History YMMV / OngBak

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its UpToEleven action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people realized that martial arts films of the same caliber could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the typical action flick ExcusePlot, and their opinion ''Ong-Bak'' became tepid over the years (although it is still considered an undisputed classic).

!!First film

* SignatureScene: The scene where Ting fights 3 fighters in a row in the underground fight club is this for the first film. While the film has a number of spectacular scenes, this one tends to be most remembered by fans.

!!The sequels
* AssPull:
** Bhuti appears from nowhere to cause Tien's defeat, being the first time it was shown Rajasena had such a powerful fighter among his mooks, and it is not until the sequel that the viewer gets to know ([[InexplicablyAwesome barely]]) what he is. This is actually a sign of the terrible production of the sequels, as he was introduced very late in the script in midst of chaotic rewrites, and it seems they were either unable or unwilling to give him any more background.
** Not just Bhuti, but also the fact that he has supernatural powers. Up to that point, the franchise had featured no magic or divine stuff aside from your typical Asian spirituality, and his victory over Tien in ''Ong Bak 2'' had not been framed on any preternatural advantage; Bhuti seemed to be mysterious enforcer with a lot of skill and just that. Then, out of a sudden, it turns out Rajasena had a literal KungFuWizard in his payroll, which eventually takes over the entire duology's plot and becomes the BigBad despite not having any personal connection to Tien other than having defeated him.
* BaseBreakingCharacter: Mhen, the village madman, causes a lot of division between reviewes of the third film. While some see him as a much needed, scene-stealing comic relief in midst of the gravitas, others find him massively unfunny and annoying and complain that he receives so much screentime that he ends up overshadowing more important characters like Pim or Master Bua. It is frustrating also because he is in a couple scenes that are actually good (such as when he and Tien almost jump off the cliff), but it ends all buried by the rest of his gags.
* CriticalBacklash: While not necessarily fans of the product as it is, a lot of people believe the third installment's bad reviews didn't make it justice, purporting that much the hate came straight from just not living up to the hype caused by the second film's cliffhanger ending, as well as from being a spiritually pretentious film, slower and and less action-filled than the previous, that might not appeal to those uninterested in Buddhist philosophy.
* HarsherInHindsight: Jaa kicking ass from an elephant might be a bit unsettling knowing that, in 2017, one of the elephants used in the ''Ong Bak'' series went mad due to musth and gored a mahout to death.
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Tien's fight against [[spoiler:the brotherhood of bandits/pirates/ninjas that adopted him and taught him every form of combat known to man.]] It's a bit of a marathon too, and many viewers will be exhausted by the halfway point.
* {{Narm}}:
** Admit it, you laughed in the third film when [[spoiler: Rajasena's severed head began to talk.]]
** Also in the third film, Ping insistently singing some ritual song while helping unsuccesfully a crippled Tien to rise to his feet can become rather cheesy for the viewer.
* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too outlandish and pretentious, not to talk about its {{Cliffhanger}} ending. For its part, the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot developments.
* SignatureScene: The aforementioned marathonian battle is the second film's best remembered scene.

* TheScrappy: Mhen, the village's madman, was panned by basically every reviewer and his dog. Aside from being massively unfunny and annoying, he receives so much screentime in the third film that he ends up overshadowing more important characters like Pim or Master Bua. It is frustrating also because he is in a couple scenes that are actually good (such as when he and Tien almost jump off the cliff), but it ends all buried by the rest of his gags.

** Bhuti appears from nowhere to cause Tien's defeat, and it is not until the sequel that the viewer gets to know ([[InexplicablyAwesome barely]]) what he is. This is actually a sign of the terrible production of the sequels, as he was introduced very late in the script in midst of chaotic rewrites, and it seems they were either unable or unwilling to give him any more background.
** Not just Bhuti, but also the fact that he has supernatural powers. Up to that point, the franchise had featured no magic or divine stuff aside from your typical Asian spirituality, and his victory over Tien in ''Ong Bak 2'' had not been framed on any preternatural advantage; Bhuti seemed to be mysterious enforcer with a lot of skill and just that. Then, out of a sudden, it turns out Rajasena had a literal KungFuWizard in his payroll, which eventually takes over the entire duology's plot and becomes the BigBad despite not having any personal connection to Tien.
* HarsherInHindsight: Jaa kicking ass from an elephant might be less awesome knowing that, in 2017, one of the elephants used in the ''Ong Bak'' series went mad due to musth and gored a mahout to death.
* IdiotPlot: Rajasena sends Chernang to massacre Tien's family, only that Tien escapes thanks to a loyal vassal. He ends up in a slave circuit, where ''Chernang'' finds and adopts him because he likes his spunk.

* TheScrappy: Mhen, the village's madman, was panned by basically every reviewer and his dog. Aside from being massively unfunny and annoying, he receives so much screentime in the third film that he ends up overshadowing more important characters like Pim or Master Bua.
* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too outlandish and pretentious, not to talk about its {{Cliffhanger}} ending. For its part, the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot developments.

** Not just Bhuti, but also the fact that he has supernatural powers. Up to that point, the franchise had featured no magic or divine stuff aside from your typical Asian spirituality, and his victory over Tien in ''Ong Bak 2'' had not been framed on any preternatural advantage; Bhuti seemed to be mysterious enforcer with a lot of skill and just that. Then, out of a sudden, it turns out Rajasena had a literal KungFuWuzard in his payroll, which eventually takes over the entire duology's plot and becomes the BigBad despite not having any personal connection to Tien.

** Not just Bhuti, but also the fact that he has supernatural powers. Up to that point, the franchise had featured no magic or divine stuff aside from your typical Asian spirituality, and his victory over Tien in ''Ong Bak 2'' had not been framed on any preternatural advantage; Bhuti seemed to be mysterious enforcer with a lot of skill and just that. Then, out of a sudden, it turns out Rajasena had a literal KungFuWuzard in his payroll, which eventually takes over the entire duology's plot and becomes the BigBad despite not having any personal connection to Tien like Rajasena had.

* TheScrappy: Mheng, the village's madman, was panned by basically every reviewer and his dog. He receives so much screentime in the third film that it ends up overshadowing more important characters like Pim or Master Bua, which doesn't exactly work in his favor given how massively unfunny and annoying he is.
* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too outlandish and pretentious. For its part, the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot developments.

* FollowTheLeader: The film was a refreshing work with a young new name in a film genre increasingly populated by aging stars, and marked a new direction with elements like wireless stunts, nonstop pacing and cringe-inducing hard fight scenes. Even Creator/DonnieYen would admit he used the film as a motivating force behind his own late career.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The film was revolutionary abroad, especially in China and Europe.

* AssPull: Bhuti appears from nowhere to cause Tien's defeat, and it is not until the sequel that it is explained (barely) who he was. This is actually a sign of the terrible production of the sequels, as he was introduced very late in the script in midst of chaotic rewrites.
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Tien's fight against [[spoiler: the brotherhood of bandits/pirates/ninjas that adopted him and taught him every form of combat known to man.]] It's a bit of a marathon too, and many viewers will be exhausted by the halfway point.

* FranchiseKiller: ''Ong-Bak 2'', Tony Jaa's directorial debut and his biggest budget film to date, only escaped from being the last film of the franchise because it had to be split in two in order to be saved. Its amazingly TroubledProduction and CreatorBreakdown effectively killed both Jaa's professional reputation among filmmakers and the possibility to distribute the films abroad, and made the studio lose literally millions. Due to this, when ''Ong-Bak 3'' came in, it became an even worst BoxOfficeBomb and marked the beginning of a DorkAge for Jaa.

* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked film at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too putlandish and pretentious, and then the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its UpToEleven action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people realized that martial arts films of the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the typical action flick ExcusePlot, and their opinion ''Ong-Bak'' became tepid over the years (although it is still considered an undisputed classic).

* FirstInstallmentWins: Although it is not considered anymore the hit which was hailed up as at his day, ''Ong-Bak'' is still seen as the best of the trilogy, one of the best films of its generation, and pretty much the only work by Tony Jaa which is not considered unsatisfactory or suffering from {{Sequelitis}} in any grade.
* FollowTheLeader: The film was a refreshing work with a young new name in a film genre increasingly populated by aging stars, and marked a new direction with elements like wireless stunts, nonstop pacing and cringe-inducing hard fight scenes. Even Creator/DonnieYen would admit he used the film as a motivating force behind his own peak years later.
* FranchiseKiller: ''Ong-Bak 2'', Tony Jaa's directorial debut and his biggest budget film to date, only escaped from being the last film of the franchise because it had to be split in two in order to be saved. Its amazingly TroubledProduction and CreatorBreakdown effectively killed both Jaa's professional reputation among filmmakers and the possibility to distribute the films abroad, and made the studio lose literally millions. Due to this, when ''Ong-Bak 3'' came in, it became an even worst BoxOfficeBomb and marked the beginning of a DorkAge for Jaa.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The films, especially the first, were revolutionary abroad.
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Tien's fight against [[spoiler: the brotherhood of bandits/pirates/ninjas that adopted him and taught him every form of combat known to man.]] It's a bit of a marathon too, and many viewers will be exhausted by the halfway point.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its UpToEleven action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people realized that martial arts films of the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick ExcusePlot, and their opinion ''Ong-Bak'' became tepid over the years.
* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked film at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too putlandish and pretentious, and then the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.
* SignatureScene: The scene where Ting fights 3 fighters in a row in the underground fight club is this for the first film. While the film has a number of spectacular scenes, this one tends to be most remembered by fans.

* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked film at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too putlandish and pretentious, and then the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its UpToEleven action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people realized that martial arts films of the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse, and their opinion ''Ong-Bak'' became tepid over the years.
* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' was universally liked film at its time, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too derivative and pretentious, and then the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.

* DeaderThanDisco: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its UpToEleven action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people realized that martial arts films of the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse, and their opinion ''Ong-Bak'' became tepid over the years.

* DeaderThanDisco: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its TakenToEleven action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people realized that martial arts films of the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse, and their opinion ''Ong-Bak'' became tepid over the years.

* DeaderThanDisco[=/=]SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its increased action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people changed their opinion when they realized that martial arts films with the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse.
* FirstInstallmentWins: Although it is not considered anymore the hit which was hailed up as at his day, ''Ong-Bak'' is still seen as the best of the trilogy, one of the best films of its generation, and pretty much the only work by Tony Jaa which is not considered excessively unsatisfactory or suffering from {{Sequelitis}} in any grade.

* FranchiseKiller: ''Ong-Bak 2'', Tony Jaa's directorial debut and his biggest budget to date, only escaped from being the last film of the franchise because it had to be split in two in order to be saved. Its amazingly TroubledProduction and CreatorBreakdown effectively killed Jaa's reputation and the possibility to distribute the films abroad, and made the studio lose millions. When ''Ong-Bak 3'' came in, it became an even worst BoxOfficeBomb.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The films, especially the first.

* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' is an universally loved film, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too derivative and pretentious, and the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.

* {{Sequelitis}}: While ''Ong-Bak'' is an universally loved film, the sequel was pretty divisive about whether it successfully lived up to the ToughActToFollow or it was too derivative and pretentious, and the third film was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.
* SoundtrackDissonance: The soundtrack was replaced outside Thailand. This resulted in a kick-ass martial arts movie... with a French rap soundtrack?

* DeaderThanDisco[=/=]SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With its intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and its increased action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people changed their opinion when they realized that martial arts films with the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse. Nowadays, the film's status compared with those is a BaseBreaker itself.

* FirstInstallmentWins: Although it is not considered anymore the hit which was hailed up as at his day, ''Ong-Bak'' is still seen as the best of the trilogy, one of the best films of his generation, and pretty much the only work by Tony Jaa which is not considered excessively unsatisfactory or suffering from {{Sequelitis}} in any grade.

* FranchiseKiller: ''Ong-Bak 2'', Tony Jaa's directorial debut and his biggest budget to date, only escaped from being the last film of the franchise because it had to be split in two in order to save it. Its amazingly TroubledProduction and CreatorBreakdown effectively killed Jaa's reputation and the possibility to distribute the films abroad, and made the studio lose millions. When ''Ong-Bak 3'' came in, it became an even worst BoxOfficeBomb.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The films, especially the first

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: With his intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to stay high for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and his increased action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced on its wake, people changed their opinion when they realized that martial arts films with the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse. Nowadays, the film's status compared with those is a BaseBreaker itself.

* AffablyEvil: The other guy betting on the outcome of Ting's fights in the fight club is most likely some flavor of crime boss too, but is just infectiously jolly and doesn't seem to approve of Komtuan's antagonization of Ting.
* ContestedSequel: While ''Ong-Bak'' is an universally loved film, the sequel is pretty divisive about if it successfully lives up to the ToughActToFollow from the first one or if it is too derivative and pretentious. The third film, however, was unanimously disliked by the fans, who spoke against the unexpected inclusion of supernatural elements and the overtly mystic and sometimes bizarre plot development.
* DeaderThanDisco: With his intense action and colourful quirks, ''Ong-Bak'' paved a new way in the martial arts cinema and managed to avoid the SeinfeldIsUnfunny for many years, helped by its sister film ''Film/TomYumGoong'' and his increased action. However, after films like ''Film/{{Merantau}}'' and ''Film/IpMan'' surfaced, people changed their opinion when they realized that martial arts films with the same HolyShitQuotient could be worked out with actual plots and drama beyond the classic action flick excuse.
* FirstInstallmentWins: Although it is not considered anymore the hit which was hailed up as at his day, ''Ong-Bak'' is still seen as the best of the trilogy, and pretty much the only film by Tony Jaa which is not considered excessively unsatisfactory or suffering from {{Sequelitis}} in any grade.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: And it's not only popular in other Asian countries!

* {{Narm}}: Admit it, you laughed in the third film when [[spoiler: Rajasena's severed head began to talk.]]

* {{Narm}}: Admit it, you laughed in the third film when [[spoiler: Rajasena's severed head began to talk.]]

* CompleteMonster: [[EvilCripple The wheelchair-bound]] crime boss who talks through a hole in his throat cynically sells his country's religious treasures to foreigners and causally orders the deaths of anyone who tries to protect them.

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Tien's fight against [[spoiler: the entire brotherhood of bandits/pirates/ninjas that adopted him and taught him every form of combat known to man.]] It's a bit of a marathon too, and many viewers will be exhausted by the halfway point.

* CompleteMonster: The seller of Thailand's national treasures, who is also an EvilCripple.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Tien's fight against [[spoiler: the entire brotherhood of bandits/pirates/ninjas that adopted him and taught him every form of combat known to man.]]Its a bit of a marathon too, and many viewers will be exhausted by the halfway point.
** In the first movie, a horribly battered Humlae [[spoiler: shielding Ong-Bak with his body when Komtuan tries to smash it with a hammer - and then ''keeps shielding the statue'' while the crime lord keeps beating on him.]] For a character as selfish as Humlae has been throughout the movie, that is saying something.
** Tony Jaa lights his legs on fire and kicks someone in the face!

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: And it's not only popular in other Asian countries!