Puskin Mozi is one of Budapest’s most historic and elegant cinemas, located on Kossuth Lajos Street in the city center. The venue originally opened as the Fórum Film Theatre in 1926, on the site of the former Magyar Világ Café. It quickly gained prestige as Hungary’s most sophisticated cinema, notably hosting the country’s first sound film, The Singing Fool, in 1929. Over the decades, it survived war, changes in ownership, and political shifts, eventually being nationalized in 1952 and renamed Puskin. Despite the challenges, it remained a cornerstone of Hungarian cinema culture.

The cinema was significantly renovated in 1998, transforming the original large auditorium into three separate screening halls while restoring the main hall’s decorative features. Further developments in 2013 added two more rooms, bringing the total to five. Today, the venue combines historic elements such as marble columns, ornate ceilings, and woodwork with modern features like stadium seating, quality sound systems, and digital projection. The main hall, known as the Metropolis, retains much of its old-world grandeur and is especially admired for its aesthetic charm.

Puskin Mozi is now celebrated as a leading art-house cinema in Budapest, specializing in independent, European, and classic films, often shown in their original language with subtitles. It regularly hosts film festivals, curated series, and filmmaker Q&As, making it a hub for cinephiles and culture lovers. While some of the smaller rooms offer a more intimate experience, the overall atmosphere of the cinema is rich with character and history. It stands as a beloved institution that blends the cinematic past with the present in one of the city’s most refined settings.