Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong violence, language in drama about Thai anti-hero.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Tee Yai: Born to be Bad
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In TEE YAI: BORN TO BE BAD, two lifelong friends begin a thieving and heist run that causes the people of Bangkok to believe that they have magical powers. But a cop is determined to debunk these stories and take them down for good.
Is It Any Good?
On paper, this imagining of a cultural anti-hero from the 1970s looks like many other crime-themed movies, but the film fails in the main character department. The main characters, Tee and Rerk, are nearly indistinguishable in terms of personality, and they both show absolutely no remorse, regret, or moral issue with murdering dozens of innocent people, many of whom are just doing their jobs (police, guards) and others who are innocent bystanders or civilians. Because of this, it's hard to identify with Tee and Rerk, even though the film is entirely on their side, even portraying the cop trying to catch them as morally problematic (torture, threats, corruption). Thus, are audiences meant to be rooting for Yai and Rerk? Or only rooting for them knowing that they will eventually get caught? When it's all said and done, many viewers won't know how to feel exactly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in action dramas. Did any of the violence in Tee Yai: Born to be Bad surprise you? In a movie like this, how realistic should the violence be? Why?
Did you care about the main characters, Tee and Rerk? How invested were you in their attempts at getting rich?
Where could you go to learn more about the legendary Tee Yai?
Why do you think Rerk does what he does near the end of film? Does this make sense? Why or why not?
Are you satisfied with the ending? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 13, 2025
- Cast : Wisarut Himmarat , Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat , Supassra Thanachat , Joke-Akarin Akaranitimaytharatt
- Director : Nonzee Nimibutr
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , History
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 17, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate