Synopsis

When the sacred head of the Ong-Bak Buddha statue is stolen from a rural Thai village, young martial artist Ting volunteers to recover it. His search takes him to Bangkok, where he encounters criminals, underground fighting rings, and his estranged village companion Humlae. Ting's traditional Muay Boran skills become his greatest advantage as he confronts the powerful forces behind the theft.

Factoids & Trivia

• Tony Jaa performs the film's major action sequences himself, without a stunt double.

• The fight scenes were designed around Muay Boran, an older Thai martial art that uses fists, elbows, knees, shins, and acrobatic movement. Jaa trained in the discipline for four years while preparing for the production.

• The film became known internationally for its practical action work. Its fights were promoted for avoiding wire work and computer-generated imagery, helping distinguish it from many Hong Kong-style martial arts productions.

• Action choreography came from Panna Rittikrai, Jaa's mentor and a veteran of Thai action cinema. Their collaboration helped introduce Muay Boran to a worldwide movie audience.

• Ong-Bak was released under different titles in different territories, including Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, and Daredevil.

• Luc Besson's production company acquired international rights outside Thailand and prepared a shorter version for overseas distribution. Some story material and footage from the Thai release were removed or altered.

• The movie was made on a reported budget of approximately $1.1 million and earned more than $20 million worldwide, turning Jaa into an international martial arts star.

• The climactic action was filmed with extensive physical protection for performers, but the visible impact and demanding choreography still made the production notably hazardous.