Thai hit “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” comes to the USA

Thailand’s biggest film of 2024, How to make millions before grandma dieswill soon attempt what only a few commercial films from the country have managed before: conquering cinemas worldwide.

Produced by the successful Bangkok studio GDH, How to make millions before grandma dies struck a chord with its irreverent take on the story of a scheming young man who quits his job to care for his terminally ill grandmother in the hope of inheriting her fortune. The film grossed $34 million in its theatrical release in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand, making it the highest-grossing Thai film of all time in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Australia and New Zealand.

Producers announced Monday that the film is set for theatrical release in North America (September 13 via Well Go USA), China (August 23, Teamer Media), South Korea (October, NK Contents), the UK and Ireland (December, Vertigo Releasing), the Netherlands (October 10, Vedette Film), Belgium (November 13, Vedette Film) and India (TBD, PVR). International sales are handled by Nelson Mok of Mokster Films.

“It is very encouraging to see that distributors are keen to present the film to their audiences, even though Southeast Asian films are not yet commercially proven in some of these territories,” Mok said. “The story obviously touched them deeply.”

How to make millions before grandma dies is the directorial debut of filmmaker Pat Boonnitipat, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film stars popular singer and actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) and 78-year-old actress Usha Seamkhum in her first film role.

GDH has a long history of discovering Thai talent. The studio's 2017 high school thriller Bad geniusdirected by Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya, was a hit in Thailand but later became a sensation in China, grossing $41 million.