By choosing Hungary, filmmakers gain access to high-caliber facilities, top-tier crews, and financial advantages that make it possible to stretch every dollar without compromising on quality.
Learn more about how productions benefit from Hungary’s 30% tax rebate here.
Hungary’s Growing Influence in Global Cinema
The Brutalist is the latest in a long line of major international productions to recognize Hungary’s filmmaking potential. With its versatile architecture, skilled crews, and cost-effective advantages, the country has cemented itself as a prime destination for period dramas, action thrillers, and high-profile streaming projects.
As The Brutalist continues its awards season momentum, one thing is clear: Hungary didn’t just host this film—it helped shape it.
sources: Condé Nast, Variety