Ong-Bak (Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior) (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 5 nominations
While Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior may be no great shakes as a movie, critics are hailing the emergence of a new star in Tony Jaa, whose athletic performance is drawing comparisons with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a movie that will make you want to hit the gym and learn some Muay Thai. Tony Jaa’s moves are jaw-dropping and his athleticism is out of this world. Sure, the plot is bare-bones and the choreography can be a bit ridiculous at times (major appliances as weapons, really?), but who cares when you have Jaa doing his thing on screen? Hollywood suits would be nuts not to give him a role in every action flick they make from now on. Plus, watching this movie will make you appreciate what the human body is capable of, even if you can’t do a split like Jaa.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, U-Drive Productions,
Distributor
Magnolia Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bangkok, Thailand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language, some drug use and sexuality
Year of Release
2005
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital EXDolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):Thai, English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 11, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2009
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Tony Jaa, Pumwaree Yodkamol, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Suchao Pongwilai, Wannakit Sirioput, Chatthapong Pantanaunkul, directed by Prachya Pinkaew, written by Panna Rittikrai, Prachya Pinkaew, action, R rating, box office gross $4.6M, Magnolia Films, reviewed by Roger Moore, Nick Schager, Rene Rodriguez, Kerry Lengel, Bob Longino, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Mike Massie, Miles Fielder, Dorothy Woodend, Sean Axmaker, Kevin Carr, Muay Thai, martial arts, Buddha statue, Bangkok, drug dealer, village, drought, athletic performance, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, fight sequences, stunt choreography, corrupt people, flying elbows, kicks, insane stunt, revenge, religion, sacred statue, underworld, curse
Worldwide gross: $20,235,426
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $30,838,452
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,537
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,362,972
US/Canada gross: $4,563,167
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,954,190
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,715
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,334,869
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,034,318
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,204
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Pumwaree Yodkamol – Muaylek
Petchtai Wongkamlao – Humlae, Dirty Balls, George (as Perttary Wongkamlao)
Suchao Pongwilai – Komtuan
Wannakit Sirioput – Don
Chatthapong Pantanaunkul – Saming
Director(s)
Prachya Pinkaew
Writer(s)
Panna Rittikrai, Prachya Pinkaew
Producer(s)
Prachya Pinkaew, Sukanya Vongsthapat
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (109) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (16)
May 13, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Just a showcase for Jaa’s athletic abilities.
August 24, 2006 | Rating: C
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
Ong Bak is not very good — but Hollywood suits would be nuts not to give Jaa a role in every action flick they make from now on.
March 4, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Jaa’s moves are impressive, but the choreography ranges from bland to ridiculous (as when one dirty fighter resorts to using major appliances as weapons).
March 3, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Kerry Lengel
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
What Jaa does is often mesmerizing.
February 17, 2005 | Rating: B-
Bob Longino
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
The artifice-free antidote to such F/X enervation — a jaw-dropper of a star-making display from lithe fighter-artist Tony Jaa, framed by a plot as bare-bones as a backroom boxing ring.
February 16, 2005 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Employing no special effects or wirework and doing all of his own stunts, Tony Jaa is clearly the man to watch for the future of martial arts movies.
November 9, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
While the Muay Thai kickboxing style employed by star and action choreographer Tony Jaa is impressive, the way in which the various bouts are filmed is uninspired and ultimately tiresome.
April 24, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Miles Fielder
The List
The film is worth watching merely to marvel at what the human body is capable of.
August 24, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
[Tony] Jaa has an impressive physique, a steel snap to his delivery, and a gymnastic prowess to his style, and director Prachya Pinkaew puts it all on display in an endearingly naïve martial arts adventure.
August 13, 2016
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
The best parts of this movie are the gritty and grisly fight sequences that have a power and intensity you don’t find in many movies nowadays.
July 21, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
May be the supreme example of a filmic endeavor succeeding exclusively for one cinematic aspect.
September 26, 2009 | Rating: 59/100
Gabe Leibowitz
Film and Felt…
Plot
In a poor Thai village, the sacred statue of Ong Bak watches over its inhabitants, who feel safe and secure in its presence. When a former villager steals the statue’s head to sell it to the the underworld, the villagers are fearful of the consequences, and pin their hopes on Ting (Jaa), a gifted but reluctant Muay Thai boxer. Ting is charged with travelling to the seedy streets of Bangkok, to and fight and reclaim Ong Bak for his village.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Tony Jaa’s athletic performance in Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, comparing him to Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li.
Prachya-Pinkaew.jpg
