Netflix Reimagines Thailand’s Most Famous Outlaw in ‘Tee Yai: Born to Be Bad’

Some legends are larger than life, and then there’s the story of Tee Yai. In Thailand, his name became a true phenomenon, a legendary figure whose exploits dominated newspaper headlines. He was the country’s most wanted outlaw, a local folk hero akin to Billy the Kid or Robin Hood, and was said to be “more of a household name than the Prime Minister.”

Part of the myth stemmed from his reputation as a “ferocious tiger with a jade face,” as he was considered very handsome. But the legend was truly forged by his elusiveness; he was a criminal so slippery that the public sought explanations beyond the terrestrial. Popular belief held that Tee Yai possessed “magical powers.” How else could one man pull off “numerous escapes,” seemingly vanishing before the authorities time and time again?

Debunking the Myth

It is precisely this question—magic or logistics—that sits at the heart of Tee Yai: Born to Be Bad, Netflix’s new action-drama film. Set in 1970s Thailand, the project brings the story of “Thailand’s most notorious outlaw” back to the screen, this time through the lens of acclaimed filmmaker and co-writer Nonzee Nimibutr. Nimibutr has stated his inspiration was clear: he wanted to present “another angle that has never been discussed.”

The film, described as a “vintage crime” story with a “realistic retro atmosphere” evoking the cinema of the era it portrays, sets aside the supernatural to focus on a different thesis. The director doesn’t buy the rumors of magic. Instead, Nimibutr believes Tee Yai’s secret was his “close allies or trusted friends who helped him, working behind the scenes and overcoming obstacles together.” The movie’s premise is based on the director’s fundamental conviction: “Because I believe that a great outlaw like Tee Yai did not walk this path alone. This is the new perspective I want audiences to experience.”

The Dynamic Duo

The film swaps folklore for brotherhood, focusing on the “collaboration between two sworn friends” at the center of the “ingenious heists” that made them famous. In the lead role of the so-called “King of Thieves,” Tee Yai, the film features “rising star” Apo-Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, known for his “charismatic and powerful performances.” His Tee is an “outlaw who lives as if there is no tomorrow,” the impulsive engine of the operation.

But he doesn’t work alone. At his side is Rerk, played by Most-Wisarut Himmarat. Rerk is Tee’s antithesis: his “calm and serene” partner, the “quiet thinker who becomes Tee’s shadow,” loyal yet torn between friendship and morality. Together, this duo achieves legendary status.

The Brotherhood Put to the Test

Tee Yai: Born to Be Bad is, at its core, a crime drama about loyalty—and no bond remains unbroken forever. The plot thickens as “their path as outlaws begins to falter.”

The threat isn’t just external; it’s deeply personal. The catalyst is the arrival of Dao (played by Kao-Supassara Thanachat). Dao enters the life of Rerk, the quiet thinker, and changes everything. Her presence, described as a “strong emotional presence,” makes Rerk “want to quit the game.” This decision threatens to “unravel the brotherhood” at the film’s heart, creating a “rift between the two men” at the worst possible time.

As Tee and Rerk’s partnership fractures from within, a relentless threat closes in from the outside. Inspector Jakarat (Joke-Akarin Akaranitimaytharatt), an “experienced” and “determined police officer,” is planning to take them down. Described as a “relentless officer pursuing justice,” Jakarat is “hot on their heels,” waiting for the moment their “web of trust” finally breaks.

The story is rounded out by an all-star cast including Cris Horwang, Nont-Sadanont Durongkavarojana, Foei-Patara Eksangkul, and Bront Palarae, who reportedly add “depth and color” and “gritty realism” to this crime epic. The film premieres on Netflix on November 13.