‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ the only Southeast Asian film on upcoming Oscars’ shortlist

By Linh Le December 23, 2024 | 04:00 am PT

The Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Oscars, marking the sole entry from Southeast Asia.

A still cut from Thai film "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies." Photo from "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" Instagram

This milestone also marks the first time a Thai film has achieved this recognition, reports Lifestyle Asia.

The list includes 14 other contenders: "I’m Still Here" from Brazil, "Universal Language" from Canada, "Waves" from Czech Republic, "The Girl With The Needle" from Denmark, "Emilia Perez" from France, "The Seed Of The Sacred Fig" from Germany, "Touch" from Iceland, "Kneecap" from Ireland, "Vermiglio" from Italy, "Flow" from Latvia, "Armand" from Norway, "From Ground Zero" from Palestine, "Dahomey" from Senegal, and "Santosh" from the U.K.

The final list of nominees, narrowed down to five, will be announced in January, in anticipation of the Oscar ceremony scheduled for March.

Thailand has submitted films for the Best International Feature Film category annually since 2000, beginning its submissions in 1984 with "The Story of Nampoo." This year’s contender, the 31st submission, is particularly notable as it introduces a new chapter for Thai cinema on the international stage.

Directed by Pat Boonitipat, the narrative of "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" follows a young man who concocts a scheme to get rich quickly by taking care of his terminally ill grandmother to secure her inheritance. However, his time with her leads to a dramatic change in his values, culminating in a deep moral realignment and the realization that his affection for his grandmother outweighs his initial motives.

The film not only made a significant impact critically but also commercially. It earned 250 million baht (US$7.3 million) within the first 14 days of its release in Thailand, becoming the highest-grossing Thai film of 2024 before being overtaken by "Death Whisperer 2" and relegated to second place. Additionally, it set a record for the largest opening weekend ever for a Thai film in Singapore, as reported by 8days.