Thai Regions
This is a list of titles from the four regions (Northern, Northeastern, Central and Southern) of Thailand for the Thai Watch Challenge, including Bangkok as its own area to encourage us to look to the rest of central Thailand as well. Focus here is on titles where the location is integral to the story rather than, say, a campus setting which happens to be in Bangkok. Elisheva used this four region system list (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Thailand#Grouping_systems) as a guide but also noting Western and Eastern (per the six region system) where relevant.
(Also, several short series from MindTrio are set in the north and feature the landscape there.)
If you know any Thai titles with a specific setting that is plot-relevant, feel free to write a comment or send a message so we can add them.
Huge thanks to Elisheva for compiling a list and for the prompt itself that will be included in the Thai Watch Challenge.
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1. Thun Thai
Thai Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
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2. A Tale of Thousand Stars
Thai Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
Northern - Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai
Also episodes 2-3 & 4 of the mini series included in the Our Skyy 2 anthology (Story 8 & 9) - Chiang Rai -
3. Low Season
Thai Movie - 2020
Northern
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4. The Paradise of Thorns
Thai Movie - 2024
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5. The Trapped 13: How We Survived the Thai Cave
Thai Movie - 2022
Northern - Chiang Rai. This one focuses on the boys, coach, families and other locals more than foreign rescue workers.
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6. Thai Cave Rescue
Thai Drama - 2022, 6 episodes
Northern - Chiang Rai. Focus on boys, Thai people and region.
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7. The Cave
Thai Movie - 2019
Northern - Chiang Rai. Focus on rescue, but also shows Thai region.
(Foreigners to the rescue. If you want to learn more about the land and people, The Trapped 13 is far better - Eli) -
8. Love in Twilight
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
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9. The Forest
Thai Special - 2023, 1 episode
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10. Doi Boy
Thai Movie - 2023
Elisheva: "Northern, from MDL comments haven't seen to confirm yet"
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11. Mekhong Full Moon Party
Thai Movie - 2002
Northeast - Phon Phisai district, Nong Khai province, across Mekhong from Vientiane. It's about the fireballs. VERY local, strong sense of place.
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12. The Undertaker
Thai Movie - 2023
Northeastern - Isaan
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13. Nha Harn
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Northeastern - Isaan
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14. The Medium
Thai Movie - 2021
Northeastern - Isaan
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15. The Rocket Angels
Thai Movie - 2022
Elisheva: "I'm pretty sure this is Isaan from the landscape and mor lam soundtrack"
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16. Chaos at the Graveyard
Thai Movie - 2003
Elisheva: "Northeastern I think, haven't seen yet. MDL page says Central but Chaiyaphum Provice is just over the Northeastern border on both the four- and six-region systems. I'm not an expert though, just a geek."
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17. Nakak
Thai Drama - 2023, 2 episodes
Northeastern - Dan Sai district, Loei Province, Isan - Thai PBS
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18. Khru Ma
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Village on the Cambodian border, and that matters in the story. That could be either Eastern (6)/Central (4) or the bottom of the Northeastern region. Maybe someone else will know.
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19. The Cheery Lee, Village Headman
Thai Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
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20. Black Full Moon
Thai Movie - 2017
Central/Eastern - Rayong Province (Raw easy to find but I haven't been able to track down Engslish subtitles. If you find some, give me a shout na- Eli)
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21. Moonlight Chicken
Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Central (4)/Eastern (6) - Pattaya City, Chonburi
Very strong sense of place, although the Chinatown and diner location used for filming weren't in Pattaya City. I'll have to figure out where I read that, but I think it's still Eastern/Central Thailand - Eli -
22. Teacher's Diary
Thai Movie - 2014
Based on a floating school in Li District, Lamphun province (Northern) but filmed at Kang Ka Jan Natural Park, Phetchaburi Province (Western, on the border with Myanmar). Chiang Mai is mentioned and the distance probably makes more sense plot-wise for an intended Northern location than Phetchaburi, but it's not made explicit in the film. - Eli
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23. By the River
Thai Movie - 2013
Western (6)/Central (4) - Klity, Kanchanaburi. Very strong sense of place, beautifully filmed, quietly powerful. DM me if you need help finding this. - Eli
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24. Down the River
Thai Movie - 2004
Elisheva: "Central (4)/Western (6) (I'm reasonably confident this is partially set in Erawan National Park waterfalls, Kanchanaburi Province 120 km west of Bangkok, with its 7 levels of waterfalls and connection with elephants)"
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25. Death Whisperer
Thai Movie - 2023
West/Central - Dan Makham Tia district, southern Kanchanaburi Province. Folk horror with a strong sense of place.
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26. Bangkok Traffic Love Story
Thai Movie - 2009
Bangkok
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27. The Cursed Land
Thai Movie - 2024
Set in a Muslim district on the edge of Bangkok and in the South-East (Bala forest in Waeng and Sukhirin districts in Narathiwat province)
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28. Letter from the Sun
Thai Drama - 2023, 2 episodes
Southern, Thai PBS
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29. Krabi, 2562
Thai Movie - 2020
Southern (Krabi) "ethnofiction" not big on context, where it's often unclear what's real and what's fiction but Krabi is very integral to the movie.
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30. Kla Talay
Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
South - Surin Islands in the Andaman Sea (below Burma), Phang-Nga province, Moken people.
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31. Once a Doctor, Always a Doctor
Thai Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
South - Betong, Yala Province (the southern-most tip of the southern-most province)
It's only set there for a few early episodes but it is a rare chance to see this part of Thailand. The rest takes place in a hospital in Bangkok but doesn't show anything of the city. Those episodes could be anywhere so I wouldn't count this as two regions. -
32. Cupid's Last Wish
Thai Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
Chiang Mai, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, Pak Chong & Khao Yai
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33. Hometown's Embrace
Thai Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
Northeastern - Isaan
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34. On Cloud Nine
Thai Drama - 2022, 6 episodes
Northern - Chiang Mai
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35. Mheejou
Thai Movie - 2008
Northern
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36. I Feel You Linger in the Air
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Northern - Chiang Mai
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37. Manner of Death
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
Northern - Chiang Mai
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38. Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Northern - Chiang Mai
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39. The Love of Winter
Thai Drama - 2022, 2 episodes
Northern
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40. Rainbow Lagoon
Thai Drama - 2022, 2 episodes
Northern - Chiang Mai
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41. Country Boy
Thai Drama - 2021, 2 episodes
Northern - Chiang Mai
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42. Dhevaprom: Kwanruetai
Thai Drama - 2024, 14 episodes
Northern - Chiang Rai
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43. My Love in the Countryside
Thai Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
Center - Ayutthaya