The year 2023 was a blockbuster hit for Thailand as a film location, with the Kingdom setting a new record for revenues from hosting foreign productions – and film crews from the United States topped the list of big spenders.

In total, crews from 40 countries shot or produced 466 films in the Kingdom last year, allowing Thailand to reel in $188 million in revenues. Companies from the United States shot 34 films, spending over $90 million. Hong Kong came in second on the list, followed by China, Germany, and South Korea.

Thailand's stunning landscapes and scenery, friendly people, exotic animals, extensive and efficient logistics, and abundant skilled and talented crew members and technicians have made the Kingdom a consistently alluring destination for Hollywood and other producers.

American directors and producers choosing Thailand should come as no surprise. Hollywood has a long history of filming in the Kingdom, including several movies that have won the Academy Awards.

Famous Hollywood movies set and shot in Thailand include The Ugly American, The Deer Hunter, The Man with the Golden Gun, Rambo: First Blood Part II, The Beach, The Hangover Part II, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, American Gangster, and Alexander among others.

Most producers chose to film in Bangkok and nearby provinces, but others chose Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi and others. Nearly all of the Kingdom's 77 provinces hosted at least one film crew last year.

Another attraction for foreign film firms is the government's generous tax rebates for productions that spend at least $1.4 million, with additional rebates for hiring Thai crews and creating movies that help promote tourism to Thailand.

Source: Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.