Bad Genius

Bad Genius, known in Thai as Chalard Games Goeng (ฉลาดเกมส์โกง), is a 2017 Thai heist thriller film produced by Jor Kwang Films and distributed by GDH 559. It was directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, and stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying in her feature film debut as Lynn, a straight-A student who devises an exams-cheating scheme which eventually rises to international levels. Inspired by real-life news of students cheating on the SAT, the film transplants the heist film structure to a school-exams setting, and features themes of class inequality as well as teen social issues. The young main cast consist of relative newcomers Chanon Santinatornkul, Teeradon Supapunpinyo and Eisaya Hosuwan as Lynn's classmates Bank, Pat and Grace, while Thaneth Warakulnukroh plays her father. Filming took place on location in Thailand and Australia. Bad Genius was released on 3 May 2017, placing first at the Thai box office for two weeks and earning over 100 million baht (US$3 million), becoming the highest-grossing Thai film of 2017. The film performed successfully overseas. It broke Thai film earning records in several Asian countries, including China, where it earned over $30 million, making it the most internationally successful Thai film ever. Critics praised the film for its engaging storytelling despite the mundane setting, as well as the acting, especially Chutimon's. The film won a record-breaking twelve categories at the 27th Suphannahong National Film Awards, as well as multiple awards on the international festival circuit.