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Thai Superman Voice Triggers Backlash in Thailand, Laos Over Poor Dubbing Quality

This Week

When the new Superman film landed in cinemas across Thailand and Laos on 10 July, audiences were quick to praise the action, but the hero’s Thai voice left many disappointed.

Sanpetch “Aim” Kunakorn, the 25-year-old actor behind the Thai dubbing, came under fire as fans claimed his performance lacked the emotion and strength expected from the iconic superhero.

The backlash was swift, with criticism flooding social media.

Sanpetch “Aim” Kunakorn voices Superman in a behind-the-scenes Superman (2025) promotional video

Aim’s take on Superman has since become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate about voice acting standards in Thailand and Laos. With no prior dubbing experience, he faced heavy online backlash. 

The Thai-dubbed trailer alone gathered over 47,000 dislikes on YouTube, compared to just 5,800 likes.

“When you’re not a professional voice actor and try so hard to sound deep and handsome, only for it to come out awkward,” one viewer wrote in the comment section.

Another joked, “If this is his first time voice acting, maybe he should’ve played Superman’s dog instead.”

Some moviegoers called for more screenings of the original English version with Thai subtitles, saying they were disappointed with the dubbed release.

Things didn’t improve after the film hit the theatres. 

Criticism only grew louder. A few viewers even joked he sounded more like Scooby-Doo than the Man of Steel.

The backlash spilled over onto Aim’s personal Instagram, where frustrated fans left comments ranging from harsh disappointment to personal insults. 

Some questioned whether he landed the role through connections, pointing to the fact that Aim is the son of longtime actor and TV host Sanya Kunakorn, a prominent figure in the Thai entertainment industry since the early ’90s.

Star Power Over Skill

Maylada Susri who voices Snow White

But this isn’t the first time a celebrity casting has stirred up controversy in Thailand.

Film distributors often tap popular actors or influencers to boost a movie’s visibility and box office sales. While this strategy might aim to grab attention, it often draws criticism when the quality doesn’t meet fans’ expectations.

Yet, not all celebrity dubbing ends in disaster. 

In early 2025. Maylada Susri or Bow earned praise for her voice work as Snow White, and newcomers Phuwin Tangsakyuen and Sayapa Singchoo were warmly received in How to Train Your Dragon.

That was precisely the quality that the country was expecting from the new Superman movie.

But with fans setting the bar so high, disappointment was hard to avoid.

Professional Voice Actor’s Take 

A Thai veteran voice actor Praphat Sinthavornkul, widely known as “Mr. Kim”

The film’s first Thai-dubbed trailer, released in May, featured veteran voice actor Praphat Sinthavornkul, widely known as “Mr. Kim”, as Superman. His performance received strong praise from fans, setting high expectations for the final release.

However, when Warner Bros. Thailand unveiled a new trailer on 20 June featuring actor Sanpetch “Aim” Kunakorn as the official voice of Superman for theatrical screenings, backlash quickly followed. 

Many viewers found the change jarring, especially when compared to Mr. Kim’s well-received version, making the studio’s decision to cast a celebrity even more controversial.

In an interview with BBC Thai, Mr. Kim responded saying that the final casting decision rested with Warner Bros. and that it’s their right as the client to choose whoever they prefer. 

He emphasized that professional voice actors don’t view such casting choices as job-stealing, noting that what matters today is voice suitability over studio tradition.

A Cross-Border Controversy

The controversy surrounding the final Thai-dubbed version of Superman (2025) hasn’t stopped at Thailand’s borders. 

In neighboring Laos, where the film was imported with the same Thai voice dub, local moviegoers echoed much of the criticism already flooding Thai social media.

Phimmachak Phomalak, a 25-year-old office worker in Vientiane Capital, watched the film on its opening day at Vientiane Center Mall and left feeling disappointed in the voice acting quality despite already having low expectations.

“I had seen the trailer in Thai before going, and they’re equally bad.”

Phimmachak said he struggled to understand much of what Superman said during the film. 

“I got to thank the theater for putting up Lao subtitles, or else I would’ve missed all the important lines,” he said, adding that the Thai dub for Superman lacked clarity and emotional weight. 

As for the controversy, he believes it was justified. 

“The actor got what’s coming to him. Thailand should really reconsider casting non-voice actors in voice roles,” he said.

His advice to fellow moviegoers? “Please value your money by watching the soundtrack.”

Kongphet Chanthavy, a 22-year-old car salesman from Vientiane, shared similar sentiments. He had hoped that the final film would be better than the trailers, but felt let down. 

“I actually preferred the voice in the first trailer – Mr. Kim’s,” he said. “I wanted to give Aim a fair chance, but during the movie, it just felt like he was trying too hard to deepen his voice. It sounded off and unnatural.”

Kongphet believes voice acting should be left to “professionals”. 

“They know how to match tone, deliver emotional lines, and keep the character believable, especially in intense scenes,” he said.

Even casual viewers like Douangsavanh Phimmasone, a 23-year-old IT technician in Vientiane, couldn’t escape the drama that flooded his social media feeds.

 “I have seen memes and posts about the drama across unrelated community groups and Thai news pages on Facebook.”

Though not a regular moviegoer, Douangsavanh had considered watching the film but decided to wait for the original soundtrack version on streaming platforms.

 “It [the trailer] wasn’t horrible,” he said, acknowledging that Aim is new to voice acting. “But it was suboptimal. He failed to deliver the character convincingly. It lacked authenticity.”

Despite his critique, Douangsavanh felt the backlash had gone too far.

“People are being relentless in the comments. There’s a lot of mean-spirited stuff. I saw some constructive criticism, but the overall response is overwhelmingly negative,” he said.

Thailand’s Damage Control Attempt

Amid mounting criticism, Warner Bros. Thailand issued an official statement defending its decision to cast Thai actor Sanpetch as the voice of Superman.

“The choice of Thailand’s Superman voice, Clark Kent, was based on voice tone and personality, regardless of the actor’s age,” the notice read.

Warner Bros. explained that Sanpetch’s voice underwent auditions and testing in Thailand before being submitted to the Warner Bros. office in the United Kingdom. 

There, a seasoned sound team with over 30 years’ experience across 70 countries reviewed and approved the casting. 

After approval, Kantana Sound Studio trained Sanpetch intensively, and Warner Bros. in the US endorsed his final performance, confirming it meets international standards. 

Still, many Thai fans flooded social media with criticism, insisting the choice ignored their expectations for Superman’s voice.

Response From Aim

Sanpetch “Aim” Kunakorn speaks to the press at the Thai Red Cross Society event on 17 July.

Amid ongoing criticism over his performance as the Thai voice of Superman, actor Sanpetch “Aim” Kunakorn broke his silence during a public appearance at a Thai Red Cross Society event on 17 July.

Speaking to the press, the 25-year-old acknowledged the backlash and said he’s open to constructive feedback, recognizing that he is new to the field of voice acting. “I’m still learning,” Aim admitted.

However, he drew a clear line when it came to personal attacks, particularly those targeting his family. 

“Criticism is one thing, but bullying, especially involving my parents, is unacceptable,” he said.

Still, Sanpetch remained composed, noting that he had mentally prepared for potential criticism, given his status as a public figure. 

“This comes with the job,” he said.

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