The sponge bath scene is awkward. M (Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul) fumbles with the cloth, avoiding his grandmother Amah’s (Usha Seamkhum) gaze. She stares at the ceiling, her pride and vulnerability hanging thick in the humid Bangkok air. This moment—raw, unglamorous, and profoundly human—holds no trace of the comedic heist the film’s English title promises. Instead, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (originally Lahn Mah or “Grandma’s Grandson”) reveals itself as something far richer: a universal story of guilt, greed, and grace that shattered box office records across Southeast Asia and reduced audiences to cathartic tears.
The Genesis of a Blockbuster: More Than a Clickbait Title
The English title How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is almost a cosmic accident. Director Pat Boonnitipat admits the original Thai title Lahn Mah (“Grandma’s Grandson”) better reflects the film’s focus on intergenerational bonds. The provocative English name stuck simply because the team “wasn’t so good in English” during early marketing stages . What began as a script for a “wacky comedy” (think Greedy or Daddy’s Dyin’…) evolved over 20 drafts into a poignant meditation on familial duty and economic despair .
Table: The Evolution of “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies”
| Element | Initial Concept | Final Film |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Slapstick inheritance comedy | Intimate family drama |
| M’s Motivation | Purely financial | Financial → Emotional growth |
| Amah’s Portrayal | Stereotypical stern matriarch | Complex, vulnerable, witty |
| Core Conflict | Siblings fighting for money | Systemic poverty + love |
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Why M’s Story Struck a Nerve: Economic Desperation Meets Emotional Truth
At its core, How to Make Millions is anchored by two powerhouse debuts:
- Billkin as M, a failed streamer/university dropout whose scheme to inherit Amah’s Chinatown home masks a deeper yearning for purpose.
- Usha Seamkhum, a non-professional actor discovered in a music video, whose portrayal of terminal cancer patient Amah avoids melodrama. Her performance is “uninhibited yet not broad”—a masterclass in quiet resilience.
M’s initial greed isn’t portrayed as monstrous, but as a symptom of generational hardship. As Boonnitipat explains:
“Our parents bought land, built houses… In my generation, it’s impossible. You hope your grandparents leave something so you can climb on, because otherwise, survival is impossible.”
This economic context transforms M’s journey from caricature to tragedy. Caring for Amah—administering meds, cleaning her wounds, navigating her moods—becomes an unexpected path to redemption.
Cultural Authenticity: Asian Family Dynamics Laid Bare
The film’s authenticity stems from its unflinching look at Asian familial structures:
- The Weight of “Face”: Amah hides her cancer diagnosis, while relatives hide their financial motives behind performative care .
- Inheritance as a Silent Battleground: M’s uncles and mother jockey for favor, revealing how money can “erase affection”.
- The Language of Service: M proves love through acts—cooking bitter melon, adjusting pillow heights—not declarations.
One review notes:
“The memories of all those moments together are the truly valuable legacy… Are the tears falling because the film is well-made, or because viewers relate it to personal memories? The answer is both.”
Table: Key Themes vs. Audience Resonance
| Theme | Manifestation in Film | Audience Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| Filial Piety | M’s reluctant caregiving | “Walked out wanting to call my parents” |
| Economic Anxiety | Amah’s house as a lifeline | Relatability across SE Asian youth |
| Unspoken Love | Amah’s gruff affection | “Tears fell during the truck scene” |
| Family Rifts | Siblings competing for inheritance | Recognition of “Asian family dynamics” |
Behind the Scenes: Director Pat Boonnitipat’s Personal Legacy
First-time feature director Pat Boonnitipat (known for TV’s Bad Genius and Project S) infused the film with his Thai-Chinese heritage and memories of his own grandmother 7. His approach was meticulous:
- Workshops Over Rehearsals: Billkin and Seamkhum bonded through shared daily activities (cooking, gardening) to build organic chemistry.
- Chinatown as Character: The cramped house, bustling markets, and hospital corridors reflect “the loneliness after togetherness” elderly face.
- Restrained Sentimentality: Avoiding manipulative music or melodrama, using ambient sounds (dripping rain, birdsong) to ground emotions.
The Catharsis of Collective Grief: Why Audiences Sobbed Together
The film’s box office dominance ($303K+ in the U.S., record-breaking in Thailand) reflects its unique emotional alchemy:
- Universality in Specifics: While steeped in Thai-Chinese rituals, scenes like Amah waiting for chemotherapy—surrounded by other patients and caregivers—transcend culture.
- Humor as a Shield: Amah’s dark jokes (“It’s better when my son doesn’t visit—it means he doesn’t need anything”) provide levity before devastating blows.
- The “Truck Scene” Phenomenon: The ending, featuring a pickup truck’s symbolic farewell, became a viral TikTok moment where audiences filmed themselves weeping.
Streaming Success and Oscar Buzz
After conquering Southeast Asian theaters, the film’s Netflix release (as of 2025) introduced it globally. Its inclusion on the Oscar International Feature shortlist cemented its status as a cultural landmark.
5 FAQs About the Film’s Legacy
- Is the title misleading?
Yes—intentionally. The Thai title Lahn Mah (“Grandma’s Grandson”) better reflects its focus on bonds over greed. - Why did it resonate beyond Thailand?
It taps into universal tensions: aging parents, unspoken love, and economic pressures amplified in collectivist societies. - How accurate is its portrayal of inheritance conflicts?
Extremely. Per inheritance experts, unequal bequests often make heirs feel “judged or compared,” fracturing families. - Did the director draw from real life?
Boonnitipat based Amah on his own grandmother: “I brought everything about her into the film”. - Where can I watch it?
Streaming on Netflix (4K) or rentable via KlikFilm.
Beyond Millions: The Inheritance That Matters
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies weaponizes its deceptive title to deliver a knockout punch to the heart. What begins as a satire of materialistic desperation evolves into a quiet epic about the only inheritance that endures: the courage to love imperfectly, to show up when it’s inconvenient, and to wash the wounds—physical and emotional—of those who raised us. As M learns, you don’t inherit a house. You inherit a heartbeat, a history, and the responsibility to carry both forward.
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