Thai entertainment fans come to Twitter to discuss the latest releases, plot lines and tracks, and to support their favourite celebrities, actors and artists at home, and abroad. Twitter is where entertainment is happening and in 2021 conversations about TV, cinema and movies in Thailand all increased, as did conversations about entertainment on streaming platforms, which increased 22% on the back of new K-Content such as #girlsplanet999 and hit series #squidgame.

Streaming platforms in Thailand are providing access to an ever-wider range of entertainment content and while many of the conversations in 2021 focussed on content produced in Korea, conversations about TV, cinema and movies focussed on locally produced content, the Thai actors and the ever-popular Y-Series format.

With so many entertainment conversations taking place on Thai Twitter; the most talked about platforms were Netflix (@Netflixth), WeTV Thailand (@WeTVThailand), DisneyPlusTH (@disneyplusth), Viu Thailand (@Viu_TH), LINE TV (@Linetvth), GMMTV (@GMMTV), Nadao Bangkok (@NadaoBangkok), JOOX Thailand (@JOOXTH), Spotify Thailand (@SpotifyThailand).

Here are three key entertainment conversation trends on Thai Twitter in 2021

1. Korean content resonates with Thais
Thais love of K-Culture knows no bounds and in 2021 conversations about K-Dramas reached new heights with #thedeviljudge, #vincenzo, #squidgame, #nevertheless, #hometownchachacha and #hospitalyplaylist2 some of the top streaming content hashtags on Thai Twitter from January to September last year.

That love of everything Korean is also showing in the broadening of K-Content appeal as idol programmes such as #girlsplanet999 and the dance competition #streetwomanfighter were both hotly discussed on Thai Twitter last year.

2. Thai fans show their love for home-grown talent
Conversations around local TV, cinema and movies in Thailand have all grown in 2021 with local celebrities and actors, and locally produced programming being the most talked about. Passionate about home-grown talent, Thais Tweet regularly about their favourite stars and #mewsuppasit, #bbrighttvc, #gulfkanawut and #winmetawin topped Thai TV conversations in 2021. Conversations about bbrighttvc and #winmetawin were driven in part around their roles in #F4Thailand (launched in December 2021), while #mewsuppasit fans shared their love for the actor/ singer throughout the year.

Following the success of #2gethertheseries on TV in 2020, 2021 saw it cross over to the big screen with the release of #2getherthemovie in November. The platform change made no difference as Thai fans continued to show their adoration for the actors #bbrighttvc and #winmetawin, and excitement for the movie launch.

Anticipation of releases has been a driver of some conversations on Thai Twitter in 2021 as many movies were postponed during the pandemic. Although finally released in January 2022, #telltheworldiloveyou and its lead actors #perthtanapon and #bbasjtr were hot topics of conversation last year as anticipation built and fans eagerly discussed what to expect of the movie.

3. Y-Series
Y-Series remain popular amongst Thai entertainment fans and it's on Twitter where the conversations happen. Following the popularity of #2gethertheseries and its lead 'couple' #brightwin in 2020, 2021 saw the rise of #ppkrit and #bbillikin in #แปลรักฉันด้วยใจเธอ. With series 2 launched in May 2021, conversations peaked in Q3 as fans showed their love of both the series and the actors.

Other popular Y-Series actors on Thai Twitter in 2021 included #gulfkanawat, #warwanart and #tawan_v with fans Tweeting eagerly in anticipation of their upcoming projects.

Thai artists top music conversations
K-Pop groups such as #got7, #nct127, #nct and #blackpink remained popular conversations amongst Thai music fans on Twitter, as did conversations about artists in those groups. Last year, however, Twitter saw a Thai artist breakthrough with #peckpalitchoke, #bambam and #lisa amongst the four most talked about music artists on Thai Twitter in 2021.

Debuting solo in 2021, #bambam released his first mini-album and its titular single in June. An instant hit, Thai fans also took to Twitter to discuss his unique dress-style in a stage performance. Also debuting solo in 2021 was Blackpink’s #lisa, who entertained her fans with the release of her first solo single LaLisa. Breaking two Guiness records, and sending her Thai Stans into a frenzy on Twitter, she was able to express her Thai roots with her combination of modern pop and traditional Thai dress in the MV.

The pandemic was undoubtedly tough on the entertainment industry and the vibrant conversations on Twitter surrounding movies, shows, and music in 2021 were a ray of hope for artists, producers, and directors alike. They helped spotlight the industry, and local artists and shows gained more visibility through the conversations that happened #OnlyOnTwitter.