Thais turned to online entertainment in 2020 to enjoy movies and TV show.
Twitter is the place to go for people to discuss their favourite TV dramas and know about the latest movie releases. During the challenging year that was 2020 people turned to online entertainment for a meaningful escape and reprieve from the stress and worries of the world. In the first quarter of 2020, Twitter saw 678 million entertainment-related conversations in Southeast Asia.
Recent data released by Twitter for the period 1 January to 20 November 2020, provides insight into how people consumed movies and TV shows, and the related conversation trends on Twitter. While conversations in Thailand about movies naturally dipped last year – by 24% (Q3/2020 vs. Q3/2019) – Tweets about shows available on OTT channels increased by 103% (Q3/2020 vs. Q3/2019) and conversations about local TV shows increased 14% (Q3/2020 vs. Q3/2019).
With hotly anticipated Korean dramas like Snowdrop starring BLACKPINK’s Kim Ji-Soo, Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond in No Time To Die and more Netflix Originals slated to premiere in 2021, there’s no doubt that the entertainment scene will continue to drive online conversations this year. Before that happens though, let’s look back at what kept Thais glued to the edge of their seats (sofas) in the most extraordinary of years, 2020.
When the big screen dimmed
While there were limited international and local movie releases in Thailand last year, those that did make it to the big screen created lots of buzz on Twitter. The Korean-made oscar-winning #Parasite and American action drama #Mulan were two of the top blockbusters that were talked about on Twitter in 2020. Meanwhile #MyRhythm, starring Krist Perawat (@kristtps), and #ClassicAgain were among the top Thai movies talked about on Twitter in Thailand last year.
Back to the small screen
Where Hollywood releases and international distributions were delayed, Thais took to Twitter to Tweet about a whole slew of local TV programmes. #2getherTheSeries, starring @bbrightvc and @winmetawin became an instant hit both locally and abroad with fans in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore joining Thais Tweeting about the Boys Love storyline.
While the Y-Series genre is not new in Thailand it has soared in popularity recently reaching new heights in 2020.
Some of the most talked about Y-Series actors on Twitter in 2020 included คิมม่อนคอปเตอร์, คริสสิงโต, เตนิว and บิวกิ้นพีพี.
Fantasy teen dramas such as #TheGifted and #GirlFromNowhere rose in popularity amongst Thai Twitter fans while music shows such as #TheMaskSingerTH and #ICanSeeYourVoiceThailand are widely talked about, especially when celebrities such as Mew Suppasit (@MSuppasit), JJ Kritsanapoom (@JJksnp) and Ice Paris (@IcePariss) make appearances.
Streaming the night away
Over-the-top (OTT) streaming services like @netflixth, @GMMTV and @linetvth provided Thais with endless options in 2020, setting Twitter alight with a flurry of Tweets across genres from singing contests to local movies, reality shows and more. International programming proved popular, especially K-dramas such as #ItsOkayToNotBeOkay, #TheKingEternalMonarch and #CrashLandingOnYou which were some of the most Tweeted about in 2020, while British dramas such as #TheCrown, #Sherlock and #EnolaHolmes saw engaging conversations amongst Thai fans on Twitter.
Local dramas were not to be outdone, as the male rom-com #2getherTheSeries set the Twitterverse alight and generated 4.8 million Tweets globally about the series’ final episode alone.
“2020 was a year of unexpected and unprecedented change in the entertainment landscape, but Twitter continued to play its part in keeping conversations thriving,” said Carl Cheng, Head of Entertainment Partnerships, SEA and Greater China. “Even as parts of the world look towards recovery and easing of lockdown measures, entertainment will certainly remain a key part of our lives. As this year promises new reality TV, local dramas, award-winning films and more in 2021, Twitter is excited to see where the next big escape will take us.”
Regardless of genre, beloved celebrity, or country you come from; you’re sure to find fellow fans or make new friends to share your excitement with on Twitter. Join the conversation and enjoy your favourite shows with the community today.
