How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

Oh my god that transition to his memory with his grandma was insane. If you’ve watched the movie you know what I’m talking about. I had goosebumps through that entire scene. 10/10 movie.

This movie floored me and will be one of the best I've seen in 2024. After watching His Three Daughters, which attempted to depict death and familial relationships in a very dry way, How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies was able to do everything that movie was unable to achieve. It explores multiple different family members and their interactions with each other, their siblings, and their parents. It examines what it means to view these relationships as transactional or simply obligations versus genuine care for each other. Through its runtime, this movie manages to dissect that concept from so many different angles that I was impressed, without ever letting its core relationship go neglected. Our main character M thinks he finds an easy way to get rich by taking care of his dying grandma so that she will leave her house to him. Everything he does is filled with impatience as he tries to rush his chores or find the easy way out. On the other hand, Grandma is constantly badgering him about his intentions, but she just wants somebody to spend time with her. This is the emotional heart of this story. The movie can be fairly comedic, but it can also be heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal terms. There's a gentleness to how it is filmed, and the acting is phenomenal across the board. More than anything, it resonated so deeply with me. It reminded me of the precious moments I spent with my grandparents, how they must have cherished and looked forward to those fleeting moments, and the love of my dad taking such good care of them. The best movies are able to cause the viewer to remember their own life, put a mirror up to them for self-reflection, and inspire insight and change. This is one of those movies. Watch it.

**How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies** brings up a very relatable family theme, especially an Asian family. The story also feels very personal with its slow and simple plot. A complete package that **Pat Boonnitipat** successfully executed.

Not to mention the top-notch scoring. Although the music scoring really starts to be felt at the end of the film, the scoring plays an important role in building emotional scenes.

Not to mention the beautiful and aesthetic cinematography. The director knows very well how to capture the outskirts of Thailand to produce beautiful and aesthetic visuals.

> ม่า ถึงบ้านที่เอ็มซื้อให้ม่าแล้วนะ
> —M

I love it SOOO MUCHHHH. This is the kind of movie that is simple yet connects with whoever watch it in such a deep way. They don't talk a lot, but i can just feel it with how they show it in a lot of scene. The delivery is insane i could feel every emotion watching this.

You're asian, watch this. You have or had a grandma, watch this. JUST WATCH ITTT!!!

Simply enchanting, this movie combines several elements in a harmonious way. The narrative moves naturally between the simplicity of everyday life and the emotional complexity of the characters, exploring everything from melancholy to lightness with a unique and sensitive approach. Pat Boonnitipat's direction is masterful, full of details that enrich the experience, such as the use of culinary elements that awaken the senses and bring the viewer closer to the story. The cinematography is wonderful, with striking images, and the performances of Usha Seamkhum and Putthipong Assaratanakul are exceptional, being the centerpiece of the film.

It’s not every day you come across a film that so authentically captures the emotional chaos and complicated bonds of a family like “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.” Directed by Pat Boonnitipat, this Thai dramedy dives headfirst into the conflicts, little gestures, and moments of tenderness that surface in times of extreme vulnerability. It balances sentimentality and humor with a surprising lightness, delivering a movie that doesn’t reinvent the wheel but reminds us why family stories always hit so deeply.

The narrative’s backbone is M., played with a kind of lazy charisma by Putthipong Assaratanakul. M. is your classic case of someone dodging responsibilities until they become impossible to ignore. A failed video game streamer, he steps up to care for his grandmother, Amah (Usha Seamkhum), after learning about her terminal illness. At first, his intentions are as transparent as they are funny: to secure a slice of her inheritance. But Boonnitipat and Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn’s script is sharp enough never to let M. feel like just an opportunist. As the story unfolds, what begins as a convenient act evolves into something genuine, and it’s in this arc of transformation that the film finds its heart.

Amah is the kind of character who lingers in your memory. Strong, stubborn, and quick-witted, she faces her terminal illness with a mix of pragmatism and resignation that makes her instantly lovable. Through her eyes, the film explores not just dysfunctional family dynamics but also the quiet impact of mortality on everyone around her. Amah serves as the emotional anchor, connecting her children, grandchildren, and even the audience, all while navigating the small betrayals and manipulations of those who are supposed to care for her.

What really sets the film apart, though, is the attention to detail. Boonnitipat is a director who knows that the setting can tell as much of a story as the dialogue. The bustling streets of Chinatown in Bangkok, hospital corridors, casual poolside conversations—all of these moments build a living, breathing world beyond the core plot. Each scene is so vivid you can almost smell the steaming broth at the local market or hear the distant hum of tuk-tuk engines. This strong sense of place, combined with the rich tapestry of sounds and visuals, elevates the movie beyond a conventional melodrama.

Of course, there’s sentimentality, and at times the film leans into a few predictable jokes about aging and bodily functions. But even these choices, which might feel clichéd elsewhere, are handled with a disarming honesty. One particularly memorable scene shows M. helping Amah with a mundane task that quickly turns into a quiet moment of connection between the two. It’s in these smaller, intimate moments that the film truly shines, showing how fragile yet powerful family bonds can be.

Another highlight is the way the film tackles M.’s growth without resorting to easy fixes. He starts out selfish and aimless, but his journey is never sugarcoated. Instead, the script demonstrates how constant presence and care—even when fueled by questionable motives—have the power to change both the giver and the receiver. M. doesn’t become a saint; he remains a deeply flawed character. But as the film so sensitively suggests, transformation lies in the small gestures, not grand epiphanies.

Despite its heavy theme, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is ultimately a film about reconciliation and acceptance. It reminds us that the people we love will never be perfect and that family is as much a source of conflict as it is of comfort. There’s something deeply reassuring in the way the movie wraps up, offering a sense of hope without ignoring the messiness of real life.

Whether it’s through the screenplay’s sensitivity, the genuine performances, or the thoughtful direction, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” stands out as one of the year’s most rewarding surprises. It doesn’t settle for just making you cry or laugh; instead, it delivers an honest, warm portrait of the pains and joys of being part of a family. By the time the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but think of my own grandmother, my own moments of disconnect and reconnection. And in the end, that’s what cinema does best.

Hits me to tears at many times

This movie is hands down one of the best I've seen this year! I mean, I didn't just tear up, I straight up cried the whole way through. It's such a heartwarming and funny film. I highly recommend it to everyone!

It is not far-fetched today to say that most relationships are superficial and people view them only in terms of their greedy personal benefits. The story starts with Mui, M.'s cousin, inheriting nearly all of Grandpa's wealth after becoming his number one, upon nursing him in his last days. This inspires the indolent and failed game-streamer, M., to chase his Grandma's wealth and property. There is no shortcut to this but by winning her heart gradually within the predicted timespan of a year, so M. sets off to do that.

Though driven by selfish motives and shallow actions, the movie beautifully captures the transformation of the relationship between an ageing Grandma and her only grandson. Her offspring are in the race to acquire the best of her inheritance. The plot makes us question whether actions belie incentives and intentions, casting even minimal humanity aside.

This piece of art is not an emotional rollercoaster. Yet it makes you laugh and cry; it touches the nooks of your whimpering heart and fills it with reminiscences of your loved ones. The plot unfolds most gently, at a warm and tender pace. It is compelling with exceptional cinematography and equally outstanding acting, particularly by Putthipong Assaratanakul who plays the grandson and Usha Seamkhum as the most lovable Grandma. The story is relatable. The story is about all of us; happening all around us. There were moments where I felt frustrated while reflecting on whether human relations have bottled down to the Bahts you can count. There were moments when I felt my gut wrench in disappointment and disgust. The transition in the climax, however, is sure to leave you wailing - with hope and comfort. Maybe Amah was the luckiest soul, for her devout worship finally granted her a dedicated grandson to shower her with untarnished love.

This is top class stuff. Characters, plot, pace, acting are all amazing. The Grandma and Grandson interactions were organic and touching. Both of them did a great job acting. Even with the subtitles, the essence of the movie was conveyed aptly. I don't think there could have been anything I could do to make this better. And the climax, Ooof! Such perfection.