Budapest (1986 / 2026)

Queen

Concert Film, Hollywood Megaplex Gasometer Wien, 20261008

Ghost did it. Oasis did it. Aerosmith did it. George Michael did it. And Black Sabbath. The big shows return to the big screens like the biopics of Johnny Cash, Ray, Elton John or N.W.A. Another one of the greatest Rock bands of all time took the 40th anniversary, to screen one of their many special shows again, restored in 4K by Peter Jackson’s team. 

„Orgasmatron“, „Reign In Blood“, „Master of Puppets“, „Slippery When Wet“ or „Who Made Who“ are just few albums of the year, Queen set out on „Magic Tour“. They are at their peak and just the year before, they played the famous Live Aid gig like U2, David Bowie, Madonna and Paul McCartney. 

But „Live in Budapest“ is what they consider their best filmed concert, as guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor tell in new interviews before the actual movie. As first Rock band behind the iron curtain, it is a special occasion anyway, and the Népstadion is huge, as images from setup show. 

Like The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, the core of Queen consists of four musicians. All of them spread pure passion for what they are doing in every second. They fire hit after hit like „Tie Your Mother Down“, „A Kind of Magic“, „Under Pressure“ and „Who Wants to Live Forever“, which was new at the time. 

Singer Freddy Mercury wrote the lyrics of the Hungarian traditional „Tavaszi Szél Vizet Àraszt“ on his hand and practiced on the empty stage, as his video insert shows. Each member gets his own moment in the movie like this. After a Little Richard classic, „Bohemian“ Rhapsody“, „We Will Rock You“, „We Are the Champions“ must not be missing towards the end. 

For their show, Queen have got a lot of light, that makes them look good from close and far. Within those last years, they played about seven hundred concerts together. After Budapest, it will only be five more.