4 Kings ( or 4 Kings ar chee wa yuk 90, lit: 4 Kings 90's vocational) is a 2021 Thai neo-noir crime drama film written and directed by Phuttipong Nakthong, produced by Thanawat Thampreechapong The film follows the conflict between vocational students and students of various institutions in the 1990s.
Set in 1995, the film is told through the memories of Billy, a former vocational student turned single dad to his teenage daughter, Am. Although their relationship is not very healthy, when Am is injured in a fight between gangs at her vocational school, Billy reminisces about his own past and that of his friends. In the '90s, many vocational schools were notorious for their rowdy students. The most famous of these were Intaraarcheewasueksa, Changkolburanabondh and Technologyprongachol. and Kanokarcheewa. They were collectively nicknamed "4 Kings".
Billy became depressed when his mother remarried and his stepfather began to hate him. His only escape was his close friends, so he did everything he could to maintain his friendships at school. Billy encountered all sorts of conflicts and lost his best friend. This was a valuable life lesson that he has had to learn ever since.
The film based on actual events in Thai society about the issue of quarrels among teenage vocational students which injures unrelated persons as well. They often fought on the streets, on buses, or at bus stops. Film director and writer Phuttipong Nakthong had been through these terrible times and therefore used his own experience to convey it into a screenplay. It took up to 7 years for production to be released. It is his debut film from newlyn motion picture production company Neramitnang Film.
4 Kings develops itself from a short film in same title released on social media in mid-2015 about a battle between vocational students until it became very well known.
When it was released, it quickly gained popularity and became a phenomenon. It was No. 1 at the box office on opening weekend, with a total income of à ¸¿50 million after only 4 days of showing, beating Thai-South Korean found footage mockumentary horror film The Medium from the top spot. Separately, Thai Civilized Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon on 14 December invited vocational students to join him at Esplanade Cineplex Ngamwongwan-Khae Rai to watch the film.
At each screening in theatres in various locations, vocational students often gather to watch the film. And they often fight after it ends. It has been observed whether this is a film imitation behavior.
The film has been in theatres for 9 weeks in a row. Total revenue of à ¸¿170 million was considered the highest grossing Thai film in the year.
It was selected to screen at the 17th Japan Asian Film Festival or Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022 as a special program New Action! Southeast Asia between 10âÂÂ20 March 2022, as well as being nominated for 2 awards.
It was shown again as an outdoor cinema in the evening of 14 July 2022 at the Vachirabenjatas Park (Rot Fai Park) as part of Open-Air Movie Festival by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
At 9:29 a.m. on Friday, 14 October 2022, Neramitnang Film executives and the production team visited Wat Ratchasittharam temple to pray and receive blessings for the filming of 4 Kings Part 2. This ceremony was participated by 4 Kings original actors as well as the cast from the new film.
4 Kings Part 2 scheduled to be released in 2023. It is believed the story seems to be a conflict between Kanokarcheewa and Changkolburanabondh as shown in a mid-credits scene shows three Kanok students, led by Bang walk to face three Buranabondh students, led by Ek. Bang shoots a gun to threaten the sky and finally saying "See you next album, man".