Did you know that by watching Thai movies, you can pick up the language that much faster?! When learning a new language, it’s recommended that you immerse yourself in it. So, while you could watch Thai movies with subtitles on in your native language, it’s better to use the context in the film and active listening skills to learn faster.
Over the past decade, Thai cinema has reached global recognition with many awards, including Oscar and international film festival awards. We’ve included a list of the most famous Thai movies over the years to help you find your favorite, so you can watch them repeatedly to study Thai. The hope is that, eventually, you’ll be quoting the movie as you watch it. Let’s explore!
Table of Contents
Tips On How To Use Movies To Learn Thai
Movies are a fantastic way to learn languages! Here’s how you can use Thai movies to learn Thai and help you with your fluency:
1. Watch With Subtitles Off
Listening and watching are the keys to your success. Listen to the pronunciation, watch the actor’s body language, and you’ll pick on the accent and body movements in Thai culture.
2. Watch Thai Movies With Subtitles In Thai
This will help you to learn to read Thai. Although it’s a bit daunting at first, you can start by associating the dialogue with how the words on the screen to know what characters represent what sounds.
3. Watch A Thai Film With Subtitles In Your Native Language
This will help you to understand and translate your native tongue into Thai.
4. Pause The Film And Repeat What They Say
Repetition is the key to learning a language! Repeat phrases and sayings to learn the pronunciation and meaning behind popular terms and phrases.
5. Speak Along With The Film
After watching the same scene or film multiple times, you may have a favorite scene. Replay that scene and talk along with it!
6. Watch The Same Film on Repeat
Watching the same movie over and over with the above techniques will ensure you really learn many aspects of Thai. So which film should you choose to implement these techniques?
Here are some of the most famous Thai films that you must watch!
Famous And Fun Thai Movies To Practice Thai
Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (องค์บาก)
Genre: Martial Arts, Thriller, Action
Released: 2003
With Muay Thai being Thailand’s national sport, Ong Bak is a great way to learn about the fighting culture in Thailand, especially Muay Thai. Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, also known as ‘The Art of Eight Limbs,’ was the first film to show what Muay Thai fights looked like. The fights had been misrepresented for decades in movies such as The Quest starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.
It is one of the top Thai movies with great success overseas, especially in the United States, where it was renamed ‘Ong-Back: The Thai Warrior.’ Tony Jaa rose to fame in his lead role and starred in two sequels, which unfortunately weren’t as successful as the first.
Tropical Malady (สัตว์ประหลาด)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 2004
‘Tropical Malady’ made waves at the Cannes Film Festival when it won The Jury Prize in 2004. It’s become known as one of the best Thai films of all time because it also won the Special Jury Award for Directing at the 2005 Indianapolis International Film Festival and the Critics Award at the São Paulo International Film Festival.
Shutter (ชัตเตอร์ กดติดวิญญาณ)
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Released: 2004
‘Shutter‘ is a famous Thai horror movie, and apparently, it is so scary you won’t want to watch it alone. The movie follows a Thai couple following a tragic hit and run, where their wrongdoing haunts the couple.
It scared audiences internationally and gained awards at several small international film festivals. In 2005, ‘Shutter’ was even nominated for the best film category at the Bangkok International Film Festival.
Chocolate (ช็อคโกแลต)
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: 2008
‘Chocolate’ is a follow-up film by Prachya Pinkaew, who directed ‘Ong Bak,’ released to rave reviews. The film chronicles the female journey of learning Muay Thai and involves the movie ‘Ong Bak.’
The main female character decides to learn Muay Thai to protect herself by repeatedly watching ‘Ong Bak.’ She learns the martial art following her mother’s death as she goes to collect a debt owed to her family.
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (ลุงบุญมีระลึกชาติ)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 2010
‘Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives‘ is one of Thailand’s most recognized best films. You likely heard all about it in 2010-2011 when it went on to win an Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Not only that, but the film also won the Palme d’Or in 2010 at the Cannes Films Festival and won Best Film at the 5th Annual Asian Film Awards in the same year. Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who also directed ‘Tropical Malady,’ this dramatic film cemented his lore in Thai cinema.
The movie is based on a true story about an abbot named Bonmee who claimed that all his past lives were relived through his meditation practices.
Bangkok Traffic Love Story (รถไฟฟ้า มาหานะเธอ)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Released: 2009
‘Bangkok Traffic Love Story’ is a coming-of-age story about finding love as a young adult. It resonated with young Thais as it portrays what it’s like to form a relationship as an adult.
The plot follows a female lead who falls into a depression after all of her friends find love and get married. She ends up on a destructive path, eventually finding love.
The Teacher’s Diary (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Released: 2014
A romance develops between teachers in a rural area of Thailand. A teacher, banished from teaching due to her tattoo, leaves behind a diary full of her daily struggles after her life becomes difficult when it’s found she has a tattoo. Asked to remove it to keep her job, she refuses.
A year later, a male teacher, desperate for work, replaces her and finds her notebook. He becomes intrigued and writes her notes of encourageme,nt. After his contract ends, she returns and reads his comments and a relationship blossoms through words.
The Teacher’s Diary was directed by Nithiwat Tharathorn and was selected as an entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards.
The Medium (ร่างทรง)
Genre: Horror
Released: 2021
This film quickly became a cult classic with horror officiants touting it as one of the great horror films. It’s a found footage film which pays homage to the original of its genre, The Blair Witch Project, which gives it the realistic creepy feelings throughout. A Thai-South Korean film, The Medium was nominated for numerous awards.
The premise if that a boy in northern Thailand gets possessed by what the family believes to be a goddess. However, the spirit turns out to be malevolent and horrible things ensue.
Phobia 2 (ห้าแพร่ง)
Genre: Horror
Released: 2009
This film is a rare case in the cinema when the sequel is better than the original! ‘Phobia 2′ was released only a year after the original, ‘Phobia.’ Both films are anthology series that takes you through 5 different experiences. And the sequel is known as the scariest Thai horror movie ever made!
If you watch it, you’ll also learn a lot of important facts about Thai superstitions and religion.
Bad Genius (ฉลาดเกมส์โกง)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Released: 2017
‘Bad Genius’ is easily one of the best Thai movies released recently. The plot revolves around a highly intelligent, straight A student, Lin. She ends up helping her close friend cheat on a test to get into a good university in Thailand and decides to start a business to make extra money as her family is poor.
Things go wrong when she’s offered a million baht to help students cheat on the national exam. ‘Bad Genius’ takes exam cheating to a new level with lots of suspense and character building.
Behind The Painting (ข้างหลังภาพ)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Released: 2001
Behind the Painting is one of the most beloved Thai films ever made. It is a classic love story that takes place in the 1980s, involving quite an age gap that highlights that love has no age.
Based on a Thai novel of the same name, the film and the book will have you in tears as you explore a different dimension of love. It also allows you to learn and listen to some old Thai language that isn’t much used today.
Bang Rajan (บางระจัน)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Released: 2000
You must watch ‘Bang Rajan’ to learn about the famous historical war between Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar.) It’s a legendary Thailand film with action-packed scenes that chronicle the efforts of a small village to stave off an invasion of Burmese forces in the 1767 conflict.
The film was a success and was screened at international film festivals worldwide.
How Do You Say “Movies” In Thai?
In Thai, the word for “movies” is pâap pá yon (ภาพยนตร์) , or more informally, nǎng (หนัง) .
Vocabulary Related To Thai Movies
If you have a Thai friend that’s a movie buff, be sure to use these vocabulary terms below to talk about anything cinema-related!
If you’d like to learn more related Thai vocabulary and phrases, check out the Ling app.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thai Movies
1. What Is The Highest Grossing Thai Film Of All Time?
The highest grossing Thai film of all time is Pee Mak, directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun. The story is based on the Thai folktale of Mae Nak Phra Khanong (แม่นากพระโขนง). A horror, comedy, and romance at the same time, it’s appeal to Thai audiences makes it the highest grossing Thai movie ever, making 568.55 million Thai baht (16.4 million USD) during its theatrical release.
2. Where Can We Watch Thai Movies?
If you’re outside of Thailand, Thai movies are found commonly being commonly screened at film festivals around the world. In addition, streaming services such as Netflix have a good selection of Thai movies and TV series you can watch.
3. Do Thai Cinemas Show Films In English?
Thai cinemas, in addition to screening locally-made Thai movies, also screen foreign movies in English as well. From hollywood blockbusters to Japanese and Korean movies, you’re sure to find the movie you’re looking for anywhere in Thailand.
Get Your Popcorn Ready
Movies are a fantastic and entertaining way to learn about a new culture and learn a new language. But you can’t exactly watch a movie in a few minutes. Rather you need at least 1.5 hours a day to watch and practice. By watching Thai movies, you can also learn about Thai actors and Thai actresses that you can talk about with your friends.
Thai movies are an insight into Thai pop culture, media, and so much more! By watching movies in Thai, you can actively learn Thai in an enjoyable way. Why pick up a textbook when you can instead watch an awesome action movie? Try out some of the tips we’ve outlined in this post, and see how your understanding of Thai can improve by watching some Thai movies!
