Overview
A young man's quest to reclaim a sacred artifact leads him into the heart of Bangkok's underworld.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Brutal
- propulsive
- exuberant
- gritty
- action movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the story and characterization slight but celebrated Tony Jaa's emergence and the film's inventive, practical martial arts action.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The combat and chase sequences foreground Tony Jaa's athleticism, acrobatics, and reported lack of CGI and wire-fu.
Ting leaves his peaceful village to recover its sacred statue in Bangkok, where an immoral businessman and criminal adversaries control the conflict.
The theft of the Ong Bak Buddha statuette directly motivates Ting's journey and successive confrontations.
Ting's traditional Muay Thai skills are the defining instrument of his pursuit and the film's signature action language.
Films like Ong Bak, and why
The Raid: Redemption
Innovative hand-to-hand choreography, acrobatic stunts, and a breakout martial arts star
Tom-Yum-Goong
Thai martial arts action, relentless physical combat, and emphasis on practical stunt work
Police Story
Martial arts spectacle driven by athletic performance, inventive fights, and charismatic action leads
Enter the Dragon
Hard-hitting martial arts combat, crime-driven stakes, and a showcase for a distinctive fighter
Movie Details
- Director
- Prachya Pinkaew
- Release Date
- 2003-01-31
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (1972)
Cast
- Tony Jaa
- Petchtai Wongkamlao
- Patrarin Punyanutatam
- Suchao Pongwilai
- Choomporn Theppitak
- Cheathavuth Watcharakhun
- Wannakit Siriput
- Rungrawee Barijindakul
- Chatthapong Phantana-Angkul
- Nudhapol Asavabhakhin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ong Bak about?
- A village guardian unleashes breathtaking Muay Thai prowess to retrieve a stolen Buddha relic from Bangkok's criminal underworld.
- What is Ong Bak like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ong Bak as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Ong Bak violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Ong Bak as brutal.
- What did critics think of Ong Bak?
- Critics broadly found the story and characterization slight but celebrated Tony Jaa's emergence and the film's inventive, practical martial arts action.
- Which films are like Ong Bak?
- Films with a similar feel include The Raid: Redemption, Tom-Yum-Goong, Police Story, and Enter the Dragon.
- How long is Ong Bak?
- Ong Bak runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ong Bak?
- In United States, Ong Bak streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel.
