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The progress of the cinema of the region is undisputed. With governments allocating more money in the cinema in a number of the countries of the union, streamers and particularly Neftflix investing heavily, along with foreign companies as in the case of Korean Cj Entertainment in Vietnam, the unique stories from a series of regions where everyday life and the supernatural always went hand in hand, finally found a space to blossom. Following suit from Malaysia, which had a tremendous 2023, Indonesia also made a leap forward this year, headed by a rather strong box office and a catalogue of movies that moved beyond 200 in 2024, even if more than 60 of them are horror movies. Filipino cinema, however, is still on top, in a place it does not seem to lose, particularly since, industry-wise, local cinema seems to be the most organized in the region. Vietnam also seems to on the rise,...

The premise – a young man cosies up to his grandmother for the sake of her will – sounds cynical, but this is actually a tear-jerker with an important point

The title makes it sound like some goofy Brit crime comedy; in fact it’s a sweet, sad heart-warmer from Thailand, whose original title Lahn Mah, or Grandma’s Grandchild, is closer to the mark.

Television director Pat Boonnitipat makes his feature film debut and 78-year-old Usha Seamkhum, a former TV commercials model making her film acting debut, gives a lovely performance as Menju, a widow who has accepted her terminal cancer with unsentimental calm. But she is well aware her will could cause problems with her grownup children; these are uptight stockbroker Kiang, boozy gambling addict Soei and hard-working Sew, whose son M (Putthipong Assaratanakul) is the centre of the story.

One of the biggest underdogs of the Oscars international shortlist is a Thai feature debut, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” which has been a huge box office across Asia but has, up until now, been mostly under the radar in the U.S. and Europe.

Directed by Pat Boonnitipat, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is the first Thai film to make the shortlist, even though the country has been submitting to the category since 1984.

The film tells the story of M (Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul), a college dropout who puts aside his dreams to become a game caster to start caring for his terminally ill grandmother (Usha Seamkhum) in the hope of seize her multimillion-dollar inheritance. But winning Grandma’s favor is no easy feat, as she proves to be demanding and exceedingly difficult to please. To make things more complicated, M is not the only one vying for the fortune.

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies clinched a historic spot on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature Film this week, becoming the first Thai feature to ever make the December list.

Thailand has submitted 24 films for the international Oscar to date, since 1984, but the country has never scored a nomination nor spot on the shortlist, before How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, which is the debut feature of director Pat Boonnitipat.

The film’s top star, musician-actor Billkin, first heard about the achievement via the Thai media on Tuesday.

“I’m a bit surprised because it’s the first Thai movie that has this opportunity,” Billkin told Deadline. “At the beginning of this project, I never dreamed that we were going to come this far.”

Intergenerational family drama How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies was Billkin’s first leading role in a film, having only made...

Nominations voting is from January 8-12, 2025, with official Oscar nominations announced January 17, 2025. Final voting is February 11-18, 2025. And finally, the 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2 and air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. Et/ 4:00 p.m. Pt. We update our picks through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.

The State of the Race

Prior to the shortlists announcement, there had definitely been folks walking around in denial about “Emilia Pérez” being the dominant Best International Feature contender; less so because of negative feelings about the Netflix film, and more because the raft of submissions from all over the world have been so good this year.

Looking at the Oscars 2025 shortlists generally, Jacques Audiard’s musical got recognized just about everywhere it would have wanted to, even nabbing two spots on the Best Original Song shortlist. But looking at the Best International Feature list specifically,...

Refresh for latest…: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has whittled down a field of 85 eligible films to a shortlist of 15 which will now advance to the next round of voting, looking to secure a nomination for the Best International Feature Oscar.

In the mix are such expected titles as Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez from France, Walter Salles’ Brazilian drama I’m Still Here and Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which is Germany’s submission.

This marks a first for Rasoulof, who (never having represented Iran) has been living in Germany since his dramatic flight from his native country in May this year.

Also a first is the advancement of Flow — the animated fantasy adventure gives Latvia its inaugural appearance on the shortlist in this category.

Thailand also makes history today with How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. The country...

The Academy has unveiled the 10 shortlists for the 97th Academy Awards in March, with Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed Of The Sacred Fig and Walter Salles’sI’m Still Here among the international feature film category heavyweights.

Besides the French, German and Brazilian contenders, the list includes Mati Diop’s Dahomey for Senegal, Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap for Ireland, Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio for Italy, Sandhya Suri’s Santosh for the UK, and Matthew Rankin’sUniversal Language for Canada.

Europe accounts for 10 or two-thirds of the shortlist, Africa and Middle East two, and Americas two,...

For those of you tired of the usual holiday movie diet of sleigh bells, snowflakes, and sugarplum fairies, The Hollywood Reporter‘s international team has whipped up a menu of new foreign films, currently available to screen in the U.S., that offer something for a more refined cinema palate.

Whether your taste runs to Irish hip-hop or Mexican musicals, Austrian horror or Danish romance, family-friend Thai comedy, or adult-only Aussie animation, we’ve got you covered for those long winter nights.

Banel & Adama (Stream/Rent On: Apple, Amazon, Fandango) ‘Banel & Adama’

French-Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s bold debut illuminates the complexities of love and identity in a Romeo and Juliet-style story set in rural Senegal. Featuring captivating performances by Khady Mane and Mamadou Diallo as the titular couple, Banel & Adama combines rich, humanistic storytelling with stunning visuals to conjure a deeply imagined world. While the director...

Thai blockbuster “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is a sentimental comedy-drama that mixes filial piety and avaricious schemes all the way to a multi-hankie finale. Filled with family complications, it follows a young adult slacker who leaves his not exactly booming game-casting career to care for his terminally ill granny.

The smoothly-crafted, leisurely-paced crowd-pleaser marks the feature debut of Thai filmmaker Pat Boonnitipat, and has set box office records at home and throughout Southeast Asia. With an engaging cast led by dimpled actor and pop singer Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul and 78-year-old Usha “Taew” Seamkhum, it renders universal the central message of cherishing those we love while there is still time.

How many hit films start and end in the cemetery? It’s where we first meet the forceful, critical Grandma of the title, a Thai woman of Chinese descent. She is directing her extended family in the Qingming...

Michael Gracey’s Robbie Williams biopic musical Better Man will open the 36th annual Palm Springs Film Festival on Thursday, January 2, while The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Steve Coogan in the heartwarming story of a teacher who rescues and adopts an adorable penguin, closes it out January 13. Both films had premieres at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year, and Better Man first had its world premiere at Telluride.

As always a hallmark of Psiff are screenings of numerous entries into the Oscar International Feature Film race, this year with 35 scheduled to screen in the desert.

The festival has programmed 158 films from 71 countries including 68 premieres. The lineup also includes sections like Talking Pictures, a focus on Spanish films with a spotlight on Pedro Almodóvar, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, Cine Latino, True Stories,...

On Tuesday, the Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) announced its official 2025 lineup for the nearly two-week event that’s being held from Jan. 2 to Jan. 13.

The opening night movie will be Paramount Pictures’ “Better Man,” starring Robbie Williams and directed by Michael Gracey, which chronicles the pop star’s meteoric rise and dramatic fall. And the festival will close with Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Penguin Lessons,” starring Steve Coogan and directed by Peter Cattaneo, in the dramedy about a teacher whose life changes when he adopts a penguin. In all, Psiff will screen 158 films from 71 countries, including 68 premieres.

Artistic director Lili Rodriguez said, “Our lineup this year is truly something special. In true Psiff fashion, it spans genres and crosses borders to bring an exciting mix of films to the Coachella Valley. Over the past year, our Palm Springs International Film Festival team has carefully crafted a program that celebrates the art of storytelling,...

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is set to kick off on Jan. 2 with “Better Man,” directed by Michael Gracey, while the closing film on Jan. 12 will be “The Penguin Lessons,” directed by Peter Cattaneo.

The lineup will feature 35 of the international feature film Oscar submissions. Over 11 days, the festival will screen 158 films from 71 countries, including 68 premieres.

Also set are a focus on Spanish films including a spotlight on Pedro Almodóvar, and the return of sections such as New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, Cine Latino, True Stories and World Cinema Now.

“Better Man” is based on the true story of the rise, fall and return of British musician Robbie Williams. Cattaneo will be in attendance for “The Penguin Lessons,” a dramedy about a schoolteacher in militaristic Argentina who rescues a penguin.

Several of the honorees from the Palm Springs International Film Awards are set to participate in the Talking Pictures screenings,...

The Asian World Film Festival (Awff) is delighted to announce the festival’s Main Competition and Short Film lineups; select, noteworthy screenings; special program highlights; and centerpiece film. Celebrating its 10th anniversary of showcasing Asian film from around the world, Awff will take place November 13-21, 2024, at The Culver Theater in Culver City, CA.

The nine-day festival will present narrative and documentary motion pictures and short films from 27 countries, including four that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. More than 30 of the screenings will feature live Q&As with the filmmakers, talent, and crew.

Georges N. Chamchoum, Awff Executive Director, said, “We are very grateful to the filmmakers around the world supporting this year’s line-up with more than 60 narrative and documentary films. The Awff continues to open the window to the region of Asia as well to showcase AsianAmerican talent through our range of programs. I am amazed at...

Kicking off Nov. 13, the Asian World Film Festival sports features from 27 countries with its main competition screening 16 films submitted for the international feature Oscar. The festival runs through Nov. 21 at the Culver Theater in Culver City, celebrating its 10th anniversary. More than 30 of the screenings will include Q&As with the filmmakers, talent and crew.

“We are very grateful to the filmmakers around the world supporting this year’s lineup with more than 60 narrative and documentary films,” says Georges N. Chamchoum, Awff executive director, said. “The Awff continues to open the window to the region of Asia as well to showcase Asian-American talent through our range of programs. I am amazed at the depth and breadth of the work on the Awff schedule this year.”

The festival opens with South Korean drama “A Normal Family” and closes with Filipino romantic drama “Hello, Love, Again.” The Centerpiece film is Wong Kar-wai...

Exclusive: Thai hit How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies will open across cinemas in the UK and Ireland on December 26.

Distributor Vertigo Releasing stated that the film will be released across 50 to 60 screens.

Recently selected as Thailand’s Oscar entry, How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies became a box office hit and cultural phenomenon across Asia, with the global box office currently reaching $50M.

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is Thai director Pat Boonnitipat’s feature film debut and the film topped the domestic box office, raking in 334M Thai baht ($9.1M).

Outside of Thailand, the film has become the most successful Thai film of all time in Singapore and Malaysia. In Indonesia, the film received more than 3.5 million admissions, surpassing Korean horror film Exhuma (2.6 million admissions) to become the all-time most successful Asian film in the country.

Produced by Thai film studio Gdh, the film follows a young man,...

Singapore: “La Luna”

“La Luna”, directed by M Raihan Halim, has been picked to represent Singapore in the best international feature film category at the Oscars. The Singapore-Malaysia co-production is a Malay-language comedy about a woman who opens a lingerie shop in a conservative Malaysian village.

The film had its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival last November in the Asian Future Section and participated at the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival. It was also the closing title at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and played in Shanghai earlier this year.

Produced by Singaporean firms Clover Films and Papahan Films, in association with Malaysia’s Act 2 Pictures and One Cool Film, the film stars Shaheizy Sam, Sharifah Amani, Wan Hanafi Su and Hisyam Hamid. It was released in Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian cinemas in November last year.

“La Luna” is M Raihan Halim’s second feature directing effort,...

Join us for an exclusive interview with director Pat Boonnitipat as we dive into the heart of his upcoming film, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, hitting theaters on September 13 via Well Go USA.

In this candid conversation, Pat discusses the film’s remarkable success and the inspirations that shaped its storyline. We explore the pressing issue of elderly care today and how it reflects in the characters and themes of the movie.

We examine the lives of the characters, including the captivating performances by Usha Seamkhum as Amah and Putthipong Assaratanakul as M.

Pat also shares his insights on the ongoing influence of patriarchy in Thai society and offers a nuanced perspective on the complex character of Mui—manipulative or misunderstood?

We’ll also touch on the film’s stunning cinematography and editing, showcasing the artistry that brings this touching story to life. Don’t miss this insightful discussion!

Thailand has selected director Pat Boonnitipat’s heartwarming blockbuster How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies as its selection to the 2025 Oscars in the best international feature film category. The choice was revealed Friday by the National Federation of Thai Film Associations (Mpc).

Co-written by Boonnitipat and Thodsapon ‘Ped’ Thiptinnakorn, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has become a cultural phenomenon in Thailand, earning more in the country than any film this year. Produced by the hitmaking Bangkok-based studio Gdh, the film has struck a chord with its irreverent and but ultimately heartwarming story of a scheming young man who quits his job to care for his dying grandmother in the hopes of inheriting her fortune. Key to the film’s local appeal, the grandson is played by pop singer-turned-actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (also known as Billkin).

How to Make Millions has earned $34 million from its theatrical runs in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand,...

The National Federation of Thai Film Associations (Mpc) has selected How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies as Thailand’s submission for the Oscars’ best international feature film category.

Directed by Pat Boonnitipat, the film became a box office hit across Asia, with the global box office currently reaching $50M.

Outside of Thailand, How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has become the most successful Thai film of all time in Singapore and Malaysia. In Indonesia, the film received more than 3.5 million admissions, surpassing Korean horror film Exhuma (2.6 million admissions) to become the all-time most successful Asian film in the country. Netflix later picked up the film’s streaming rights for Southeast Asia.

Produced by Thai film studio Gdh, the film follows a young man, M, who moves in to take care of his terminally-ill grandmother in a bid to win her inheritance. M is played by top singer-actor Putthipong Assaratanakul...

“Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae was among the Korean celebrities to lead out a red carpet parade on the opening night of the 29th edition of the Busan International Film Festival. The festival kicked off Wednesday with a bright show of international solidarity and a spectacular, if controversial, Korean film from Netflix.

The ceremony, held under the semi-open roof of the futuristic Busan Cinema Center, was buoyant and attended by 4,500 guests, masking some the woes incurred by the festival itself and by the wider Korean film industry. Officials at the event debuted a new slogan — “Vision of Asia, Ocean of Cinema” — reflecting the South Korean port city’s revised ambitions ahead of next year’s 30th anniversary edition.

Last year, internal divisions ripped the festival management apart, causing sponsors to flee and a reduced budget. While some of the wounds have since been healed, replenished sponsorship and city government funds...

‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ (2024), directed by Pat Boonnitipat, is more than just an emotional rollercoaster—it’s a deeply resonant exploration of generational divides and the human experiences that bind us. On the surface, it’s a story about a young man trying to secure his financial future by competing for his grandmother’s inheritance. But beneath the humor and quirkiness, it reveals a rich tapestry of cultural nuances, examining the relationship between the tech-savvy, ambitious Gen Z and the tradition-bound Baby Boomer generation. The film’s universal themes of family, culture, and aging resonate globally, with particular poignance for viewers grappling with the delicate balance between modernity and tradition. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission...

The family drama How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies shone brightly at box offices across Southeast Asia after debuting in Thailand in 2022. From acclaimed first-time director Pat Boonnitipat, the film tells a heartwarming yet insightful story about aging, inheritance, and intergenerational relationships.

We join young M, a struggling university dropout, and his fiercely independent grandmother, Amah. When Amah is diagnosed with terminal cancer, M moves in to care for her, hoping her house will be left to him. But over time, his selfish motives evolve as he forms an unlikely bond with his grandma.

Amy isn’t easily impressed by M’s attempts to earn her favor at first. Between her sardonic humor and his lazy ways, their pairing seems an odd match. But Boonnitipat grounds the story in authenticity, showing us the layers beneath initial impressions. Whether accompanying Amah to chemotherapy or selling congee beside her in the market,...

Irish rap trio Kneecap is back in theaters at the start another U.S. tour, with Ian McKellen as The Critic, Aubrey Plaza in coming-of-age My Old Ass and handful of Indian films, and special events including GKids’ Dan Da Dan: First Encounter.

The first three episodes of the show Dan Da Dan, which is shaping up to be the fall’s biggest new anime, are out on 600 screens in a special program. The series is adapted from the manga by Yukinobu Tatsu and directed by Fuga Yamashiro at the studio Science Saru. The first episode premiered at Anime Expo in Los Angeles and Anime NYC in New York. GKids is holding special limited event screenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday followed by a global theatrical rollout ahead of the show’s October streaming debut. It’s one of the first times a major new series like this has debuted...

Thailand’s biggest movie of 2024, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, will soon attempt a feat few commercial films from the country have tried before: conquering cinemas worldwide.

Produced by the hitmaking Bangkok-based studio Gdh, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has struck a chord with its irreverent take on the story of a scheming young man who quits his job to care for his dying grandmother in the hopes of inheriting her fortune. The film has earned $34 million from its theatrical runs in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand, becoming the top-grossing Thai film ever in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Australia and New Zealand.

Producers revealed Monday that the film has lined up theatrical distribution in North America (Sept. 13, via Well Go USA), China (Aug. 23, Teamer Media), South Korea (October, Nk Contents), UK and Ireland (December, Vertigo Releasing), the Netherlands (Oct. 10, Vedette Film), Belgium (Nov.

After breaking box office records across Asia, Thai drama How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is set for theatrical releases in China, North America and Europe.

Release dates have been locked in China, where the film will open on August 23 through Teamer Media; North America on September 13 through Well Go USA; the Netherlands on October 10 and Belgium on November 13, both through Vedette Film.

Further releases are scheduled for South Korea through Nk Contents in October; the UK and Ireland by Vertigo Releasing in December; and for India through PVR on an unspecified date.

It marks the first Thai box office hit,...

Distributors in major territories including North America, China, the U.K. and South Korea have unveiled plans for theatrical releases of hit Thai comedy film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.”

The film is the highest grossing film this year in its native Thailand and has already been released in parts of Southeast Asia. These include Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Australia, and New Zealand, where it has become the highest-grossing Thai film of all time.

Rights to the film have been picked up in China by Teamer Media. The company has set an Aug. 23 official release date, but has already earned $380,000 from two days of previews, according to data from Ent Group.

In North America, it has been picked up by Well Go USA, which is cueing up a Sept. 13 outing. “’How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ is an incredibly touching, universal story that transcends cultural and generational differences.

Thai breakout hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has landed North American distribution.

The film has secured a theatrical release through Well Go USA, and in China via Teamer Media, South Korea (Nk Contents), UK & Ireland (Vertigo Releasing), the Netherlands (Vedette Film), Belgium (Vedette Film) and India (PVR).

The film will open in China on August 23, North America on September 13, the Netherlands on October 10, South Korea in October, Belgium on November 13 and UK & Irelend in December. The film’s release date in India has not been confirmed yet.

Produced by Thai studio Gdh, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has accumulated over $34 million at the global box office and stands as the highest-grossing movie in Thailand this year. The film has already taken Asia-Pacific box offices by storm, becoming the highest-grossing Thai film in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Australia, and New Zealand.

Directed by Pat Boonnitipat...

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, the Thai drama that has proved a box office and cultural phenomenon in Asia, has been picked up by Netflix.

The streaming giant will make the film available across Southeast Asia from September 12 and in further countries later this year.

Marking the feature directorial debut of Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based hitmakers Gdh 559, the family drama stars popular Thai singer Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) and Usha Seamkhum.

‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ producer talks Thai breakout hit (exclusive)

Since being released in April and May, the film has become the...

Netflix has landed the Southeast Asia streaming rights for Thai box office hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, set to premiere on September 12.

The streamer added that the film will also be available in more countries later this year.

Besides topping the domestic box office, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has become the highest-grossing Thai film to date in several countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar.

Driven by the desire for a multimillion-dollar inheritance, a young man, M, decides to care for his terminally ill grandmother and moves in to live with her.

M is played by popular singer-actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (also known as Billkin), while his grandmother is played by relative newcomer Usha Seamkhum. In Thai, the film’s title is Lahn Mah, which means “grandma’s grandchild.”

Produced by Gdh 559, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies was written by Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn and Pat Boonnitipat.

Malaysian drama Snow In Midsummer and Thai blockbuster How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies picked up the top prizes at the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) on Sunday (July 28).

Snow In Midsummer won the Uncaged Award for best feature film in the festival’s main competition.

Directed by Chong Keat Aun, it is the first film to directly tackle the violent race riots that took place in Kuala Lumpur on May 13, 1969 and make it past Malaysian censors but with a string of cuts. Accepting the award in New York, the filmmaker said he hoped it would help...

The Thai-produced hit comedy “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” was Sunday announced as the winner of the audience prize at the New York Asian Film Festival.

The film, from Thai director Pat Boonnitipat, stars ‘Billkin’ Putthipong Assaratanakul as a slacker who quits his job to become his grandma’s caregiver. It has claimed box office records for a Thai or Asian film in multiple Asian territories. Both director and star were present at the festival.

“The 23rd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival has shattered expectations, proving that Asian cinema’s appeal continues to surge across the city. With our expanded lineup of nearly 100 films across 5 screens, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented 33% growth in both attendance and box office revenue. One-third of our screenings sold out within days, a testament to New Yorkers’ appetite for diverse storytelling. Our expanded Thai and Taiwanese sections were particular highlights,...

We say it every year, but that’s only because it’s true every year: The New York Asian Film Festival is the most fun you could have at the movies this summer. And that’s especially true this summer, as the festival — which proudly brings American crowds into “the trenches” of Asian cinema — is expanding its mission statement with a blockbuster slate that incudes an ass-kicking Don Lee sequel (“The Roundup: Punishment”), the world premiere of a new “Baby Assassins” movie, a Louis Koo/Sammo Hung crime epic fresh from Cannes (“Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”), and more can’t-miss spectacles that demand major international attention.

But Nyaff isn’t just growing bigger and wider; it’s growing deeper as well. The festival’s 2024 edition offers one of the richest and most inclusive slates that Nyaff has ever assembled (no mean feat), with programming that ranges from hard-hitting Taiwanese social dramas,...

‘Millions’ Making Millions

The family drama “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” has become the highest-grossing Thai film of all time in The Philippines, distributor Westec Media claims.

The company, which released the film, does not quantify the receipts or the record. But there is little doubt of the film’s hit status across Asia. It has garnered THB1 billion (approximately $27 million) and achieved 10 million admissions, according to producer GDH559.

In Indonesia, where the film was released on May 15, it attracted 3.5 million admissions and became the highest grossing (non-local) Asian film in the country’s box office history. In Myanmar, following its release on May 31, has also become the highest-grossing Thai film ever recorded. It stands as the highest-grossing Thai film in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The heartwarming story follows a teenage university dropout (Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul), who quits his job to care for his ailing grandmother (Usha Seamkhum) to secure a large inheritance.

The viral How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies movie has fans asking where to watch it in theaters and when it is coming to streaming. 

Following a young man who moves in with his terminally ill grandmother hoping to get a piece of her inheritance, the Thai drama from Pat Boonnitipat has blown up online since its theatrical debut. 

The movie stars popular singer-actor Putthipong Assaratanakul and has become the subject of a TikTok trend, as viewers post themselves sobbing following the movie's emotional climax. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track. So we’re going to do the hard work for you.

This week, we head to Thailand and take a peak at a stirring, emotional film. How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has broken box office records around Southeast Asia, with audiences lapping up the soulful tear-jerker and TikTok playing quite the role.

Name: How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

Country: Thailand

Producer: Gdh

International sales: WME Independent

Distribution: Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Anz

For fans of: The Farewell, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s films

When Thai filmmaker Pat Boonnitipat...

The New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) has revealed the features that will compete for this year’s Uncaged Award and that Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse will receive the Screen International Star Asia Award.

The eight-strong competition for best feature film at the festival, running July 12-28, will include the North American premiere of Thai hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, directed by Pat Boonnitipat.

The film, which ranks as this year’s biggest film at the Thai box office to date, is a family drama that stars popular Thai singer Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) as a...

Kalki Trailer

The first trailer has been unveiled for “Kalki 2898 Ad,” the Indian sci-fi epic starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani. The film, which is directed by Nag Ashwin and backed by Vyjayanthi Movies, was teased at the San Diego Comic-Con last year. While a budget for the film has not been revealed, Variety understands that it is in the region of $72 million, which will make it one of the most expensive Indian films of all time.

In Hindu mythology, Kalki is the 10th and final incarnation of the god Vishnu who appears in order to end the Kali Yuga, the darkest period in mankind’s history.

The film is due a worldwide theatrical release on June 27 in the Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and English languages.

Thai Tearjerker

Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” earned S$1.16 million during its second...

Gdh 559’s How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, already the biggest film at the Thai box office in 2024, has now surpassed 2 million admissions in Indonesia, making it the second biggest Asian title at the Indonesian box office of all time.

The family drama hit the milestone on May 27 after 13 days on release through Indonesian distributor Falcon Pictures.

It is now the biggest Thai film, surpassing Thai-Korean horror The Medium’s 700,000 admissions in 2021, and the second biggest Asian film in Indonesia, only after Korean supernatural thriller Exhuma, which scored 2.6 million admissions earlier this year.

Given the momentum, Falcon is optimistic...

Gdh 559’s How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has become the biggest film at the Thai box office in 2024 to date ahead of a theatrical rollout across Asia.

Pat Boonnitipat’s family drama reached $8.1m (THB300m) on April 24 after topping the local box office chart for 21 consecutive days, surpassing US blockbusters Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, Civil War, The First Omen and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

After scoring the biggest opening weekend (April 4-7) for a Thai film this year, it continued to lead the box office across the four-day Songkran holidays from April 13-16.

“This Songkran box...

Pat Boonnitipat’s family drama How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has scored the biggest opening for a Thai film this year.

According to producer and distributor Gdh 559, the film opened top of the local box office with takings of $2.6m nationwide over the four-day first weekend (April 4-7). It dethroned Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, which opened on March 28, and pushed Korean hit Exhuma, which previously led the box office following its March 21 opening, to third place.

It marks the biggest opening for a Thai film this year and the second biggest opening film overall, behind...

US sales agent WME Independent has picked up international sales to upcoming Thai family drama How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies from Bad Genius producer Gdh 559.

It marks the first collaboration between the two firms and is also the first time major Thai studio Gdh 559 has not handled international sales on one of its own titles.

WME Independent will represent the film internationally, excluding Thailand, which will be handled by Gdh, and will introduce the title to buyers in Berlin during the EFM next week.

The Thai-language feature centres on a young man who quits his job to look after his dying grandmother.