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The concept of elderly care and its connection with the benefit of the will has been one that has been ‘tormenting’ every family internationally, and even more, the ones in some Asian countries where family seems to mean everything. Pat Boonnitipat explores the concepts in his feature debut, by also including elements of coming-of-age in the narrative.

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is screening at Asian Popup Cinema

Amah is an elderly woman who has three children, Kiang, who is the eldest and the most well-off, Sew, who is the only daughter she has and the one who takes care of her the most, and Soei, who is the troublemaker of the family and the one constantly mooching from his mother, frequently to cover his gambling debts. Amah lives alone in an old tenement house and despite her advanced age, she continues to sell rice porridge every day in the market.

It takes only a few strategic bars of tinkly piano score to suggest that the protagonist of How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Lahn Mah) might trade his cynical motivation for selfless devotion before the end credits roll. But the unapologetic sentimentality doesn’t make this bittersweet comedy-drama any less touching or insightful in its observation of spiky family interactions when end-of-life issues and questions of inheritance cause sparks. Thailand’s submission for the international Oscar is the country’s first entry to make it onto the 15-title shortlist.

The debut feature from television and documentary director Pat Boonnitipat was a blockbuster in its domestic release, crossing borders to find similar success elsewhere in Southeast Asia and grossing an estimated $73.8 million worldwide. It’s easy to see why. Viral social media exposure that sprang from Manila theater staff handing out tissues prior to each screening and audience members posting...

Thai blockbuster “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is a sentimental comedy-drama that mixes filial piety and avaricious schemes all the way to a multi-hankie finale. Filled with family complications, it follows a young adult slacker who leaves his not exactly booming game-casting career to care for his terminally ill granny.

The smoothly crafted, leisurely paced crowd-pleaser marks the feature debut of Thai filmmaker Pat Boonnitipat, and has set box office records at home and throughout Southeast Asia. With an engaging cast led by dimpled actor and pop singer Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul and 78-year-old Usha “Taew” Seamkhum, it renders universal the central message of cherishing those we love while there is still time.

How many hit films start and end in the cemetery? It’s where we first meet the forceful, critical Grandma of the title, a Thai woman of Chinese descent. She is directing her extended family in...

"It's good to have you around. It's fun." Well Go USA has unveiled the official US trailer for a Thai dramedy movie titled How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies in English, originally known as just Lahn Mah in Thai. Made by Thai filmmaker Pat Boonntipat, this already opened in theaters in Thailand earlier this year, and it will be soon getting a US release in select theaters (this Sept). After his grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, a scheming young man moves in to care for her, motivated by a desire to secure her fortune for himself. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that winning Grandma's favor is no easy feat. This stars Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) as M, Usha Seamkhum as Amah, Sanya Kunakorn, Sarinrat Thomas, Pongsatorn Jongwilas, & Tontawan Tantivejaku. I have to say - this film actually looks really sweet and sentimental, a nice comedy but also a...

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, the Thai drama that has proved a box office and cultural phenomenon in Asia, has been picked up by Netflix.

The streaming giant will make the film available across Southeast Asia from September 12 and in further countries later this year.

Marking the feature directorial debut of Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based hitmakers Gdh 559, the family drama stars popular Thai singer Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) and Usha Seamkhum.

‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ producer talks Thai breakout hit (exclusive)

Since being released in April and May, the film has become the...

Netflix has landed the Southeast Asia streaming rights for Thai box office hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, set to premiere on September 12.

The streamer added that the film will also be available in more countries later this year.

Besides topping the domestic box office, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has become the highest-grossing Thai film to date in several countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar.

Driven by the desire for a multimillion-dollar inheritance, a young man, M, decides to care for his terminally ill grandmother and moves in to live with her.

M is played by popular singer-actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (also known as Billkin), while his grandmother is played by relative newcomer Usha Seamkhum. In Thai, the film’s title is Lahn Mah, which means “grandma’s grandchild.”

Produced by Gdh 559, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies was written by Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn and Pat Boonnitipat.

Grandma Going Wide

Global streaming firm Netflix has picked up rights to Thai hit film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.” It will air in Southeast Asia starting Sept. 12 and become available in other territories later this year.

Produced by Gdh 559, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” was written by Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, who apparently drew inspiration from personal experiences, and was directed by Pat Boonnitipat (“Bad Genius”). Since its release in cinemas in April, the film has become the highest-grossing Thai film to date in multiple countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Driven by the desire for a multimillion-dollar inheritance, M (Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul) puts aside his dreams as a hopeful game caster to care for his terminally ill grandmother (Usha Seamkhum). But winning Grandma’s favor is no easy feat, as she proves to be demanding and exceedingly difficult to please. To make things more complicated,...

Bad Genius Review Bad Genius (2017) Film Review from the 16th Annual New York Asian Film Festival, a movie directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, and starring Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Chanon Santinatornkul, Eisaya Hosuwan, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Sarinrat Thomas, and Thaneth Warakulnukroh. You don’t have to be a genius to understand the set-up to ‘Bad Genius;’ but it does help in getting to understand [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Bad Genius: Smart Enough for its Own Good [Nyaff 2017]...