Top 10 Thai and Southeast Asian Movies Worth Watching Right Now

Thailand and Southeast Asia make films that punch far above their size. You get slick Thai school thrills, pure Indonesian action, sad Singapore love, and bold docs that shake the world. Many of these gems have high IMDb scores but few outside the region know them yet.

This list picks 10 Thai and Southeast Asian movies worth watching now. All are praised on IMDb, won prizes abroad, and are easy to find on streaming in 2026. Watch with original audio to hear Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese and more as they are spoken at home.

1. Bad Genius (Chalard Games Goeng) - IMDb 7.6

Bad Genius from Nattawut Poonpiriya in 2017 holds 7.6 on IMDb and was the top grossing Thai film abroad in its year. It played at New York Asian Film Fest and won many Thai awards.

Lynn, a top student at a Bangkok school, takes cash to help friends cheat. The plan grows from small teacher gifts to a global test heist worth millions. Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying as Lynn makes math feel like a bank job. The film shoots exams like spy runs with sliding papers, pencil codes, and clock ticks that race. Set in Bangkok and Sydney, it looks sleek and sharp. Director Poonpiriya based the story in part on leaked test scandals in Asia.

It tops the list because it turns school work into a thriller that anyone who took a test can feel in their gut.

• Director: Nattawut Poonpiriya
• Year: 2017
• IMDb: 7.6
• Language: Thai
• Why you will love it: Smart school heist, cool lead, and test stress turned to pure tense fun

2. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Lahn Mah) - IMDb 7.8

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies from Pat Boonnitipat in 2024 holds 7.8 on IMDb and became the top Thai box office hit in years with a global Netflix run.

M, a young man who quit streaming, moves in to care for his grandma Amah who is sick with cancer. He hopes to win her house but learns how to care as cousins circle for cash. Putthipong Assaratanakul as M and Usha Seamkhum as Amah play a bond that grows in small acts like cooking porridge and bank trips. Shot in Bangkok lanes and Bangkok homes, the film feels close and lived in. Many viewers say they cried in the last ten minutes more than for any film that year.

It ranks high because it mixes family greed and soft love without tricks. It feels like visiting your own grandma.

• Director: Pat Boonnitipat
• Year: 2024
• IMDb: 7.8
• Language: Thai, Cantonese
• Why you will love it: Tender family tale, real home feel, and a soft cry you will keep

3. The Raid (Serbuan Maut) - IMDb 7.6

The Raid from Gareth Evans in 2011 holds 7.6 on IMDb and became an instant action classic. It was shot in Jakarta with an Indonesian cast and crew.

Rama, a rookie cop, joins a 20 man team that must storm a 30 floor tower run by crime lord Tama. The team is trapped and must fight floor by floor. Iko Uwais as Rama shows Pencak Silat, the Indonesian martial art, in pure form. The film runs 101 minutes with one building, few words, and a mix of baton, knife, and bare hand fights that feel hard. Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanese add a pulsing score. It premiered at Toronto and re made action rules worldwide.

It makes the list because it is lean, mean, and clean craft. No plot fat, just climb and fight.

• Director: Gareth Evans
• Year: 2011
• IMDb: 7.6
• Language: Indonesian
• Why you will love it: Pure action, real Silat, and fights you will rewind

4. The Raid 2 (Berandal) - IMDb 7.9

The Raid 2 from Gareth Evans in 2014 holds 7.9 on IMDb and is rated even higher than the first. It moves from tower to city.

After the raid, Rama goes undercover in prison to get close to mob families. He must win trust of Uco, son of a boss, and face Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man. Iko Uwais returns with more range, and Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman bring feral skill. At 150 minutes it is bigger, with car chases on Jakarta streets, a kitchen fight, and a jail yard brawl in mud. Evans shot with same Jakarta crew and pushed Silat to new inventive points.

It ranks for scope. If The Raid is a short punch, this is a long brawl that never tires.

• Director: Gareth Evans
• Year: 2014
• IMDb: 7.9
• Language: Indonesian
• Why you will love it: Epic crime tale, wild fights, and set pieces that top most Hollywood

5. Shutter (2004) - IMDb 7.0

Shutter from Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom in 2004 holds 7.0 on IMDb and became the most remade Thai horror film with US, Indian, and Japanese remakes.

Tun, a young photographer in Bangkok, and his girlfriend Jane hit a girl on a night road and drive off. After that white lights appear in Tun's photos and his neck aches like weight. Ananda Everingham as Tun and Natthaweeranuch Thongmee as Jane lead well. The film uses Thai ghost lore with long hair and stair shots that feel close. The lab dark room and the梯 ladder shot rank among the most scary images in Thai film. The final twist on neck weight is famous.

It is here because it nails guilt horror. The scare is tied to what the pair did, which makes it linger.

• Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom
• Year: 2004
• IMDb: 7.0
• Language: Thai
• Why you will love it: Classic Thai ghost scare, neat photo hook, and a last shot you will not shake

6. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior - IMDb 7.1

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior from Prachya Pinkaew in 2003 holds 7.1 on IMDb and made Tony Jaa a global action star. It has no wires and no doubles.

Ting, a young man from a rural village, goes to Bangkok to find the stolen head of the village Buddha. He must fight in city rings and alleys to get it back. Tony Jaa does all stunts with pure Muay Thai, with knees, elbows, and jumps through barbed wire. Shot in Bangkok and rural Isan, the chases through markets feel raw. The film sold out at Toronto and led to two sequels. No jump is sped up, which fans still post as proof.

It ranks for raw Thai craft. You see a nation art form shown at full speed with no fake help.

• Director: Prachya Pinkaew
• Year: 2003
• IMDb: 7.1
• Language: Thai
• Why you will love it: Real Muay Thai, real stunts, and a star you will watch again

7. The Act of Killing (Jagal) - IMDb 8.2

The Act of Killing from Joshua Oppenheimer in 2012 holds 8.2 on IMDb and was Oscar nominated. It was made with an Indonesian crew who stayed anon for safety and co directed by Christine Cynn and an anon Indonesian team.

In Medan, Indonesia, Anwar Congo, a former death squad leader from 1965, is asked to restage his killings in any film style he likes. He picks gangster, western, and musical scenes with his friends. As he plays the victim, he starts to feel what he did. The film speaks in Indonesian and is shot with bold color that turns sick as truth seeps in. It won the BAFTA for Best Documentary and changed how docs can face horror.

It is here for daring. It lets killers show their own tale and so reveals more than any trial film could.

• Director: Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn, Anonymous
• Year: 2012
• IMDb: 8.2
• Language: Indonesian
• Why you will love it: Brave and bold doc, hard talk, and a new way to see history

8. Ilo Ilo - IMDb 7.2

Ilo Ilo from Anthony Chen in 2013 holds 7.2 on IMDb and won the Camera d'Or at Cannes for best first film. It is Singapore's top modern gem.

In Singapore in 1997 during the Asian financial crisis, the Lim family hires Teresa, a maid from Iloilo in the Philippines, to care for their spoiled son Jiale. Teresa and Jiale start rough then grow close as mum and dad face job loss. Angeli Bayani as Teresa and Chen Tian Wen as Jiale play a bond that feels like real home. Shot in a Clementi flat, the film shows Singapore life with small meals and rain. Chen drew from his own maid as a child.

It charms because it is small but wide. One flat holds a whole country moment and a class story with heart.

• Director: Anthony Chen
• Year: 2013
• IMDb: 7.2
• Language: Mandarin, Tagalog, English
• Why you will love it: Tender home tale, great child act, and a soft look at family and class

9. The Scent of Green Papaya (Mùi Đu Đủ Xanh) - IMDb 7.4

The Scent of Green Papaya from Tran Anh Hung in 1993 holds 7.4 on IMDb and was Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Film. It is Vietnam's most known film abroad.

Mui, a 10 year old girl in 1951 Hanoi, works as a maid in a merchant house. The film watches her learn to cook papaya, care for the house, and grow to a young woman ten years later. Tran Nu Yen Khe as grown Mui is calm and bright. Shot on a soundstage in Paris with lush leaves and light, the film feels like a scent you can see. The sound of rain, mortar, and ants adds to the calm. It won the Camera d'Or at Cannes.

It is here for calm beauty. No rush, just a house and a girl seen with love for small tasks.

• Director: Tran Anh Hung
• Year: 1993
• IMDb: 7.4
• Language: Vietnamese
• Why you will love it: Lush quiet art, fine detail, and a woman's growth told in daily acts

10. On the Job (OTJ) - IMDb 7.0

On the Job from Erik Matti in 2013 holds 7.0 on IMDb and played at Cannes Directors' Fortnight. It is the top modern Filipino crime hit.

In Manila, two prisoners are let out of jail by day to do hits for a corrupt general, then return by night. Young cop Joaquin finds his case tied to them. Joel Torre and Gerald Anderson as the hitmen and Piolo Pascual as the cop lead a cast that feels street real. Shot in Manila traffic and alleys, the film shows the city with heat and noise. The sequel On the Job: The Missing 8 in 2021 grew the world even more.

It closes the list because it shows Filipino genre craft at world level. Fast, sharp, and true to its city.

• Director: Erik Matti
• Year: 2013
• IMDb: 7.0
• Language: Filipino, Tagalog, English
• Why you will love it: Gritty crime tale, Manila heat, and a story that punches with real politics

Conclusion

These 10 films show why Southeast Asia is worth your watch now. Thai hits Bad Genius and Grandma lead with school heist and soft family math. Jakarta gives pure action with The Raid and The Raid 2, plus the bold truth of The Act of Killing. Thailand adds ghost with Shutter and muscle with Ong-Bak. Singapore wins with Ilo Ilo, Vietnam calms with Scent of Green Papaya, and the Philippines grits with On the Job.

If you are new, start with Bad Genius, The Raid, and How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies for fun, fight, and feel. Then try The Act of Killing and Ilo Ilo for depth. Keep original audio on, read subs, and see how close these stories feel to home even from far away.

FAQ

Which Thai movie on this list has the highest IMDb rating? How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies leads at 7.8, followed by Bad Genius at 7.6. Ong-Bak holds 7.1 and Shutter 7.0.

Which Southeast Asian film won an international prize? Ilo Ilo won the Camera d'Or at Cannes in 2013 and The Scent of Green Papaya won it in 1993. The Act of Killing won a BAFTA and was Oscar nominated.

Are these movies in English? No. Most are in Thai, Indonesian, Filipino, or Vietnamese. Ilo Ilo mixes Mandarin, Tagalog, and English. Watch with subtitles for the best tone.

Which film is best for action fans? The Raid and The Raid 2 are top for action. Ong-Bak is also pure Muay Thai with no wires. All three show Southeast Asian martial arts at elite level.

Where can I watch these Thai and Southeast Asian movies in 2026? Most are on Netflix, Prime Video, or Mubi by region. Bad Genius and Grandma film are on Netflix, The Raid films on Prime Video and Netflix, and docs like The Act of Killing on Criterion and Max.