The Land of Smiles made a cameo or a little bit more in the following movies and shows

Thailand. It’s an exceptional place, packed with stunning landscapes and iconic landmarks. Countless films have included bits and pieces of Thailand in their footage—some more than others. Browse through our top ten picks of films and series that were partly filmed in Thailand and include remarkable scenes of different provinces throughout the Kingdom.

1/10 The Killing Fields (1984)

Based on the experiences of two journalists, The Killing Fields is a 1984 British biological drama about the real-life burial ground of thousands of lives taken by the Khmer Rouge. One of the journalists, Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor), tried saving his own life by pretending to lack intelligence during the systematic killing of the educated. Despite most of the movie being filmed in Cambodia and New York, Thailand was where Ngor escaped to before he was killed outside of his apartment in California.

2/10 Beautiful Boxer (2004)

Based on a true story, Beautiful Boxer explores the life of transgender Muay Thai boxer Parinya Charoenphol. Portrayed by male kickboxer Asanee Suwan, the movie won international acclaim for its sensitive representation of a transgender protagonist.

3/10 Two Brothers (2004)

Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, Two Brothers is a French-British-American drama about two tiger brothers—Kumal and Sangha—who were separated from their family when they were cubs and found their way back home a year later. The film was shot in the jungles of Thailand, Cambodia, and temples in Siem Reap that included Angkor Wat.

4/10 Rescue Dawn (2006)

Based on an adapted screenplay the 1997 documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly, Rescue Dawn follows Dieter Dengle, an American fighter who was shot down in 1965 in Laos while on a secret mission during the Vietnam War. Filming took place in 2005 in remote jungles of north-west Thailand, close to the border of Myanmar. 

5/10 American Gangster (2007)

American Gangster is based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, who smuggled heroin into the United States after returning from the Vietnam War in the 1960s. The crime drama was  written by Steven Zaillian, and directed and produced by Ridley Scott. Although most of the filming took place in New York, the movie wrapped up in Thailand, the real location from which he smuggled drugs.

6/10 The Hangover Part II (2011)

A movie most people are familiar with, The Hangover Part II is a sequel to the 2009 film The Hangover, and the second installment in the Hangover trilogy. An American comedy directed by Todd Phillips, the film follows a group of friends traveling to Thailand to attend a wedding, only to end up on a wild bachelor party night. The film features some stunning shots of Thailand, including the Skybar at Lebua and scenes at Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton in Krabi.

7/10 The Impossible (2012)

Filmed at the Khao Lak Orchid Beach Resort and other locations around Phang Nga province, The Impossible rehashes the tragedy of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The film was directed by J. A. Bayona, and written by Sergio G. Sánche. The story is based on the experience of Maria Bennett and her family’s Christmas holiday in Thailand. The film stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland.

8/10 The Railway Man (2013)

Starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, The Railway Man deals with a former British Army officer who was tortured as a prisoner of war while forced to work on the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi. He later discovers that the man responsible for his mistreatment is still alive, so he travels to Thailand to confront him.

9/10 The Cave (2019)

A Thai film based on true events of the rescue mission that captivated the world, The Cave was written and directed by Tom Waller and co-produced by Waller and Allen Liu. Thousands of volunteers and soldiers from around the world united to save the youth football team who were trapped deep inside a cave in Northern Thailand with their 25-year-old coach. Filmed at the actual Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province, some of the real rescue volunteers and cave divers took part in the making of the movie.

10/10 The Serpent (2021)

British crime drama The Serpent is based on the true crimes of French serial killer Charles Sobhraj, played by Tahar Rahim, who murdered young tourists as he drugged and robbed travelers. He stole victims’ passports and identities to sell stolen gems with his girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc around the world between 1975 and 2000. Their web of crimes starts to unravel when Dutch diplomat, Herman Knippenberg, begins investigating the murders of Dutch tourists. The series was shot on location in Thailand at nine provinces including Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi.