Thai Film 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' Vies for Oscar Glory

In a delightful yet unexpectedly lucrative twist, the National Federation of Thai Film Associations (MPC) has plucked How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies from the cinematic shelf and polished it up as Thailand’s shining contender for the Oscars’ best international feature film category. Directed by Pat Boonnitipat, this film has not just tickled audiences but has sent them rolling in the aisles and straight to the bank, raking in a jaw-dropping $50 million globally. And let’s just say, if there were a box office Olympics, this film would be draped in gold medals across Asia.

But hold onto your popcorn, folks! The success of How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies isn’t just a Thailand-centric affair. It’s claimed the title of the most successful Thai film ever in Singapore and Malaysia. Meanwhile, across the archipelago of Indonesia, where it received a whopping 3.5 million admissions—beating out the eerily popular Korean horror flick Exhuma—it comfortably sits atop the throne of all-time most successful Asian film in the country. Clearly, laughing through tears has become quite the trend!

After its meteoric rise, Netflix couldn’t resist the allure of this comedic gem and snapped up the streaming rights for Southeast Asia. It seems that digital platforms have finally recognized what we all knew: sometimes, it takes a terminally ill grandma to teach us the real meaning of family... and inheritance.

The plot centers around the whimsically named young man, 'M', played by the charming top singer-actor, Putthipong Assaratanakul—who, let’s be honest, might just be more recognizable as Billkin. As the story unfolds, M embarks on a quest to care for his ailing grandmother, deftly juggling the duties of both caretaker and financial beneficiary. What could possibly go wrong in a scheme that hinges on the ultimate family bonding experience?

The folks at GDH, the studio behind this cultural darling, praise How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies as a “cultural phenomenon.” They cheerfully note how it has managed to bridge generational gaps, drawing moviegoers aged 20 to 50 along with their 70 to 80-year-old grandparents—the kind of heartwarming display that’s becoming less common in our current Netflix-and-chill era.

“The magic of the movie-going experience,” they proclaim, “remains irreplaceable!” And who doesn’t need to be reminded that nothing quite matches the joy of sitting in a dark theater, popcorn in hand, watching family dynamics—and some darkly comedic plans—unfold on screen?

The film, co-written by Thodsapon ‘Ped’ Thiptinnakorn, and meticulously produced by Jira Maligool and Vanridee Pongsittisak, has also had its international sales managed by the talented Nelson Mok of Mokster Films. As the cameras stop rolling and the lights dim, all we can do is sit back and eagerly anticipate how this tale will fare in the fierce competition of the Oscar race.

So, keep those notifications on, because in a world that often discourages joy, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies reminds us that sometimes, all you need for a good time is a wicked sense of humor, a dash of family drama, and, of course, a potentially lucrative inheritance waiting at the end of it all.