Film-making in Thailand dates back to when King Chulalongkorn’s visit to Bern, Switzerland, in 1897 was filmed by François-Henri Lavanchy-Clarke. The film was then exhibited in Bangkok soon after. After this, many got interested in the art of filmmaking, including the royal family and, subsequently, the film industry gradually solidified in Thailand. Given below is a list of the top 10 high-budget Thai movies.
1. Tom Yum Goong (2006)
The above is a Thai martial arts action movie starring Tony Jaa. It was directed by Prachya Pinkaew and distributed in various countries with names like The Protector in The US and Warrior King in The UK. Its average production budget was $5,700,000 and, the total worldwide box office was $43,044,087, making it a blockbuster hit.
2. Bad Genius (2017)
Also known as Chalard Games Goeng, the above film is a heist thriller produced by Jor Kwang Films. It is based on a character named Lynn who, is a brilliant student and, makes money by cheating on tests. Soon she receives a new task where she goes to Australia, sits for the international exam and delivers answers to her friends in Thailand. Its total worldwide box office was $42,605,099.
3. Turkisch Fur Anfanger (2012)
Simply known as Turkish for Beginners, it is a comedy and, adventure film. A story of a girl who landed on an island after an emergency landing. The film’s average production budget was $4,650,000 and it made $24,223,433 at total worldwide box office, becoming a massive success.
4. Ong-Bak (2003-2010)
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a trilogy starring Tony Jaa, based on Thai martial arts. The movie’s average production budget was $1,100,000, and it made $24,100,856 worldwide, earning itself both the name and fame globally.
5. Friend Zone (2019)
A sweet rom-com movie where Palm has been in love with his best friend Gink for a long time. She suggests being friends is better, she always calls him whenever she breaks up with her boyfriend, and he uses his perks of being a flight attendant to fly to her no matter where she is. This movie had a total worldwide box office of $15,602,988.
6. Tropical Malady (2004)
This is a Thai art film exploring the genre of romantic psychological drama. It is directed and written by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. It is an interesting plot divided in two segments, one being the romance between two men and the second being a story of a soldier lost in the woods who is haunted by the spirit of a shaman. It won the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 and was the first Thai film in the main competition at Cannes. Its domestic box office alone was $46,750.
7. Shutter (2004)
This horror-thriller film follows the plot of a Thai couple meeting with an accident resulting in hitting a woman and leaving her for dead and the mysteries and hauntings which unfold later. It was extremely popular in the early 2000s and was awarded in a number of film festivals. It had a box office of $6,989,456.
8. Queens Of Langkasuka (2008)
An action-packed film mixed with genres of adventure and fantasy, the above movie unfolds the story of the three Queens of Langkasuka joining forces against the mighty sea pirates who want to invade their kingdom. It had a budget of 140 million baht and grossed 34.2 million baht.
9. Chocolate (2008)
A heart-touching story of an autistic girl Zen who decides to collect money for her ill mother from her debtors, and soon her uncanny martial arts skills come to use. It had a budget of $4.8 million and made $3,179,014 worldwide.
10. Yamada : Samurai Of Ayothaya (2010)
A film on the historical figure Yamada Nagamasa who was an adventurer and a samurai and his journey to becoming the governor of the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat in Southern Thailand. It had a budget of 100 million TBH.
