This is a list of foreign films shot in Thailand. See also: List of Thai films Numerous foreign films have been shot in Thailand, with the kingdom either playing itself or standing in for a neighboring country, such as Vietnam or Cambodia. The availability of exotic jungle and beach settings, relatively low production costs, and a mature domestic film industry that provides experienced crew members have made Thailand an attractive location for many international productions. Notable films shot in Thailand include The Big Boss, The Man with the Golden Gun, and The Beach. The country has also served as a stand-in setting for Vietnam War-era films such as The Deer Hunter; Good Morning, Vietnam; Casualties of War; and The Killing Fields. While foreign productions provide valuable jobs for local crews and help promote Thailand as a global tourist destination, they have also drawn criticism for damaging the natural environment. High-profile shoots for films like The Man with the Golden Gun and The Beach have sparked long-term ecological concerns due to physical location alterations and the subsequent influx of film-driven tourism.
History
Hollywood and foreign productions have played an important role in the development of Thailand's film industry. One of the first feature films made in Thailand, 1923's Miss Suwanna of Siam, was a Hollywood co-production made with the royal assistance of King Vajiravudh. He granted the production free use of his 52 automobiles, 600 horses, the Royal Thai Navy, the Grand Palace, railways, rice mills, rice fields, coconut groves, canals, and elephants. Shortly after, the 1927 silent documentary Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness, directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, was also filmed in the country. Over the decades, Thailand has remained a popular location for Western cinema. The Bollywood film industry has also frequently chosen the country for its productions, a trend that took off following the massive success of the 2000 hit Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.
Economic impact and incentives Foreign productions provide work for local film crews and extras, including the Royal Thai Army, while also promoting the country as a tourist destination. Due to this economic impact, agencies such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Film Office actively recruit international production companies. At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Thailand introduced a cash rebate policy that officially took effect in January 2017. The program grants a 15% tax rebate for foreign film productions that spend more than 50 million baht. The rebate increases by 2% for films that promote Thai tourism, and an additional 3% if the production hires key Thai personnel on set. Filmed advertisements are not eligible for the program. Following the implementation of these incentives, 714 foreign productions—including documentaries, television dramas, series, advertisements, and feature films—were shot in Thailand in 2018. During the first six months of 2019, 410 foreign productions were filmed in the country, which the TAT reported contributed 3.5 billion baht to the local economy. Since 2024, a 30% uncapped cash rebate has spurred a surge in major productions, including Alien: Earth and Jurassic World Rebirth. Media-driven tourism, or "set-jetting," has further boosted the economy; The White Lotus generated $36.5 million in local spending and sparked a 300% increase in travel bookings to Thailand.
Environmental controversies
Filmmakers have occasionally faced criticism for damaging the Thai environment during production. The island used to depict the villain's hideout in The Man with the Golden Gun became a major draw for tourism operators in Phuket's Phang Nga Bay. Now commonly known as "James Bond Island," the location faces long-term concerns over ecological sustainability and crowding. Environmentalists also heavily protested the filming of the 2000 film The Beach, arguing that the production crew's physical alterations to Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Le caused severe ecological damage.
List of foreign films shot in Thailand
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