10 best movies set in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for foreigners filmmakers because of its unique combination of excellent locations, cost-effective production capabilities and a welcoming culture. Filmmakers are drawn to the diverse landscape, which ranges from tropical beaches and dense jungles to historic temple complexes.
Moreover, Thailand offers relatively lower production costs, thanks to favorable prices for accommodation, transport and local crew. The country also has a professional film industry and support infrastructure, making it easier for foreign productions to work with local professionals and make use of available resources.
Thailand offers tax breaks and incentives for foreign film productions shooting in the country. The Thailand Film Office, part of the Department of Tourism, and the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) are responsible for promoting and facilitating film production in Thailand.
Some of the tax breaks and incentives Thailand offers to foreign film crews are:
Tax returns
Foreign productions may be eligible for a tax refund of up to 20% of expenses incurred in Thailand if they meet certain requirements. These include spending a minimum amount of money in the country, hiring local cast and crew, and promoting Thai tourist destinations in the film.
No import tax
Foreign productions can enjoy an exemption from import tax on temporarily imported film equipment, provided they meet the conditions of the customs rules and regulations.
Guidance and support
The Thailand Film Office provides guidance and support to foreign film crews in the areas of permits, location scouting, liaising with local service providers and navigating bureaucracy.
Cheap and experienced local crews
Thailand is known for its cost-effective, talented and experienced local film crews, which is an attractive incentive for foreign productions considering filming in the country.
Thais are fans of western cinema films
Thais are generally interested in Western cinema films. Hollywood movies are popular in Thailand and attract large audiences in cinemas. In addition to local Thai films, Thai people enjoy watching international films, including American, European and other Asian productions. Western action movies, adventure movies, comedies and romance movies are popular with Thai movie buffs. Major Hollywood blockbusters, such as films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney films and other franchises, tend to attract a lot of attention and enjoy enthusiastic audiences in Thailand.
In addition to watching Western movies in cinemas, Thai people can also access international movies through streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube, which contributes to the popularity of Western movies in Thailand. Although Western movies are popular in Thailand, Thai also enjoy their own movie industry. Local Thai films ranging from action, comedy, drama, to horror are well received and often receive significant support from the Thai public. Soap operas are also particularly popular in Thailand.
10 best movies set in Thailand
There are many movies set in Thailand that show different aspects of Thai culture and landscape. Here are some of the best movies shot in Thailand:
- The Beach (2000) – An adventurous film with Leonardo DiCaprio about a young backpacker who discovers a pristine and remote beach in Thailand.
- The Hangover Part II (2011) – This comedy is the sequel to “The Hangover” and is set in Bangkok, where the main characters have another wild adventure during a bachelor party.
- The Impossible (2012) – Based on a true story, this touching film is about a family vacationing in Thailand when the 2004 tsunami hits.
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – This James Bond movie starring Roger Moore is partly set in Thailand and shows some notable locations like it James Bond Island and the floating market in Bangkok.
- Young Back (2003) – A Thai action movie starring Tony Jaa, known for his impressive fight scenes and breathtaking stunts.
- Only God Forgives (2013) - This crime thriller by director Nicolas Winding Refn is set in the underworld of Bangkok and stars Ryan Gosling.
- Brokedown Palace (1999) – A drama film starring Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale about two American women who are captured in Thailand after being falsely accused of drug smuggling.
- Lost in Thailand (2012) – One Chinese comedy about two rival businessmen who travel to Thailand and get distracted by the beauty of the country and the adventures they experience there.
- Bangkok Dangerous (2008) - An American action thriller starring Nicolas Cage as a hit man on his latest assignment in Bangkok, only to find himself involved in the lives of his target and a local woman.
- Shutter (2004) – A Thai horror film about a photographer and his girlfriend who are confronted with terrifying ghosts after they accidentally hit a woman and drive on.
These films offer a mix of genres and stories set in Thailand, giving viewers a glimpse into Thai culture, landscape and different aspects of life in the country.
I would like to advocate for a Thai film that I recently saw on Netflix. The name of the movie is: Hunger
It's about the cook of a family restaurant in Bangkok, who wants to move up. I won't elaborate, but great acting. Recommended
Also seen. Definitely belonged in the list above.
Totally agree! Great acting and fun if you can follow the language a bit (or well).
Not exactly a film, but a nice series: The Serpent!
Nice article about movies that take place in Thailand.
For me on NR.1 should be “ANNA AND THE KING”, with Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat. A beautiful, exotic and exciting film based on a true story. Anna, an English teacher travels to Siam (now Thailand) to teach King Mongkut's children. Really good adventure film full of passion and romance shot in beautiful Thailand.
Is this also your NR.1? Greetings from Rys.
Don't think that film was shot in Thailand but in Malaysia because that was banned as well as its distribution. Perhaps the latter has been cancelled?
Don't even think there are any Thai actors, only from Malaysia, Singapore, Honkong, China, etc… if I go down the list like that
“After reviewing the script, with changes having been made to try to satisfy them, the Thai government did not allow the film-makers to film in Thailand. The Thai authorities did not permit the film to be distributed in Thailand due to scenes that they constructed as a disrespectful and historically inaccurate depiction of King Mongkut.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_and_the_King
https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/dec/29/world.news
Some Thai films are also manageable for Westerners, my tip is Pop Aye, a nice entertaining film
Maybe not for the top 10, but for me a good Dutch film that partly takes place in Thailand, Simon from 2004 with Cees Geel in the lead role, definitely worth it.
Netflix is recommended for fans of Thai films, either from their own soil such as “Hunger”, recommended by Jacobus, or only playing in Thailand. If desired, set subtitles to Dutch. For the advanced reading along in Thai. I pay for 4K Premium ThB 420 p.mth through my AIS phone subscription. Of course watching via a newfangled large screen internet TV with built-in apps.
And to my surprise BEAUTIFUL BOXER is missing.
An atmospheric film that shows a lot about Thai culture.
It is the true story of a Thai mua thai boxer who becomes the champion of Thailand.
And later finds out that he feels more like a woman and therefore wants to have an operation.
Although the film is not set in Thailand but in Vietnam, The Deer Hunter from 1978 was partly filmed in Thailand :
The 'Vietnam' scenes filmed in Thailand, with Bangkok standing in for 'Saigon', and in the Katchanburi district of north Thailand near to the Burmese border.
The prison camp, where the VC obligingly allow the boys to play Russian roulette with three bullets (with one bound they're free…) was built on the River Kwai (as in Bridge On The River Kwai).
uncle boonmee who can recall his past lives is my recommendation, I'm surprised this movie isn't in the top 10.
Golden Palm winner at the Cannes Film Festival
And what about The Serpent 2021 (Netflix), worth mentioning, plays in Bangkok in the 70s, because of my work I was there regularly at the time, so recognizable, the atmosphere of that time
and Bangkok Hilton, 1989, starring Nicole Kidman.
Believe it or not, I play as an extra in The Hangover ll. Well, play, I cross the street with dozens of others.
It was quite a hassle on the day of the recording in Soi Cowboy. Be there at 5 o'clock in the morning and be home at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. It took so long because part of the film was also shot on the same day in Sukhumvit soi 7, where Bill Clinton played a role.
Indeed, also Bangkok Hilton. For me the best movie so far. No punishment to see him again.
You forgot “Rambo” from 2008, which is also set in Thailand