7 Movies Shot in Thailand (with locations)

Updated: April 3, 2024

These are the most famous movies shot in Thailand, and I'll share the exact locations and scenes so you can visit these places.

Thailand is one of the favorite destinations for shooting movies in Southeast Asia due to its beautiful landscapes and cost-effectiveness compared to filming in Europe or other locations.

Dozens of well-known foreign films have been shot in the Land of Smiles. In this article, I'll tell you about the 7 movies filmed in Thailand with the most interesting settings.

You can watch snippets of each film in the video below. If you haven't seen these movies, I should warn you that both the video and the article contain total spoilers. 😅

Although some scenes mentioned in the article may not appear in the video as YouTube has removed them due to copyright issues.

1.- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

This James Bond movie, directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Roger Moore, has scenes filmed both in Bangkok and on an island in the Phang Nga province near Phuket.

Bangkok

In Bangkok, there is a car chase scene featuring some significant city landmarks:

• Democracy Monument: In the video below, you can see it in the background at the beginning, minute 0:00.
• Wat Suthat: They continue driving and pass by this temple at minute 0:45. After all these years, that sidewalk is now lined with trees.

Koh Khao Phing Kan in Phang Nga Bay

The island is known by tourists as James Bond Island after being featured in this movie and is one of the most common stops when visiting Phang Nga Bay.

At minute 1:15, you can see James Bond's arrival at the island by seaplane, flying over this beautiful area.

One of the most striking features of this island is a rock formation in the middle of the bay called Koh Tapu, which means Nail Island due to its shape, seen at minute 2:37.

Later, on the island's beach, one of the most iconic scenes takes place: the duel between James Bond and his nemesis Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), with Koh Tapu in the background at minute 3:47.

⭐ In this article you can read more about What to do in Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, and how to get there.

✅ Friend's Tip: Don’t forget to get travel insurance for your next adventure. I recommend Heymondo,—it’s super comprehensive, and with that link, you’ll get 15% off!

2.- The Beach (2000)

The film directed by Danny Boyle and starring Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the movies shot in Thailand that has significantly boosted tourism.

Although a 2006 ruling acknowledged that the production of this movie severely impacted Phi Phi Leh Island, its main filming location on Maya Beach, and the coral reef in the bay.

The massive tourism influx that followed the movie wasn't very beneficial either.

Eventually, Thai authorities closed the beach for several years; now, it has been open since January 2022.

Fortunately, improvements in marine life are becoming noticeable, and even reef sharks have returned, which is a very positive sign.

As for the locations, here are the most relevant ones from this movie filmed in Thailand:

• Streets of Bangkok: At the beginning of the movie, you can see Leonardo DiCaprio in Bangkok, walking down Khao San Road when he receives the strange invitation to drink snake blood.
• On On Hotel in Phuket: Later, the supposed hotel in Bangkok is actually a hotel in Phuket. Nowadays, it's renovated on the inside and looks much nicer than in the images, but it retains the charm of its Sino-Portuguese style, as you can see at minute 4:51.
• Mayan Beach: At minute 5:48, DiCaprio and his friends arrive at Maya Beach. Although the movie depicts the bay as completely enclosed by the rocky wall, it's actually open, and this is the way to get to Maya.

⭐ Check out this article for further insights on What to do in Phi Phi: the Ultimate Guide.

3.- The Impossible (2012)

In 2012, the movie 'The Impossible' was released, starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, based on the traumatic experience of Spanish doctor María Belón and her family during the 2004 tsunami.

There are several locations in Khao Lak that were used to shoot the film:

• Khuk Khak Beach in Khao Lak: The beach scenes were filmed here, which is the beach right in front of the Orchid Resort and one of the most famous in the coastal town of Khao Lak, the most affected place in Thailand by the tsunami. You can see some images of the beach in the trailer snippet at minute 6:39.
• Khaolak Orchid Beach Resort in Khao Lak: The hotel scenes and the pool scenes where they are when the tsunami hits were filmed here, as seen at minute 7:08.
• Takua Pa Hospital: All the hospital scenes, both interior scenes with Naomi Watts and Tom Holland helping others find their relatives, as well as exterior scenes in the tents with Tom Holland or the reunion scenes, were filmed here. This hospital is less than 30 km from Khao Lak inland. The hospital doesn't particularly stand out because almost any Thai state hospital has a similar look.

⭐ Khao Lak is a town with many things to do that is rarely visited by tourists, in this article you can read more: What to do in Khao Lak: 11 Plans in this Seaside Paradise

4.- American Gangster (2007)

The movie directed by Ridley Scott and starring Denzel Washington has some scenes set in Thailand at the beginning.

Although there are scenes labeled as Bangkok, there is no indication that it was actually filmed in Bangkok.

However, there is a scene where Washington is talking in a bar, and Warorot Street in Chiang Mai is visible.

Then, the river scenes are north of Chiang Mai at 8:09, and the opium house was built for filming in a peanut field near Chiang Mai starting at 9:04.

⭐ Check out this article for a more in-depth exploration of Chiang Mai's Chinatown, and the must-visit places, including Warorot and the flower market.

👍 My two cents: If you’re looking to stay connected during your trip, 🤳 I recommend this eSIM for Thailand or this one for Asia both with unlimited data and work perfectly. Just use that link for a 5% discount.

5.- The bridge over the River Kwai (1957)

I've cheated a little here, I confess. 😅🙊 This movie was not filmed in Thailand, but in Sri Lanka and it's a cinema classic with no less than 7 Academy Awards.

However, I found it interesting to include it because it's based on the book of the same name, telling the tragic story during the construction of the real bridge located in Thailand.

The actual bridge is in Kanchanaburi, less than 150 km from Bangkok.

Today, the bridge is still in use as the train tracks connecting Bangkok to Nam Tok pass through it.

The bridge's construction took place during World War II to connect with Burma and was under Japanese supervision.

Prisoners of war and Asian laborers were employed under deplorable conditions.

It is estimated that around 100,000 people died during its construction, earning it the infamous nickname Death Railway.

In the video at 10:18, you can see a scene of the replica bridge showing how it originally looked, and you can hear the famous British military march whistled by the prisoners known as the Colonel Bogey March.

It's a very catchy tune. Did you know it?

⭐ In this article you can read about the Visit to Kanchanaburi and Erawan waterfalls a beautiful place for a day trip.

6.- Bridget Jones: I will survive (2004)

The second installment of the Bridget Jones movie, starring Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, has its central part filmed in various locations in Thailand:

• Temple of the Golden Buddha in Bangkok: When they arrive in Bangkok, Bridget appears dressed in traditional Thai style clothing in front of this temple.
• Soi Cowboy in Bangkok: Next, there's a scene with Hugh Grant on this popular street in the red-light district.
• Nai Yang Beach in Phuket: It is the beach that is seen from minute 11:22 after Bridget consumes hallucinogenic mushrooms and leaves her angel in the sand. 😂
• Phang Nga Bay: Later, both protagonists take a boat ride through this bay, starting at 13:03. Eventually, they reach Koh Panyee, the fishing village built on stilts, one of the most interesting stops in Phang Nga Bay seen from 13:12 onward.

7.- Kickboxer (1989)

Kickboxer starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, is one of the films shot in Bangkok.

They were in the Thai capital for almost 2 months, capturing scenes in various streets, temples, Muay Thai gyms, and stadiums.

However, one of the standout locations is during the training scenes in the Historic Park of Ayutthaya, with temples in the background, as seen at the 13:20 mark in the video.

⭐ In this article you can read more about What to see in Ayutthaya: 8 essentials, with transportation alternatives and plenty of tips.

Final Thoughts

These are the most well-known movies shot in Thailand, so you can plan your cinematic route through Thailand and recreate famous scenes.

In this guide to Thailand you can keep reading the main articles I’ve written about this beautiful country.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘

More about Thailand and Southeast Asia

• Khao Sok National Park: visit to the park, lake and caves
• Shark Bay on Koh Tao: the best snorkeling site
• 23 Tips for traveling to Thailand
• Sleeper Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• Tips for Moving to Thailand: pros and cons