Mytour.vn Presents: Top 10 Best Thai Martial Arts Movies of All Time

The Protector is an action film starring the renowned actor Tony Jaa. The film revolves around the life of Kham (Tony Jaa) and his family along with the baby elephant he nurtures. One day, Kham's elephant is accidentally captured by an international Mafia gang while they are on a campaign to hunt for ivory, Kham's beloved elephant is taken to Sydney, a place thousands of miles away from his homeland.

The only way Kham can save his beloved animal is to embark on a journey to a foreign land. This is an extremely difficult task, and he may even have to risk his own life when facing the thugs in that Mafia gang. The journey to rescue the elephant begins here.

Movie Information:

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Cast: Tony Jaa, Nathan Jones, Xing Jin,...

Duration: 1h 51min

IMDb Rating: 7.1

16389Raging Phoenix is a remarkable Thai martial arts action film in 2009, featuring top actors of Thai cinema: JeeJa Yanin, Roongtawan Jindasing, David Bueno. Especially, this marks the return of JeeJa Yanin, an action icon. Combining with fresh martial arts styles and a promising love story, it becomes a pinnacle of action-romance movies.

The film mainly focuses on the skills and personality of Deu - the protagonist played by JeeJa. She's a girl abandoned by everyone, left by her mother, raised by a gang, and then her father passed away. Later, she gets kidnapped and fortunately rescued by a group whose loved ones are also held captive there.

Later on, she learns martial arts and joins the fight against rampant kidnapping. Raging Phoenix blends her martial arts prowess with hip hop dancing and many other elements to deliver the best and most captivating scenes to the audience.

Movie Information:

Director: Rashane Limtrakul

Cast: JeeJa Yanin, Kazu Patrick Tang, Nui Saendaeng,...

Duration: 1h 52min

IMDb Rating: 6.1

Vengeance of an Assassin - 2014 shows viewers that every killer has their own story, but all are related to blood and loss. The movie revolves around the life of a hitman, specialized in killing named Natee.

Due to an unfortunate, dark past, he was pushed into the path of crime, the immense loss of his parents turned him into a countless murderer. Instead of being a hitman for money, Natee has a different purpose: to uncover the truth behind his family's death. This is one of the popular movies in Thai cinema.

Movie Information:

Director: Panna Rittikrai

Cast: Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Dan Chupong, Kessarin Ektawatkul,...

Duration: 1h 30min

IMDb Rating: 5.4

Thailand boasts a highly developed film industry compared to its neighboring countries, with no rivals in sight. They always know how to capitalize on their strengths, and the popular film genres are invested in meticulously and with quality. The martial arts genre, mainly based on the traditional martial art form known as Muay Thai, is always particularly emphasized. Big Thai Fist, also known as Little Devil Somtum, is a prime example.

The movie tells the story of a foreign national learning Muay Thai, and after mastering it, he uses it to solve the 'diamond theft' case. The film features sharp and engaging action sequences, alongside humorous elements in the handling and expressions of the actors, creating a sense of excitement and comfort. This is regarded as one of the most remarkable action-comedy films in Thai cinema.

Movie Information:

Director: Nontakorn Taweesuk

Cast: Dan Chupong, Kessarin Ektawatkul, Jason Fenton,...

Duration: 1h 43min

IMDb Rating: 5.6

Yamada: The Samurai of Ayothaya is a 2010 Thai action film directed by Nopyh Watin. The film features the participation of renowned Muay Thai fighters.

Based on a real historical figure in the Ayothaya era, the film depicts the life of Yamada Nagamasa, a Japanese explorer who had significant influence in Thailand and became the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand.

Movie Information:

Director: Nopporn Watin

Cast: Buakaw Por, Pramuk, Saenchai Sor, Yodsanklai Fairtex,...

Duration: 1h 40min

IMDb Rating: 6.0

Power Kids is a 2009 Thai action film directed by Krissanapong Rachata. The movie tells the story of a group of children banding together to fight against a group of terrorists who have taken hostages in the hospital moments before their friend undergoes surgery.

Power Kids was released in Thailand on March 5, 2009. In its first week of release, Power Kids was the fourth highest-grossing film with $54,715. The film grossed a total of $97,836 when screened in Thailand and earned $259,677 worldwide. Power Kids premiered in North America at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 12, 2009. The film had its U.S. premiere at ActionFest in 2010.

The film was screened at the New York Asian Film Festival on July 3, 2010. Power Kids was released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 8, 2010, in North America. Bonus features on the disc include deleted scenes and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

Movie Information:

Director: Krissanapong Rachata

Cast: Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Nawarat Techarathanaprasert, Sasisa Jindamanee,...

Duration: 1h 17min

IMDb Rating: 5.7

Chocolate, also known as Zen, Warrior Inside, is a 2008 Thai martial arts film featuring Yanin 'Jeeja' Vismistananda in her debut film performance.

When Zin, the ex-girlfriend of a Thai gangster, falls for Masashi, a Japanese yakuza boss in Thailand, the gangster exiles them: Masashi to Japan, and Zin, along with her young daughter Zen, to live near a martial arts school. Zen, an autistic child with unusually quick reflexes, watches the students and Muay Thai movies, absorbing all the techniques.

She's now a teenager, and her mother needs chemotherapy. Zin receives a hefty child, Moom, to care for Zen. Moom finds a ledger listing the men indebted to Zin, and he goes to collect from each one to pay for Zin's treatment. Zen, with her martial arts skills, becomes his enforcer. A showdown with the boss is inevitable.

Movie Information:

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Cast: JeeJa Yanin, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong,...

Duration: 1h 50min

IMDb Rating: 7.0

Fireball is a 2009 Thai martial arts action film directed by Thanakorn Pongsuwan, combining Muay Thai and basketball.

Tai, a young man arrested for a crime, is released with the help of his twin brother Tan. Upon his release, he finds Tan in a coma with severe injuries. Tan's girlfriend, Pang, tells Tai that his brother has been involved in some risky business ventures to raise money to fight Tai's case. Tai feels guilty that his troubles have caused trouble for his brother.

He then follows what happened to Tan, eventually leading him into illegal basketball gambling. Tai wants to find out who's behind this gambling ring and why his brother was beaten unconscious. Eventually, he joins the 'Fireball' team, a team owned by Hia Den with players including Singha, Kay, Ik, and Muek. To uncover the truth, Tai risks a lot - maybe even his own life.

Movie Information:

Director: Thanakorn Pongsuwan

Cast: Preeti Barameeanat, Khanutra Chuchuaysuwan, Kumpanat Oungsoongnern,...

Duration: 1h 34min

IMDb Rating: 5.1

Tom Yum Goong 2, known in the US as The Protector 2, in the UK as Warrior King 2, and in Germany as Return of the Warrior, is a 2013 Thai martial arts film directed by Prachya Pinkaew.

Kham (Tony Jaa) has returned to his quiet village life with his elephant, Khon, back in Thailand. Job, an eccentric gadget guy, has been living in the village for a while and gained the trust of the locals. Little does Kham know, he is an agent for a weapons dealer named Mr. LC (RZA). Being a fan of Kham's feats, LC has Job secretly monitor Kham without his knowledge. Things change for Kham when a businessman, Suchart Vilawandei (Adinan Buntanaporn), wants to buy Khon, but Kham refuses to sell. Suchart hands him his business card in case he changes his mind.

While dining with the villagers, Kham senses something amiss and returns home to find Job beaten and Khon taken by Suchart. Using the business card Suchart gave him, Kham goes to Suchart's house to find answers but only discovers that Suchart has been killed just before. Suchart's two granddaughters, martial artist Ping-ping (Yanin 'Jeeja' Vismitananda) and Sue-sue (Theerada Kittiseriprasert), arrive and believe Kham is responsible. Both attack him, but he evades and escapes, alerting the authorities and prompting a police pursuit.

While on the run from the law, Kham encounters Mark, who's been falsely accused and beaten and allows Kham to escape. They later meet clandestinely to learn more about the situation. Mark himself is in Thailand working for Interpol investigating a recent terrorist plot related to peace talks between East Katana and West Katana in Bangkok.

Movie Information:

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA, Petchtai Wongkamlao,...

Duration: 1h 44min

IMDb Rating: 5.3