The multibillion-baht Thai entertainment industry wields cultural impact beyond its own borders
The Thai actors on Asia’s Most Influential have captivated audiences beyond their own borders, helping Thailand's entertainment and media industry becoming the multibillion-baht powerhouse that it is. With revenues projected to reach THB601 billion in 2025, driven largely by cinema, Thai entertainment seems to be on track to wielding the same cultural impact demonstrated by South Korea. The so-called ‘Thai Wave’—or ‘T-Wave’ for short—is capturing rapt audiences in the region, sparking interest in Thai pop music, fashion and other forms of artistry.
As the T-Wave gains momentum, here are some of the most popular stars who are driving the growth of Thailand's soft power:
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PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn
Though he graduated with a degree in entrepreneurial economics from Kasetsart University, the largest university in Thailand, PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn walked a different path, first working as a model and now as an actor and singer. He received praise for playing Oh-aew in the series I Told Sunset About You and its second season I Promised You to the Moon. The coming-of-age show, which paired him once more with Putthipong Assaratanakul (the two previously starred in My Ambulance), was a massive hit in Asia, with the actors holding fan meetings in Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo in 2023. In the same year, PP made headlines when he was named an ambassador of Balenciaga, making him one of the first official ambassadors of the Paris fashion house.
Read PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential
