How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies Review
Directed and written by Pat Boonnitipat, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies quickly became a Thai favorite in its first week of release. This family-themed movie brings us a simple and relatable story about the relationships between grandparents, their children, and grandchildren.
When it first premiered in some countries, the movie immediately caught the public's attention. It was even more discussed on social media than Hollywood blockbusters like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and IF: Imaginary Friends that premiered at the same time.
So, what is the story of this movie? Here's the synopsis and review from Showpoiler!
Synopsis

Every year, M's (Billkin Putthipong) extended family on his mother's side visits the grave of his great-grandfather. This tradition, led by his grandmother Meng Ju (Taew Usa), is meant to honor the deceased and provide an opportunity for family members to gather.
M and his two uncles, Kiang (Duu Sanya) and Soei (Phuak Pongsatorn), are growing weary of this annual ritual. When his mother (Jear Sarinrat) asks him to help lay flowers on the grave, M is absorbed in a game on his phone but eventually complies.
Due to his reluctance, his grandmother, whom he calls Amah, ends up participating in the flower-laying and falls. Following the incident, Amah is taken to the doctor for a check-up.
Although the injury is minor, the doctor delivers alarming news about Amah's health, worrying M's mother and uncles. Amah is diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and given only a year to live.
M, deeply concerned but unsure how to help, visits Mui (Tu Tontawan), his father's cousin, who has been caring for their grandfather, Agong, for a long time. Agong is now bedridden, his health severely deteriorated, and he is nearing the end of his life.
M asks Mui why she spends her youth caring for their grandfather instead of working. Mui reveals that her current role is a highly lucrative one.
This revelation shocks M, but it also intrigues him. He realizes that his decision to drop out of college and become a game streamer hasn't been rewarding. Coincidentally, M now has a "potential client" he can care for: Amah. From that moment, M begins to visit Amah regularly.
Amah felt surprised by M's sudden visits and help. Her grandchild had never visited her outside of family weekends, so Amah became curious about M's intentions.
M didn't hesitate to tell Amah about her health condition, which M's mother and uncles had kept secret to avoid worrying her.
M easily revealed the secret and assured Amah that he would take care of her. However, deep down, M wanted to become Amah's favorite grandchild to secure a large inheritance, similar to what Mui received when Agong passed away.
Amah was shocked by the news about her health, so she accepted M's offer. From then on, M decided to take care of Amah full-time and moved into his grandmother's house.
At first, it was challenging, but M gradually adjusted to helping with Amah's daily activities, which remained productive despite her age. These activities included selling porridge, making offerings to the gods, and saving money at the bank.
M also helped Amah with bathing, climbing stairs, and accompanying her to chemotherapy sessions, which involved long waits at the hospital.
Over time, spending so much time together made M genuinely care for his grandmother. M realized that Amah did not receive enough attention from her two sons, Khiang and Soei, even though she always helped and prioritized their needs.
Khiang seemed to be living the perfect life. He earned a substantial income from stock trading and lived comfortably with his wife and intelligent daughter.
However, this apparent perfection sometimes made Khiang neglect Amah. Although he once offered to have his mother live with him, Amah sensed a lack of sincerity from her eldest son.
Soei, the youngest sibling with the most troubled life, also appeared indifferent to Amah. He often forgot that Amah helped him pay his debts, instead taking advantage of her generosity by continuously asking for money. Once, M and Amah even caught him taking money from Amah's savings.
M knew Soei had many debts due to his gambling habit, but he felt his uncle shouldn't burden Amah. To deter him, M gave Soei the silver necklace Agong had left, hoping he wouldn't return to Amah's house.
Frustrated by his uncles' behavior, M tried to make his grandmother aware of it. However, Amah didn't believe him because she also viewed M as someone who only wanted to benefit from her.
This mistrust stemmed from an incident where someone had come to buy Amah's house, and Amah discovered that M had secretly advertised it online. Though Amah never confronted M about it, she was deeply disappointed and asked M to stop caring for her and return home.
M was heartbroken by this request, especially since he had long abandoned his initial selfish intentions and now loved Amah sincerely. He never knew his actions were known to his grandmother.
Amah went back to living alone, continuing her daily activities while unknowingly missing M. Her health didn't improve, and the doctor confirmed that there was no hope for recovery, despite the ongoing chemotherapy.
This news left M and his mother devastated. Soei and Khiang also found out, but Soei didn't seem to care while Khiang urged M's mother to start taking care of Amah's inheritance papers.
M was again disappointed by his two uncles, and this made him try to persuade Amah not to give the inheritance to her two insincere sons.
Unfortunately, Amah's love for her children never faded despite their disappointment. Amah decided to divide her inheritance and give Soei her house because she knew her youngest son had a huge debt. In the end, Soei sold the house and put Amah in a nursing home instead.
M, who was initially hurt by Amah's decision, slowly began to accept it. He intended to take care of Amah in his house with his mother because he couldn't bear to see his grandmother in a nursing home. They spent time together until Amah's death.
M was saddened but had to let go of his grandmother. Not long after, he received news from the bank that Amah had left M her entire savings, which amounted to quite a large amount.
This news made M realize that Amah also loved him. M was devastated again, but he knew what to do with the money.
M decided to give his grandmother the 1 million baht resting place that Amah had wanted for so long. With this, Amah wanted people to see that her children were doing her a favor by giving her a proper resting place.
A Flood of Reality with a Touch of Chinese Culture

This movie really opened my eyes with its realistic portrayal of family life. We often focus too much on our immediate family, forgetting that grandparents are also an integral part of the family unit.
Grandparents also need attention and care in their later years. They may need more help as they are no longer as active as they once were, and can feel lonely once their children start their own families, just like Amah in the movie. The film, originally titled Lahn Mah, subtly highlights these themes.
Besides its relatability, the movie also enriches its narrative with elements of Chinese culture, reflecting the heritage of M and his grandmother as Chinese descendants.
Despite the dilution of these traditions in subsequent generations, Amah makes efforts to preserve them, though she passes on little to her children.
Stunning Acting

With a modest budget, the performances in this film are notably impressive. It was surprising to learn that this was Taew Usa’s first film role at the age of 78.
Taew Usa excels in her portrayal of Amah. When the character is described as young, she appears vibrant and healthy. As Amah approaches the end of her life, Taew's expressions become blank, her eyes empty, and her body weak, conveying the frailty of her condition convincingly. Her chemistry with Billkin feels genuine, just like a real grandmother and grandchild relationship.
Billkin deserves special praise as well. The singer-turned-actor adapts effortlessly in his first leading role, playing M, the naive yet amusing grandson. Much of the film's humor stems from M's antics, which Billkin delivers brilliantly.
Other actors, including Duu Sanya, Phuak Pongsatorn, and Jear Sarinrat, also give strong performances. Not to be overlooked is Tu Tontawan, whose limited screen time still adds a significant emotional impact, especially as the film builds to its climax.
Production Success

In addition to its strong script, story, and cast, this movie delivers a production that meets expectations. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies features numerous modest shots that are simple yet pleasing to the eye.
The director skillfully includes aesthetic shots, particularly in the film’s most pivotal scenes. For example, there's a scene where a train passes by just as M recalls why his grandmother left him her savings as an inheritance. This scene is crucial for resolving the movie’s central conflict.
The excellent cinematography is complemented by a beautiful score from Jaithep Raroengjai, a renowned composer in the Thai entertainment industry since 2018. His musical compositions magically enhance several scenes, adding depth to the film's emotional landscape.
Lack of Character Development

Upon seeing the movie poster, I assumed all the characters featured would be central to the story, so I was eager to see how each character, from grandma to M’s family, would evolve throughout the film.
However, my expectations were not entirely met when I watched the movie, as only two characters, M and Amah, seemed to undergo significant development.
I found this disappointing, especially since M’s mother and two uncles play crucial roles in the narrative. The backgrounds of Amah’s three children could have been explored more deeply to give the audience a better understanding of their diverse destinies and perspectives regarding Amah.

Overall, the movie presents a relatable story that mirrors the experiences of many families. Nearly all elements, from the script and characterization to the musical score, are well-executed. The only shortfall is the inadequate development of some key characters.
As a result, Showpoiler rates this movie 4.5 out of 5. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is perfect for family viewing and serves as a reflective piece on valuing every family member. It’s definitely a must-watch!