The Protector (2005)
Tony Jaa returns in a breathtaking Muay Thai spectacle, battling a criminal empire across Sydney to rescue his stolen elephant.
The Protector - Movie Information
- Original Title: ต้มยำกุ้ง
- Release Year: 2005
- Directed by: Prachya Pinkaew
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 45m
- Original Language: Thai
- Spoken Languages: English, Mandarin, Thai, Vietnamese
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 11, 2005 (Australia - MA 15+), August 11, 2005 (United States - R), July 28, 2006 (United Kingdom - 18), July 6, 2006 (Germany - 16), February 8, 2006 (France - U), August 3, 2007 (Italy), March 10, 2006 (Spain), August 18, 2005 (South Korea)
- Alternative Titles: Пазителят (BG), Tom yum goong (AU), Warrior King (UK), 옹박 두번째 미션 (KR), The Protector (Original Thai Version) (US), O Protetor (BR), L'Honneur du dragon (FR), Thai Dragon (ES)
- Production Companies: Sahamongkolfilm, Baa-Ram-Ewe, Golden Network Asia, K&K McGrath Productions
- Production Countries: Thailand
The Protector - Plot
A young fighter named Kham must go to Australia to retrieve his stolen elephant. With the help of a Thai-born Australian detective, Kham must take on all comers, including a gang led by an evil woman and her two deadly bodyguards.
The Protector - Trailer
Watch Tony Jaa unleash relentless Muay Thai fury in the official trailer below.
Vengeance Knows No Mercy.
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The Protector - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Prachya Pinkaew
Main Cast
- Tony Jaa
- Petchtai Wongkamlao
- Bongkoj Khongmalai
- Jin Xing
- Nathan Jones
- Johnny Tri Nguyen
- Lateef Crowder
- Jonathan Patrick Foo
- Damian de Montemas
- Winai Poonpermsiri
Writers
- Piyaros Thongdee
- Joe Wannapin
- Prachya Pinkaew
- Kongdej Jaturanrasmee
- Napalee
Producers
- Prachya Pinkaew
- Sukanya Vongsthapat
The Protector - FAQs
What is the famous one-take staircase scene in The Protector?
The Protector features a celebrated uncut, single-take tracking shot in which Tony Jaa fights his way up multiple floors of a restaurant, dispatching dozens of opponents without a single edit. Lasting approximately four minutes, it remains one of the most technically demanding and widely admired action sequences in modern martial arts cinema.
Who are the main actors in The Protector?
The Protector stars Tony Jaa as the determined hero Kham, alongside Petchtai Wongkamlao as Detective Mark, Bongkoj Khongmalai as Pla, Jin Xing as the villainous Madame Rose, Nathan Jones as the imposing T.K., and Johnny Tri Nguyen as Johnny.
What is The Protector about?
The Protector follows Kham, a young Thai fighter who travels to Sydney, Australia, after his beloved elephant is stolen. Teaming up with a Thai-born Australian detective, he battles a ruthless criminal organization led by the formidable Madame Rose and her two lethal bodyguards to reclaim what is sacred to him.
Where to watch or stream The Protector?
The Protector is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It can also be streamed for free with ads on Fandango at Home Free and Tubi TV, or watched at no cost on Plex, Plex Channel, and Fawesome.
What is the age rating for The Protector?
The Protector is rated R in the United States, reflecting its intense and frequent martial arts violence. In Australia it carries an MA 15+ classification, while the United Kingdom rates it 18, making it strictly adult-oriented content across major English-speaking markets.
Is The Protector related to Ong-Bak?
The Protector is not a direct sequel to Ong-Bak (2003), though it reunites director Prachya Pinkaew with star Tony Jaa. Both films showcase Jaa's Muay Thai skills and share a similar raw, stunt-driven aesthetic, but they feature entirely separate characters, storylines, and settings.
How long is The Protector?
The Protector has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes (105 minutes). Note that the international version released in some markets was edited to a shorter cut, so runtime may vary slightly depending on the version being viewed.
Who directed The Protector?
The Protector was directed by Prachya Pinkaew, the Thai filmmaker who also helmed Ong-Bak (2003) and Chocolate (2008). Pinkaew is widely credited with bringing Tony Jaa to international prominence and championing a no-CGI, no-wire approach to action choreography.
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