Foreign filmmakers flocked to Thailand despite the pandemic

Lights. Action. Cameras. Foreign filmmakers have been flocking to Thailand this year and the Kingdom hosted 71 productions, generating almost $200 million in earnings during the first ten months of 2021.

Filmmakers from the U.S. took top billing. Their productions brought in nearly $75 million in earnings followed by filmmakers from Hong Kong, Singapore, France and China to round out the top five.

Hollywood star Russell Crowe is currently in the Kingdom shooting scenes for a Viet Nam-era movie named The Greatest Beer Run Ever. The Australian actor has been delighting the Thai public with his tweets, praising the Kingdom’s hospitality and food. Crowe and his crew quarantined in the Phuket sandbox upon arrival before moving to other shooting locations around the country.

Thailand has been a favorite of filmmakers from Hollywood and many countries for decades. The Kingdom’s appeal is in its diverse and stunning landscapes, its openness and welcoming attitude, and the high quality and capability of its local film technicians and smooth and efficient logistics.

Among the scores of famous films shot in Thailand were The Ugly American, The Beach, The Man with the Golden Gun, the Killing Fields, The Deer Hunter, Mortal Kombat, Star Wars III, Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason and many more.

This year’s films were shot in 29 provinces. Bangkok was the most popular location for filming with 35 productions, followed by Phuket (10), Samut Prakan (8), Pathum Thani (6), Phangnga (5) and three each in Lampang, Surat Thani, Nakhon Nayok, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Rai.