'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' becomes all-time most successful Asian film in Indonesia

A still from the Thai movie "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies." Photo courtesy of the film crew

Deadline reports that the movie has attracted 10 million admissions worldwide and earned 100 million baht in the first five days after its release in Thailand, exceeding the expectations of its screenwriter Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn and director Pat Boonnitipat.

Reflecting on the film’s success, Thiptinnakorn told NgoiSao: "Initially, we did not expect the film to achieve such success."

"Our goal was simply to create the best film possible and to convey the emotions we wanted to share with the audience," he said.

He also shared that the film resonated deeply with his parents, allowing them to reflect on their past experiences with their own parents.

The film also enjoyed considerable success in Vietnam, amassing VND72.6 billion (US$28.6 million) in revenue by June 25, just 18 days following its June 7 premiere in the country.

Having previously had success with comedies like "Friend Zone" and "Love Destiny: The Movie" in Vietnam, Thiptinnakorn expressed his astonishment at the warm reception of this psychological drama, which presents a sadder narrative.

Meanwhile, Boonnitipat noted the work’s cultural resonance with Vietnamese lifestyle and culture.

"After speaking with locals, I recognized the cultural parallels between our film’s themes and Vietnamese life," he said. "This familiarity likely helped Vietnamese viewers form a deeper connection with the film, enhancing their appreciation."

In discussing the filmmaking process, Boonnitipat shared his meticulous and self-critical approach, which he has consistently applied across numerous projects with the aim of achieving the best possible results. This rigorous method was also employed in the production of "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies," where he personally selected each team member and carefully refined every detail to minimize errors and perfect the final product.

Regarding his casting decision, Boonnitipat said he chose Usha Seamkhum, an amateur actress, for the lead role of the grandmother to infuse the film with a sense of freshness, despite the challenges this posed.

"The role required her to act naturally, as if she was in her own home—walking, talking, and eating seamlessly," he explained. "Performing consecutive actions, such as eating, then standing up, walking to another spot, and speaking, was particularly challenging for her."

"This led to some moments of forgetfulness, necessitating numerous rehearsals to ensure a natural performance," he added.

"How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" follows the story of a young man named M, who moves in to care for his terminally-ill grandmother in hopes of inheriting her wealth. Since its premiere in Thailand on April 4, the film has led the domestic box office.