Thai Film ‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ Reaches $27 Million in Southeast Asia Rollout – Global Bulletin

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief 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. Renowned for his work on “Bad Genius,” this film marks Pat Boonnitipat’s directorial debut in the family drama genre.

The film’s emotional depth has sparked a social phenomenon in Southeast Asia, with audiences flooding social media with tearjerking reactions. The response has been so overwhelming that SM cinemas in the Philippines began providing tissues to moviegoers, a testament to the movie’s profound impact. Currently in its fifth week, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” continues to draw large crowds, maintaining its strong performance at the box office.

“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is set to release in Australia and New Zealand on July 18. Irish-U.K. production company Forty Foot Pictures, which produced the Netflix hit “I Used to Be Famous,” has launched a co-production arm, hiring Searchlight U.K.’s former head of post production Diarmuid Hughes to lead new business and partnerships.