To anyone who has visited Bangkok, it will come as no surprise to find out that the Thai capital has been used as a movie location on several occasions. With its blend of modern skyscrapers and beautifully preserved buildings, it makes sense that Hollywood often looks towards Thailand. Films made here range from large comedy blockbusters to small art-house thrillers. James Bond has visited on more than one occasion and there are times when Bangkok stands in for other famous cities in Asia.
The beaches of the south may offer a more glamorous location for producing films, but Bangkok gets its fair share of movie crews too. We’ve put together a list of our favourite movies filmed in Bangkok starting with 70s classics right up to modern-day motion pictures.
Deer Hunter (1978)
When location scouts came to Bangkok they were hoping to recreate Vietnam for their anti-war movie Deer Hunter (1978). Patpong Road might be one of the more infamous streets in the city, known for its colourful nightlife, but 30 years ago it was a quieter neighbourhood with fewer go-go bars and more greengrocers.
However, one bar was already entertaining westerners’ visiting on R&R. The Mississippi Queen was about to become even more famous when the venue and its dancers appeared in the scene after Nick’s release from the military hospital. The infirmary scenes, which producer Mike Deeley believed help secure the 1979 Academy Award for Best Picture and Supporting Actor, were shot at the Sunanthalai Building in Rajinee School near the river. Although the bar no longer exists, the stunning pale yellow colonial building that doubled as the hospital can still be seen.
The Hangover Part II (2011)
One of the more recent films shot in the Thai capital, the second outing of a stag night gone wrong needed a backdrop as big and loud as Las Vegas... and where better than Bangkok? Chinatown, with its beautiful shophouses and busy streets was a significant location with the Song Wad Road roundabout used for the drug dealing smoking monkey scene, causing animal rights group PETA to protest against the film.
The sight which most people visit from The Hangover sequel is Sirocco restaurant on the 64th floor of the lebua hotel, which has one of the best views in Bangkok. The bar was already pretty busy before the film was released, but now movie fans and panorama enthusiasts stand almost cheek to cheek, sipping on Hangovertinis: a blend of whisky, green tea liquor and apple juice with a dash of rosemary honey, which was created in honour of the film.
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
The first James Bond to be made in Thailand was filmed in 1973 with most notable scenes being filmed near Phuket. In fact, there's even a 'James Bond Island' at the spot where the gun duel was held. But Bangkok also makes a few appearances, with the multi-vehicle chase being the most notable. It actually starts at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – where Bond is being chased by a boatload of baddies with a speciality in martial arts – twists down Klong Dan and ends up with everyone but James Bond in the water.
The follow up sees cars careering past Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing. If you want to stay in the same hotel as Bond, then check into the Mandarin Oriental, where he takes Mary Goodnight for dinner and a martini
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
After The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) a different decade later, James Bond returns to Bangkok in the form of Pierce Brosnan in 1997. At the last minute, negotiations to film in Vietnam fell through, so filming was moved and, in this movie, Bangkok stands in for another Asian city: Saigon.
Many blogs incorrectly state that the building that Bond and Wai Lin abseil down during an escape (using a banner of the nemesis’s face) is the Banyan Tree. But anyone familiar with the city’s skyscrapers and the film will know that isn’t the case. The scene was actually filmed a kilometre down the road, in the Sinn Sathorn Tower on Krung Thonburi Road. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to re-enact the jump scene yourself, as the building is used as an office, and they probably wouldn’t appreciate it. Shame.
Only God Forgives (2013)
Let’s be honest, this extremely violent film is unlikely to bring extra tourists flooding to the city to visit the locations. The stunning, almost pictorial images of Bangkok that appear in the movie gives the city an edgy look, hard enough to recognise for those who live here. Probably the most easily recognisable part of the city is the chase on foot through Nana, which is easily recognisable because of its preponderance of neon signs.
The opening scenes give a stylised view of Chinatown and the old tenement blocks that can be found in this area, and thanks to clever use of coloured light it looks more like theatre than genuine Bangkok. The city definitely looks more real and gritty in the Muay Thai fights filmed at Rangsit Boxing Stadium. At the other end of the spectrum is Emporium Suites, with the penthouse suite used in a number of key scenes, including a clichéd shot of the city skyline.
The Railway Man (2013)
Released in 2013, this film follows the tale of a POW who worked on the death railway that ran from the city into Myanmar. Some of the scenes were filmed at the picturesque Hua Lamphong Railway Station, which feels like a step back in time even today thanks to many of the original fixtures and fittings making it an easy set up for the production team.
A greater number of scenes were filmed at Bang Sue train yard, using many extras to give an idea of the scale of the labour force. If you have the time whilst in the city, then it’s worth heading to Kanchanaburi to visit the famous bridge over the River Kwai and the peaceful cemeteries nearby, which also appears in The Railway Man.
The Beach (2000)
When most people think of films made in Thailand, they think of The Beach. Bangkok appears right at the beginning and the portrayal of a newbie backpacker discovering Khao San Road is very realistic, even though the film is now over a decade old.
Although it may seem that Leo actually wandered along this famous street himself, the main scenes were actually filmed in Krabi Province in southern Thailand rather than Bangkok, because moving thousands of travellers would have been impossible. But to get a realistic impression of how busy and chaotic this small road in the Old Town is, some of the shots where Leo is shown from behind looking down the street were filmed by his double in Bangkok. As the starting point for many visitors to Southeast Asia, Khao San Road might only appear briefly in The Beach but triggers a whole host of memories for those who have visited it.
