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16 of the Latest Movies Filmed in Thailand

Over the decades, Thailand has featured in countless movies. From classic James Bond movies to lesser-known independent films, Thailand’s stunning scenery and colourful culture have regularly appeared on the big screen. In our round-up (shown here in reverse chronological order) we’ve focused on international movies from 2000 onwards that were partly filmed in Thailand. However, we also give an honourable mention to some old classics.

1) Mother of the Bride (2024)

Locations: Phuket

Directed by Mark Waters (Freaky Friday and Mean Girls) this romantic comedy stars Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove and Benjamin Bratt. Filming locations in Phuket included Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. Mother of the Bride premiered on Netflix in May 2024.

2) Meg 2: The Trench (2023)

Locations: Phuket, Krabi

A sequel to The Meg, the storyline follows a similar theme to the original 2018 movie. Jason Statham again takes the lead as a group of scientists try to outwit the megalodons (giant prehistoric sharks). Phuket was the location for the fictional resort of Fun Island while other locations in Thailand included the Hong Islands in Krabi.

3) Thirteen Lives (2022)

Locations: Chiang Rai

Directed by Ron Howard, Thirteen Lives retells the gripping true-life rescue of the Wild Boars youth football team from a flooded cave in North Thailand in 2018. The story of the Thai youngsters and the heroic rescue effort captured the hearts of people across the world and is poignantly retold here.

4) F9 (Fast & Furious 9) (2021)

Locations: Ko Pha Ngan, Krabi, Phuket

Vin Diesel reprises his role as Dominic Toretto in the high-octane action movie F9 (Fast & Furious 9). If you’ve seen any of the previous instalments of the Fast & Furious franchise you’ll know what to expect. For Thailand lovers, the movie is worth watching to see the sublime scenery of Southern Thailand with Ko Pha Ngan, Krabi and Phuket all used during the shooting of the movie.

5) Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Locations: Chiang Mai and North Thailand

Directed by Spike Lee, Da 5 Bloods tells the story of a group of African American army veterans returning to Vietnam. As is often the case with Vietnam War movies, Thailand is used as a stand-in for locations. The mountains and jungles of North Thailand form the backdrop to the movie with locations including Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, and Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.

6) Changeland (2019)

Locations: Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket

Released in 2019, Changeland was Seth Green’s directorial debut and is inspired by Green’s real-life adventures in Thailand a decade earlier. Green also stars alongside Macaulay Culkin in this comedy-drama that was filmed on location in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket.

7) Only God Forgives (2013)

Locations: Bangkok

Only God Forgives competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Filmed on location in Bangkok, this crime thriller stars Ryan Gosling and Kristin Scott Thomas. The movie centres around two American brothers, Julian and Billy, who run a Muay Thai boxing club in the Thai capital as a front for drug dealing.

8) The Railway Man (2013)

Locations: Kanchanaburi

Eric Lomax was a British officer in World War II who endured unimaginable suffering as a prisoner of war during the construction of the notorious Death Railway in Thailand. In later life, he confronted his demons when he returned to Thailand to meet face-to-face with the former Japanese army officer who had tortured him. In the movie adaptation of Eric Lomax’s autobiography, Lomax is played by Colin Firth with Eric’s wife, Patty Lomax, played by Nicole Kidman.

9) The Impossible (2012)

Locations: Khao Lak, Phang Nga

This movie is based on the true story of a family who were staying in Khao Lak when the deadliest tsunami on record struck. Starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts, The Impossible was filmed at locations around Phang Nga province including the Khao Lak Orchid Beach Resort.

10) The Hangover Part II (2011)

Locations: Bangkok, Krabi

It may not be a classic, but The Hangover Part II did inspire some memorable footage from Bangkok and the rooftop Sky Bar at Lebua at State Tower. Perhaps most memorable for coining the phrase, “Bangkok has him now”, the movie also featured wedding scenes from Krabi filmed at the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton.

11) American Gangster (2007)

Locations: Chiang Mai

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe star in this movie based on the true story of American criminal Frank Lucas. During his criminal heyday, Lucas smuggled heroin from Vietnam to the USA and the movie films some of the action in Chiang Mai (city and province).

12) The Elephant King (2006)

Locations: Chiang Mai

This 2006 movie was written and directed by Seth Grossman. Set in Chiang Mai, the story centres around the relationship of two American brothers with disparate personalities.

13) Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Locations: Phang Nga

Many people are surprised to learn that Thailand has appeared in a Star Wars movie. Thailand’s tropical climate might not be ideal for the Wookies, but in Revenge of the Sith the dramatic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay (with the help of CGI) featured on Kashyyyk, the home planet of the Wookies.

14) Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

Locations: Krabi

Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan take lead roles in this revamp of the 1956 classic (which itself featured Bangkok) starring David Niven. Although Thailand doesn’t feature heavily, Krabi is used as a location for the rural Chinese village (seen at the end of the trailer below).

15) Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Locations: Bangkok, Phang Nga, Phuket

Thailand gets plenty of love from this Bridget Jones movie which sees Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in several stunning settings in Thailand. Locations that can be spotted in the movie include Bangkok, Phang Nga Bay and Phuket.

16) The Beach (2000)

Locations: Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park, Phi Phi Islands, Phuket Town

The Beach is one of the most famous movies filmed in Thailand, but production wasn’t without controversy. Film crews made changes to the iconic beach at Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh earning the ire of conservation groups. The popularity of the Leonardo DiCaprio movie also caused environmental concerns with a surge in visitor numbers putting pressure on this area of outstanding natural beauty. Away from the Phi Phi Islands, filming also took place in Phuket Town and Khao San Road in Bangkok while the famous waterfall jump was shot in Khao Yai National Park.
Tomorrow Never Dies

Old classics

Although we’ve focused on movies filmed since 2000, it would be remiss not to mention some celluloid classics.

Thailand features in a couple of James Bond movies. Pierce Brosnan was 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) with Bangkok and Phang Nga Bay both getting in on the action. Bangkok and Phang Nga Bay also famously appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) starring Roger Moore and Christopher Lee.

Several Vietnam War movies have used Thailand as a stand-in. In the 1970s it was The Deer Hunter (1978) with Christoper Walken’s Russian roulette scene filmed in Bangkok’s Patpong nightlife area while the POW camp with cages in the river was filmed in Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi.

Directed by Oliver Stone, Heaven & Earth (1993) is another classic Vietnam War movie filmed in Thailand with Bangkok and Phuket both making appearances.

The mountain scenery of Mae Hong Son features heavily in Air America (1990) with North Thailand standing in for Laos in this story of a covert CIA operation during the Vietnam War.

Robin Williams brought his effervescent style to Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) with Bangkok used as a substitute for Saigon and some scenes shot in Phuket.

Last but by no means least, Sylvester Stallone has been a frequent visitor to the Land of Smiles with Thailand featuring in a trio of Rambo movies. Chiang Mai and the North Thailand countryside can be seen in First Blood II (1985), Rambo III (1988) and Rambo (2008).

About our guest contributor:
My name is Roy Cavanagh and I’ve been fortunate enough to live in Thailand and travel to every region of the country over a number of years. Thaizer.com is where I share my knowledge and experience with you. Just like any destination, Thailand has its good points and its bad points and I try to offer honest and practical advice.

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