A method and apparatus for forming an ordinary amorphous coating film not limited to metallic glasses, etc. by thermal spraying.A flame (F) containing material particles is ejected from a nozzle (5) toward a base material (M). The material particles are melted by the flame (F), and these material particles and the flame (F) begin to be cooled before they reach the base material (M).For the cooling, a gas (H) is blown from outer peripheral areas apart from the flame (F) so that the gas (H) approaches the center line for the flame (F). It is preferable that the material particles in the flame (F) have a particle diameter of 10-100 [mu]m.