When Thai filmmaker Pat Boonnitipat embarked on his debut feature film, How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, his primary goal was simple: to complete it in time for his grandmother to watch.
Initially, the film was also meant to support his family’s mirror and glass-making business. However, the movie’s sweeping regional success has catapulted Pat into the spotlight, leaving him on the hunt for his next story.
Since its premiere on April 4 in Thailand, the film has dominated the domestic box office, earning 334 million baht. It has become the most successful Thai film in Singapore and Malaysia. In Indonesia, the movie garnered 3.5 million admissions, surpassing the Korean horror film Exhuma to become the all-time most successful Asian film in the country. Globally, it has grossed 1 billion baht with 10 million admissions. The film was released in Taiwan on June 21 and will feature at the New York Asian Film Festival starting July 12.
How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies follows M, a young man who moves in to care for his terminally ill grandmother in hopes of securing her inheritance. The film stars popular singer-actor Putthipong Assaratanakul as M, and Usha Seamkhum, a relatively new actress, as the grandmother.
Pat, inspired by legendary directors such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Akira Kurosawa, made significant changes to the original script, shifting its genre to a more emotionally driven narrative and adding characters to reflect a multi-generational dynamic.
To authentically capture the essence of the film, Pat moved in with his 92 year old grandmother, drawing inspiration from their interactions.
“We spent a lot of time together, and I asked her many questions about her life and thoughts.”
Despite her initial suspicions, she eventually understood his intent to honour her through his work. In an understated reaction to the finished film, Pat’s grandmother said the following:
“It was just a normal movie. My life is much harsher than this.”
Online reactions
The film has sparked waves of emotional TikTok reactions, allowing Pat to see firsthand the audience’s heartfelt responses.
“People used the film to talk about their lives, which taught me a lot about its psychological impact.”
Initially planning to return to his family business post-release, Pat now finds himself in a new realm of cinematic success, driven by the universal themes that resonated with audiences worldwide, reported Yahoo News.
“People told me the film healed their hearts and their families.”
Thailand News