Thailand

Thailand maintains its status as a premium filming hub for prestige films and series productions. 20th Century Studios’ Send Help and season two of Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters are some of the latest high-profile projects to land on its tropical shores. Both were among the first international productions to apply for the even more enticing 30% cash rebate after the programme was enhanced in January 2025.

 Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a survival horror thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as the sole survivors of a plane crash who must put aside their workplace grievances and make it out alive from a remote island.

The feature utilised southern Thailand’s stunning coastline along the Andaman Sea. Primary filming locations chosen to create the film’s desert island include Koh Hong in Krabi, famous for its dramatic limestone geography; Than Bok Khorani national park; and Pilai beach in Phang Nga, a mainland stretch that offers a raw but serene atmosphere.“It was great to really be in that tropical, no-civilisation-around environment,” said director/producer Raimi. “Because that’s exactly what the actors were playing, it must have helped a lot. The heat was bearing down on them, and the sand was burning hot, and the day was sometimes excruciating. That’s the situation they were in, and I think it only helped.”

Almost half the film was shot in Thailand. Fellow producer Zainab Azizi added: “It’s one of my favourite countries to shoot in. The crews are very hard working, very kind and respectful.”

Produced by Legendary Television and starring Kurt Russell, season two of Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters continues to centre on humanity’s battle against mythical monsters, alongside King Kong and Godzilla. Three of the 10 episodes were filmed in the south of Thailand, representing the rugged environment of Skull Island.

Key locations included the striking Huai To Waterfall, which served as a backdrop for character encounters; the dark, atmospheric interiors of Tham Khao Luang cave; and dense jungle treks in Khao Phanom Bencha national park.

The Thai portions of Send Help and Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters were
managed by Indochina Productions. Founded in 2010 by Nicholas Simon, the Bangkok-based production service company is also behind two recent HBO series: 2024’s The Sympathizer, which doubled Thailand as Vietnam, and season three of The White Lotus, which captured the exotic beauty of popular tropical islands Koh Samui and Phuket.

Thailand’s production service industry thrives on an international-standard infrastructure, highly skilled crews and breathtaking natural locations. The country has gained decades of experience as a pioneering host of features, with 1974 James Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun one of the early international productions to visit.

The filming cash rebates, first launched in 2017 and finetuned continuously based on industry feedback, are vital in keeping Thailand competitive. Last year, it attracted 545 foreign productions, generating direct revenue in excess of $187m (thb6bn), which was at a steady level compared to 490 foreign productions and more than $199.5m (thb6.4bn) in revenue from 2024. Features, TV series, reality shows and advertising remain the primary productions.

While the direct economic contribution of the film industry is significant, its impact extends further. Productions bring lasting benefits beyond the creative sector, particularly for tourism.

Further leading Thai production service companies include Peston Film and Living Films. The former, founded by Piya and Thunn Pestonji as a continuation of their father Santa’s business Santa Film, handled Universal Pictures’ 2025 tentpole Jurassic World: Rebirth, which showcased Thailand’s natural wonders — lush forests, limestone cliffs and tropical beaches in Krabi, Trang and Phang Nga in the southern provinces. Living Films, founded by Chris Lowenstein and Panya­wadee Sangchai nearly three decades ago, facilitated 2025’s FX sci-fi horror series Alien: Earth. The capital Bangkok was transformed into a futuristic metro­polis, and a large-scale spaceship was constructed at The Studio Park.

“It is easy to get permission to shoot as long as the script is not detrimental in any way to the country or its religion,” says Johnson, who recently assisted director Ron Fricke with his movie Paramita, organising filming at various ancient sites in Ayutthaya and Bangkok. “It’s incredibly important, however, to only go through a company or co-ordinator who is registered with the Thailand Film Office. This is the only way to get the necessary temporary work permit, and avoid being disappointed or worse still ripped off by unregistered ‘cowboys’ who proliferate in Bangkok in search of a fast buck.”

The process of getting permission to shoot from the Film Office takes about 3 working days.

Thailand boasts a strong film infrastructure, including modern soundstages, VP facilities and the latest cameras, cranes and drones used in Hollywood productions.

A well-developed transportation network, comprising regional airports, highways and urban transit systems such as the Bangkok Skytrain and subway, ensures smooth movement of cast, crew and equipment. The ease of production is further enhanced by high-speed data networks, advanced communications and world-class hospitality.

Thailand’s local crews are highly experienced. Cinematographers, gaffers, production co-ordinators, make-up artists and other specialists have worked on major international productions, bringing expertise in global filmmaking standards while maintaining cost efficiency.

Thailand is located in the heart of Southeast Asia, with a diverse landscape comprising mountains, rolling hills, lush jungles and plains. Its famous islands and pristine beaches are just an hour’s flight from capital Bangkok, which serves as a dynamic business and entertainment hub. With tropical coastlines in the south and the mist-covered mountains in the north, Thailand provides a versatile backdrop for any production.

Contact : Ubolwan Sucharitakul, Thailand Film Office film@tfo.dot.go.th