The great majority of Thai films are unashamedly made for entertainment purposes and consequently enjoy large audiences. Tightly budgeted, they commonly feature actors and actresses with proven box-office appeal who may be obliged to portray as many as 20 different roles in 20 different films being shot concurrently. The films they star in usually include everything; pathos, romance, hatred, love, loss, gain, joy, despair, violence, gentility, comedy and tragedy are interwoven around a major plot and several sub-plots.

Among the most popular film makers both from the past and the current ones are H.R.H. Prince Panupan Yukgla, Dokdin Kanyamal, Piak Poster, M.C. Chatri Chaloem Yukol and Cherd Songsri, etc.

There have been attempts by movie directors to produce more films with a social message, but these have not been very successful money- making ventures. One such director is veteran film maker Wichit Khunawut; among his works are Khon Phu Khao (Mountain People), which dealt with the northern hilltribes, and Luk Isan (Son of the Northeast) about the hard life in Thailand's northeast.