Lifelong best friends Alice Marano (Claire Danes) and Darlene Davis (Kate Beckinsale) have just finished high school and are planning a summer vacation in Hawaii to celebrate the high-school graduation. They leave, but they hear Bangkok is even better than Hawaii, so they decide to take a trip to Thailand, without telling their parents about the change in plans.

Bangkok's fun, but they're not crazy about their $6 accommodation. They try for a swim at a luxury hotel, but then there's some trouble when it's time to pay for their drinks. They're rescued by the roving Australian software consultant Nick Parks (Daniel Lapaine). Nick tells the pair that Hong Kong is great, and convinces them to take a weekend side trip to Hong Kong, and he's willing to exchange his first class plane ticket for three economy. But at Bangkok International Airport the girls are found with large amounts of heroin and quickly taken into custody for drug smuggling. Darlene is tricked into signing a confession in a foreign language she does not understand. They are convicted in a show trial and sentenced to 33 years, plus fifteen for an escape attempt in a grim Thai women's prison, called the Brokedown Palace by its inmates.

During the first several months of their incarceration, the girls accuse each other of attempting to smuggle the heroin, possibly at the behest of Parks. While Alice and Darlene's friendship falls apart, the facts surrounding what really happened become increasingly muddled and distorted by corrupt Thai politicians, and the girls become less and less likely to be found innocent and released. In desperation, they contact Yankee Hank (Bill Pullman), an American lawyer based in Thailand. Despite valiant efforts, Greene is beaten by the Thai legal system at every turn, and the girls' sentences remain. At the last minute, however, Alice - unable to bear the sight of her best friend suffering in prison any longer - proposes a deal with the King of Thailand to serve both girls' sentences in exchange for Darlene's release.

Paul’s portrait Alice’s classmate and boyfriend Jason.

Filmed in the Philippines due to the unfavorable portrayal of Thailand. This involved converting a mental institute to the prison and changing street signs from English to Thai. However some panoramas and views were filmed in Bangkok.

Claire Danes was banned from the Philippines due to derogatory comments about the government and the country itself. 

Reese Witherspoon turned down the role of "Alice Marano" due to personal issues with the theme of the movie.

Jennifer Love Hewitt auditioned and won the role of "Darlene Davis" but she was unable to take the part due to scheduling conflicts. The role then fell to the runner-up for the part, Kate Beckinsale