The combat sport of Muay Thai has been featured in media, including film, television, manga, anime and video games. It gained international attention when Yodtong Senanan led the Nak Muay Team against Osamu Noguchi's Kickboxer Team on October 16, 1972. It has heavily influenced the sport of kickboxing, and is used in mixed martial arts (MMA), where athletes train in its techniques.
Film Muay Thai has been featured in the following films:
Movie Year Description Ref. Duel of Fists 1971 A Hong Kong engineer (David Chiang) goes to Thailand to find his long-lost half-brother (Ti Lung), who is a Muay Thai boxer. The Man with the Golden Gun 1974 Later in the film, James Bond (Roger Moore) goes to the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, where he meets the main antagonist Scaramanga (Christopher Lee). Bloodsport 1988 Martial arts movie about an underground fighting tournament, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme in his break-through role. The film features a formidable Muay Thai Fighter named Paco, played by a career Thaiboxer Paulo Tocha, who serves Van Damme's opponent in the tournament's semi-finals. Kickboxer 1989 After his brother, an American heavyweight kickboxing champion, is crippled by a vicious Thaiboxer Tong Po (Michel Qissi) in the ring, Kurt Sloane (Jean-Claude Van Damme) seeks out an elusive Muay Thai Kru to teach him the art to avenge his brother. Death Cage (Zhan Long) 1989 While primarily a kung fu movie, the movie takes place in Thailand, where various scenes featuring Thaiboxers are present. The Quest 1996 Taking place in 1920s, Christopher Dubois (Jean-Claude Van Damme) ends up stowing way on a boat and ends up being imprisoned by the boat's men. He is later acquired by a mercenary Englishman, Lord Edgar Dobbs (Roger Moore), who sells Dubois into slavery on an island off the coast of Siam, where Dubois is trained in Muay Thai fighting. After six months, Dobbs and his partner Harry Smythe find Dubois fighting in a Muay Thai match and see that Dubois has become a skilled fighter. Thus, he is subsequently chosen by Lord Dobbs to participate in a grand martial arts tournament, held in the Lost City of Tibet. A Fighter's Blues(A Fu) 2000 Mong Fu (Andy Lau), a former Muay Thai boxer, returns to Thailand from Hong Kong and challenges the champion to a match. Beautiful Boxer 2003 The life story of Parinya Charoenphol (Asanee Suwan), who masters Muay Thai in order to realize her dream of becoming a woman. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior 2003 The series popularized Muay Thai, and featured some Muay Boran techniques. The film had two sequels: Ong Bak 2 (2008) and Ong Bak 3 (2010) Born to Fight 2004 Dan Chupong stars in the film. Chok-Dee: The Kickboxer 2005 The film is based on the life of Algerian-French Muay Thai boxer Dida Diafat, who stars as himself. Tom-Yum-Goong 2005 Tony Jaa, who starred in the movie and was also the fight choreographer, incorporates a Muay Thai style (มวยคชสาร, "muaykodchasarn", roughly translated as "Elephant Boxing"), which emphasizes grappling moves. The movie also showcased "Jaturongkabaht", which was used by the Royal Thai Bodyguards. Mercury Man 2006 Undisputed II: Last Man Standing 2006 Muay Thai Chaiya 2007 Is a film about two talented muay Thai boxers, boyhood friends whose lives take divergent paths after they arrive in Bangkok. Master KIMs 2007 The Nak Muay team appears in the final scene. Chocolate 2008 Muay Thai fighters Yanin Vismitananda and Lim Su-Jeong star in this film. Down for the Count(Aukmen) 2009 Muay Thai boxer Ahmad Al-Sulaiti appears as himself. Raging Phoenix 2009 Starring Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda, that movie is centered around the style of "Druken Muay Thai" The Kick 2011 A Korean family of Taekwondo experts immigrate to Thailand and are exposed to Muay Thai fighting. Bunohan: Return to Murder 2011 Only God Forgives 2013 A Bangkok policeman and a gangster settle their differences in a Muay Thai match. Ip Man 3 2015 Ip Man engages in a fight with a Muay Thai fighter in an elevator when he and his wife were on their way home. Sha Po Lang II: A Time For Consequences 2015 A Prayer Before Dawn 2017 The film is based on the true life experience of Billy Moore who survived his Thai prison ordeal by becoming a Muay Thai boxing champion. The Legend of Muay Thai: 9 Satra 2018 A Thai 3D computer-animated action-fantasy film. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 2021 Muay Thai was included in the fighting style of Shang Chi, the title character. Raya and the Last Dragon 2021 Namaari (Gemma Chan) uses a style based on muay Thai and krabi krabong.
Documentaries
Movie Year Description Ref. Fight or Flight 2007 A documentary on Thailand's ring fighting circuit. Blessed With Venom 2011 A feature-length documentary chronicling the life and career of Australian Muay Thai superstar and 10 time World Champion, John Wayne Parr Lumpini 2018 A documentary that follows Kwankhao Mor.Ratanabandit and Saenchai, who fights at the final event at historic old Lumpinee stadium, also at the grand opening of the new Lumpinee stadium. Narrated by Stephen Haynes. Torn Cloth 2020 A documentary that follows a group of orphans in northern Thailand that take refuge in a Muay Thai boxing camp managed by Jawee Sukantha, and the improvements it makes to their lives. Narrated by Stephen Haynes. With a special guest appearance by Tony Jaa
Television Muay Thai has been featured in television series from reality show contests to documentary episodes.
Television Show Episode Description Ref.Departures (TV series)Justin Lukach enters a Muay Thai fight in one episode. The Contender Asia series A reality-based television series that follows 16 aspiring Muay Thai middleweight fighters from 12 countries as they compete in a series of outdoor challenges and sanctioned matches. Human Weapon "Muay Thai" The episode featured the history and fighting techniques of Muay Thai. True Life "I'm a Muay Thai Fighter" Kit Cope and Ben Garcia travel overseas to make their mark in the brutal world of Muay Thai ring fighting. They are scheduled to compete in bare-knuckle fights that will be broadcast on Thailand television. Fight Girls series A reality show similar to The Ultimate Fighter, where ten female fighters live together and train with a Muay Thai instructor in Las Vegas for six weeks in an effort to fight for a Muay Thai championship in Thailand. Fight Quest "Thailand" Jimmy Smith and Doug Anderson learn Muay Thai. Dhani Tackles the Globe "Thailand" Dhani Jones learns Muay Thai. Babylon 5 "TKO" Michael Garibaldi and his friend Walker Smith participate in an alien-run tournament called the "Mutai". Gaki no Tsukai – The variety show features a "Thai Kick" punishment game where a boxer delivers a kick to the loser's backside. Real World/Road Rules Challenge "The Ruins" featured a "Muay Thai challenge" where contestants kicked bamboo sticks in an elimination round. Ring Girls series A reality show similar to The Ultimate Fighter, where ten female fighters live together and train with a Muay Thai instructor in Las Vegas for six weeks in an effort to fight for a Muay Thai championship in Thailand. Power Rangers/Juken Sentai Gekiranger Power Rangers Jungle Fury season Robert "R.J." James, the Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger who wears violet, is a Muay Thai practitioner. He wears prajed (dual elbow bands) uses elbow and knee attacks, including a flying knee strike. An Idiot Abroad "Swim With Dolphins" Karl Pilkington trains with a Muay Thai kickboxing group and later participates in a blindfolded match. Amphibia Ivy on the Run The show's protagonist, Thai-American Anne Boonchuy, is a Muay Thai practitioner. She states she was enrolled in lessons by her mother to fit her "spirited" personality (and get her out of her kitchen), and offers to teach her amphibian friends the martial art. Hurts Like Hell series A four-part series based on corruption in the Muay Thai industry, released on Netflix.
Manga and Animation Manga and anime shows occasionally feature characters who use Muay Thai techniques:
Manga or Animation Character(s) Description Ref.Kick no OniTadashi Sawamura, others Fictionalized retelling of real-life Tadashi Sawamura's kickboxing career. Features Sawamura's fights against various kickboxers, including the fight against Thaiboxer Samarn Sor Adisorn. Tatakae!! Ramenman Muay Thai Chūchai Dragon Ball Draculaman, PamputAttack on Titan Female titan, Annie Leonhart Captain Tsubasa World Youth Bunnaak Singprasert Karate Shōkōshi Kohinata Minoru Samart Sarindu, Charndech Nham Sae GymThanakorn Ammarath, Changnoi Jakkapong Singsak, Thongchai Junny Skeandelaki SHIN "TEMUR" SHIRATO TOUGH: High School Iron Fist Legend Kreangarg Suwanpakdee Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Apachai Hopachai, Tirawit Kōkin Agaard Jum Sai Beyblade Yothin Hajime No Ippo Jimmy Sispher Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Lussuria All Rounder Meguru Maki Kamiya Manga about Women's MMA. One of the key characters is Maki Kamiya, a high school girl-age kickboxer who transitioned to Women's Shooto, after she was unable to find adequate challengers in her Kickboxing weight class. Treasure hunting in Thailandล่าขุมทรัพย์สุดขอบฟ้าในไทย. สำนักพิมพ์นานมีบุ๊คส์ Thani Sor.Silachai Kamen Rider Ryuki Kamen Rider ImpalerKengan AshuraGaolang Wongsawat, Cosmo Imai
Video games The following games feature characters that use Muay Thai as their fighting style,