‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’: Review And Where To Watch In Singapore

Sometimes, it’s nice to step away from action-packed movies with spectacular CGI for a while and go back to good old heartfelt storytelling. That’s what we found in the Thai film How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, the blockbuster hit taking over Singapore and beyond. Golden Village Pictures revealed that the movie earned more than SGD330,000, achieving the biggest opening weekend ever for a Thai film in Singapore. We’ve rounded up what you need to know about the cast, plot, and our analysis as to why this film deserves every ounce of success.

Go on a meaningful journey with Amah and M. (Photo from: @goldenvillagepictures)

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies: trailer, cast, plot, and more

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is the debut feature film of director Pat Boonnitipat. It centres on a young man named “M” and his relationship with his grandmother AKA Amah. After finding out from his cousin that he could get rich by winning the favour of an elderly relative, he puts aside his dreams of becoming a successful online game caster to care for Amah who’s terminally ill.

M discovers that winning over Amah proves challenging as she’s difficult to please. He also finds out that other members of the family are gunning for the inheritance.

The movie has a few lighthearted comedic scenes, but prepare yourself for a heartwarming drama that will have you reaching for tissues.

Who will be the apple of Amah’s eye? (Photo from: @thaisupermarketsg and @goldenvillagepictures)

Get ready to be impressed by the authentic portrayal of actor, singer, emcee, and model “Bilkin” Putthipong Assaratanakul and Usha Seamkhum as grandson and grandma, respectively. Fun fact: this is Usha’s acting debut at seventy-eight years old.

If you’ve watched F4 Thailand, you’ll also enjoy seeing Thai actress and model “Tu” Tontawan Tantivejakul play the role of Mui, M’s cousin.

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies review

Still on the fence about this movie? Here are three reasons why you should catch this thought-provoking and heartwrenching film with your family and friends.

1. The film's plot is simple, but its story feels incredibly personal

M helping Amah sell congee. (Photo from: @thaisupermarketsg and @goldenvillagepictures)

The plot is simple and predictable, but it’s powerful enough to make entire movie theatres cry. The story feels very personal and artfully depicts complex problems found in today's society. There’s a lot to unpack, and it’s the perfect launch pad for conversations with your own loved ones and community.

It shows how traditional ways of favouring men over women in a family and greed over an inheritance can be catalysts for inciting quarrels within the family. It organically brings home the fact that time is wasted fighting over it instead of genuinely spending the limited time we have with the precious people in our lives.

The raw portrayal of how Amah eagerly waits for her family to visit her and how she goes about her days living alone will pierce your heart and will make you ponder about the loneliness our ageing family members go through.

2. The film depicts realistic relationships within the family

The interactions between the members of the family from various generations are experiences we know all too well. Some of the dialogues would feel as if they were directly taken from a scenario in your family gathering or an ordinary day with your grandma.

Among the relationships, the central one between M and Amah will make you laugh — and cry the most. While their witty back-and-forth quips and conversations aren’t really profound, they will still tug at your heartstrings, especially when you begin to see the love hidden behind their words.

3. The film fosters a deeper empathy towards others, especially the elderly

Be inspired to give a little more love to the people around you. (Photo from: @goldenvillagepictures)

Some movies are forgettable, but How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies will spur you to go home and cherish your loved ones more. Our elderly relatives deserve extra patience and care — have we spent some time with them lately?

Given the title and the film’s linear storytelling approach, we know how it all ends — with the grandma’s passing. From the opening scene to the final moments before the credits roll in, the film reminds us of the painful realities of ageing, saying your final farewells, and the grief experienced by those left behind.

The movie will make your heart ache, but it will also give you hope about how a flawed family can reconnect, forgive each other’s faults, and leave no room for regrets.