Stunts in Hungary

One of the pioneers of Hungarian stunt work is Gábor Piroch, who was the first to achieve international success in the field. He got his start at just 16 years old in Judgment (1970), directed by Ferenc Kósa. His breakthrough into Hollywood came with Total Recall (1990), produced by Hungarian-born Andrew Vajna. During the production, Piroch formed a close friendship with Arnold Schwarzenegger, leading to further collaborations. Reflecting on his career, Piroch once said, “With the Iron Curtain still in place, it was an incredible experience for me to be part of one of the world’s best stunt teams on one of the biggest productions. I never imagined my career could reach such heights.”

To date, Piroch has worked on over 300 films, including globally renowned titles such as Evita (1996, dir. Alan Parker), War of the Worlds (2005, dir. Steven Spielberg), Troy (2004, dir. Wolfgang Petersen), Kingdom of Heaven (2005, dir. Ridley Scott), and The Mummy (1999, dir. Stephen Sommers). However, he cites Titanic (1997, dir. James Cameron) as his most memorable experience, having spent six months in Mexico performing in nearly all of the film’s stunt sequences. Now retired from performing stunts, Piroch remains active in the industry as a stunt coordinator and action director. He also founded Stunt Training, a stunt school that trains aspiring performers. In 2007, he was nominated for the prestigious World Stunt Awards in the Best Foreign Film Stunt Coordination category for his work on the Hungarian film Children of Glory.

Another standout name in the industry is Zoltán Gulyás-Kiss, who earned the nickname “Crazy Hungarian” during the filming of Dragonheart (1996). While working alongside an international stunt team, he was the only one willing to attempt a life-threatening 30-meter jump from a castle wall into a dangerously narrow courtyard. The challenge was made even more extreme by an 80-meter drop beyond the courtyard, requiring pinpoint precision. Throughout his career, Gulyás has worked with stars such as Antonio Banderas, Madonna, and Eddie Murphy. Today, he serves as a stunt coordinator and is the founder and lead instructor of the Hungarian Stunt Academy.

One of Hungary’s most in-demand stunt coordinators today is Domokos Párdányi, a former student of Gábor Piroch who rose to prominence as a leading stunt performer of the next generation. Among his many international credits, his most notable role was as Brad Pitt’s stunt double in Troy (2004). In 2013, Párdányi and his Hungarian stunt team won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Television Stunt Team for their work on Game of Thrones, where they choreographed numerous battle sequences and action scenes. This team has been working together for years and has contributed to major international productions such as Kingdom of Heaven (2005, dir. Ridley Scott), The Eagle (2011, dir. Kevin Macdonald), 47 Ronin (2013, dir. Carl Rinsch), A Good Day to Die Hard (2013, dir. John Moore), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008, dir. Guillermo del Toro), Skyfall (2013, dir. Sam Mendes), and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, dir. J.J. Abrams).

Of course, these are just a few of the many talented Hungarian stunt coordinators and performers. In addition to their versatility in general stunt work, many specialize in specific areas of the profession, including stunt doubling, parkour stunts, precision driving, creature work, stunt acting, high falls, car hits, ratchets, fire stunts, bike stunts, wirework, air ram stunts, and choreographed fight sequences. Given this diversity of expertise, selecting the right stunt coordinator based on the specific needs of the production is crucial for achieving the best possible performance.

One of the largest action-heavy productions shot in Hungary was Hercules (2014), starring Dwayne Johnson. The film features massive battle sequences that required the collaboration of hundreds of Hungarian stunt performers and extras. Domonkos Párdányi served as one of the film’s stunt coordinators. Each battle scene took weeks to film, often involving grueling 12 to 14-hour workdays. To prepare, the stunt team organized intensive month-long training camps where coordinators trained performers in the combat techniques of ancient Thracian warriors, including the use of large shields, long spears, and heavy swords. They practiced individual and group warfare, ensuring historical accuracy in movement and formations. Hungarian stunt performers made up the core of the soldiers fighting alongside the main character. Additionally, hundreds of extras were selected based on their endurance and underwent extensive training led by a former Hungarian army captain and an English arms instructor to prepare them for battle sequences.

Another major action production filmed in Hungary was A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), directed by John Moore and starring Bruce Willis. The fifth installment of the legendary action franchise maintained the high-intensity sequences expected from the series, including downtown car chases, military vehicle stunts, and large-scale explosions over the course of several months of filming. Hungarian stunt riggers were instrumental in executing precise and safe stunt choreography, ensuring the controlled impact of falls, landings, and jumps. The car chases posed additional challenges for the stunt drivers, as military vehicles often behaved unpredictably, requiring expert improvisation despite meticulous planning.

The fact that Budapest was able to successfully host such a large-scale production speaks volumes about its world-class expertise and production services. For Die Hard, sections of the city were closed down to accommodate intense car chases, and an MI-26 military helicopter was flown over the city while Budapest stood in for Moscow on screen.

Beyond Hollywood productions, Budapest’s film-friendly environment has also been praised by international television crews. Erdogan Atalay, lead actor of the long-running German TV series Cobra 11, shared his positive experience filming in Hungary. In an episode set in Budapest, the production was able to shoot high-action sequences—including shootouts and explosions—on Alkotmány Street, located near the Hungarian Parliament. Atalay expressed his appreciation for the city’s flexibility in allowing such an ambitious action scene to be filmed in such a central and historically significant location.

Today, Hungary offers a full spectrum of possibilities for filming high-intensity action scenes, whether it’s a car chase, a city-center explosion, hand-to-hand combat, or large-scale infantry and cavalry battles involving hundreds of stunt performers. Filmmakers choosing Hungary can trust that Hungarian stunt professionals are capable of executing any stunt required by a script or creative vision. Thanks to the continuous influx of major productions, their expertise is constantly evolving, ensuring that they can meet the demands of even the most complex action sequences with precision and professionalism.