Movies Filmed in Bangkok: Bangkok Movie Locations

Bangkok is one of the Thai cities most frequently used as a setting by international filmmakers. From the old city’s streets to modern neighbourhoods, hotels and the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the capital has appeared in very different productions, from The Deer Hunter and Tomorrow Never Dies to The Beach, The Hangover Part II and Da 5 Bloods.

Filming in Bangkok is not limited to major landmarks. Some productions use streets, hotels, neighbourhoods or transport infrastructure, sometimes without making it immediately obvious to viewers that they are looking at Bangkok on screen.

Which movies were filmed in Bangkok?

The list is not exhaustive, but Movie Scene Map currently records 31 productions with Bangkok among their filming locations. Some are major international films, while others are lesser-known productions. Recognising Bangkok can be very easy in some scenes, while others require a more experienced eye. One example is Wong Kar-Wai’s remarkable In the Mood for Love, which features several recognisable Bangkok locations.

Among the films and series associated with the capital are:

• The Deer Hunter (1978)
• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
• The Beach (2000)
• The Hangover Part II (2011)
• Only God Forgives (2013)
• Da 5 Bloods (2020)
• The Creator (2023)
• as well as numerous Thai and Asian productions.

Bangkok in Tomorrow Never Dies

Bangkok has a particular place in Tomorrow Never Dies, released in 1997.

The film was partly set in Ho Chi Minh City, but the production used Bangkok for several sequences because the Vietnamese authorities refused permission to film there. The official James Bond website indicates that several elements of the motorcycle chase were filmed in Thailand, while other parts were created on sets built in the United Kingdom.

Mahogany Wharf in Bangkok was used as the filming location for the motorcycle chase. The production also used Phang Nga Bay to represent Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

Bangkok is therefore more than a recognisable backdrop in the film. The city becomes a substitute for another Asian city, with its locations used to recreate a different place on screen.

The Beach: Bangkok before the islands

The Beach is mainly associated with Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands, but Bangkok appears at the beginning of the film.

Thanon Khao San can be recognised in several scenes, helping establish the backpacker atmosphere of the period. The film was also shot in Phuket, Khao Yai National Park and the Krabi region.

Bangkok is therefore one of the first settings encountered during the main character’s journey, before he leaves for the islands.

The Hangover Part II: Bangkok hotels and neighbourhoods

The Hangover Part II is probably one of the films most directly associated with Bangkok in recent popular culture.

The Thai production used locations in Bangkok and Krabi. In Bangkok, the Lebua at State Tower and Tilac on Soi Cowboy appear in the film as two of its main Bangkok settings.

Soi Cowboy is another location associated with the filming. These two places illustrate very different sides of the city: a landmark hotel within Bangkok’s modern skyline and a red-light district known for its nightlife.

Only God Forgives: a darker Bangkok

Only God Forgives, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and released in 2013, uses Bangkok as the main setting for its story. Emporium Suites on Sukhumvit Road and Nana Nuea are among the Bangkok filming locations.

The film presents a very different Bangkok from the one seen in The Hangover Part II. Night-time locations, interiors and city streets contribute directly to the film’s visual atmosphere.

Da 5 Bloods: Bangkok as a stand-in for Vietnam

Bangkok has also been used to represent other locations in Southeast Asia.

Da 5 Bloods, directed by Spike Lee and released in 2020, was filmed in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Ho Chi Minh City. The contrast is striking: although much of the story takes place in Vietnam, a large part of the production was filmed in Bangkok.

The Creator: Bangkok in a science-fiction production

More recently, Bangkok appears in The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards and released in 2023.

Makkasan Station and Suvarnabhumi Airport were among the Thai filming locations used by the production.

The film provides a more recent example of Bangkok being used in an international production, with transport hubs and urban spaces incorporated into a futuristic setting.

The White Lotus: Bangkok in season 3

It is not a film, but it would be impossible not to mention The White Lotus. The third season was filmed in several parts of Thailand, including Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok.

In Bangkok, the production used the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, whose lobby and Bamboo Bar appear in the series. Other scenes were filmed at Royal Osha, Siri Sala Private Thai Villa and Wat Pho Pier.

The series presents another side of Bangkok, moving between hotels, restaurants, temples and the Chao Phraya River, alongside its main settings in Koh Samui and Phuket.

Other filming locations in Bangkok

Filming is not limited to the handful of places that have become well known because of a particular film.

A number of Bangkok streets, neighbourhoods and buildings have also been used as filming locations, including:

It is worth remembering that these locations do not always appear on screen exactly as we know them. Productions often add their own visual touches for technical or aesthetic reasons. It is therefore not always possible to say with absolute certainty that a particular scene corresponds precisely to a specific location.

In the case of In the Mood for Love, for example, the shots of Bang Rak Station focus on only a few angles of the main building. The building has since been completely restored, changing its appearance and removing much of the patina that once gave it its distinctive character.

Bangkok as a stand-in for other cities

One of the interesting aspects of filming in Bangkok is that the city does not always play itself.

This practice is not unique to Bangkok. A production may choose a location because of its appearance, infrastructure, filming conditions or the possibility of building sets, and then use it to represent somewhere else, as seen in Tomorrow Never Dies and Da 5 Bloods.

Another film used Bangkok in a similar way: Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) was filmed entirely in Thailand, with many scenes shot in Bangkok to represent Saigon during the Vietnam War.

For travellers, this can create an interesting contrast between the real Bangkok and the Bangkok seen on screen.

Can you visit filming locations in Bangkok?

Yes, but not all of them are cinematic attractions.

Some are easy to identify and access, such as major hotels or certain streets. Others correspond to entire neighbourhoods or locations whose appearance has changed since filming took place.

It is also worth keeping in mind that identifying the exact location of a scene is not always straightforward.

When planning a visit, it is therefore better to start with a specific production, check the associated location and cross-reference several sources in order to identify the exact place.

Movies filmed in Bangkok at a glance

This selection highlights a number of documented productions; it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of films and series filmed in the capital.

FAQ – Movies filmed in Bangkok

Which famous movie was filmed in Bangkok?

Several international productions have used Bangkok, including The Deer Hunter, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Beach, The Hangover Part II, Only God Forgives and Da 5 Bloods.

Where was The Hangover Part II filmed in Bangkok?

The production used locations including Lebua at State Tower and the Soi Cowboy area. IMDb also lists Bangkok as a general filming location.

Was James Bond filmed in Bangkok?

Yes. Tomorrow Never Dies used Bangkok for several sequences, including part of the motorcycle chase. The film was also shot in Phang Nga Bay.

Was The Beach filmed in Bangkok?

Yes. Bangkok scenes were filmed around Thanon Khao San, while other scenes were shot in Phuket, Krabi, Khao Yai and Phi Phi.

More information about movies in Thailand

Thailand Movie Locations: Films and TV Series Shot in Thailand

Thailand has been used as a filming location for international films and television series for decades. Bangkok, Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi Islands, Krabi and Ayutthaya have all hosted very different productions, from James Bond films and The Beach to Mortal Kombat, The Hangover Part II and more recent productions such as The White Lotus.