Budapest was designed for the big screen. The city is divided by the Danube River, which draws a narrow, winding line from medieval Buda to modern Pest. Both sides are supported by architectural landmarks, including Budas Baroque castle, fairytale Fishermans Bastion, Pests Gothic Revival parliament, and the stately Heroes Square. On either side of Danube, the palatial baths that have made the city famous for their beauty can be found while the ruin bars and tumbledown-chic ruin bars that travelers today frequent rest comfortably in Pest. The Szchenyi Chain Bridge, which ties the city together at night, makes the river glow gold. It's cinematic.Marvel fans will not be impressed by the city's aesthetic thrust. The city has been a joke in Marvel Cinematic Universe since The Avengers (2012), when it was mentioned that Hawkeye and Black Widow had a mission in Budapest. Fans have speculated about what happened in Budapest. With the release of the Black Widow standalone film, some of these details might finally be revealed.Scarlett Johansson, the actress who plays Natasha Romanoff (also known as Black Widow), commented last month on her decision to use the city's backdrop in a press kit. She said that when we first began talking about locations, back in the days before everything was possible, we all agreed that we needed to learn more about Budapest. Although the film does not focus on what happened in Budapest, it provided a great starting point for much of what happens in the film.Although it is not clear how much of Black Widow will take place in Budapest, the promotional footage suggests that it will be an important setting. The trailer opens with a large shot of Budapest, which includes glimpses of landmarks such as the Citadella that crowns Gellrt Hill, St. Stephens Basilica's green dome, and the Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel. The city is shown in more clips. Those with keen eyes might be able to recognize the Hungarian parliament Building, Eastern Railway Station or Szchenyi, Alkotmny streets. There are also action-packed scenes like motorcycle chases, tank battles, and more. The trailer features a few of Budapest's iconic yellow trams that are part of a vital transit system with a history stretching back over 120 years.These photos don't give any insight into the details of Hawkeyes and Black Widow's cryptic mission. These snapshots do however confirm what those who have had the opportunity to visit Budapest know: Budapest is a unique character that can be used in any film or itinerary.Black Widow isn't the first blockbuster shot in Budapest. The city and its surroundings have been featured in many movies over the last decade including Midsommar (2019), World War Z (2013) and Atomic Blonde (2017). None of these movies are actually set in Hungary. Instead, the capital serves as a placeholder for countries like Sweden, Beijing and Moscow as well as East Berlin circa 1989 and post-apocalyptic LA.Fewer TV and movie shows have recognized the city's location as their rightful home. For example, Red Sparrow, the 2018 spy thriller, and Treadstone, the 2019 Bourne series, were both shot in Budapest. However, they also used the city to double for other European capitals like London, Paris, London and Bucharest in Romania.The appeal of Budapest's low-cost, high-quality production studios and tax breaks are some of the reasons Hollywood directors love it. It is the city that keeps them returning. The city, which boasts a mix of architectural styles that are influenced by Roman, Ottoman and German reigns, is grand and romantic and uniquely equipped to represent a variety of destinations, primarily European.Movie buffs are not to blame for failing to recognize Budapest after Hollywood magic. It's not only cinephiles that have been unaware of Budapest. London, Paris and Amsterdam are Europe's most popular cities. If these movies have the same pull as Endgame (2019), Infinity War (2018) and The Avengers, Budapest is comparable to Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Fans have not neglected either one, with each city attracting over 30 million tourists per year and earning more than $700 million globally. Some might consider either one to be criminally underrated.One, I am not a Marvel fan. This is despite the fact that I have only seen a handful of Marvel films. However, I am a huge Budapest fan. Black Widow allows you to live in one of Europe's most vibrant, cinematic capitals again. This is one Marvel movie that I may make it a point to watch.
