Putthipong Assaratanakul
M
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
“Never underestimate a grandma's love for her family.”
2024
2h 6m
Director: Pat Boonnitipat
Overview
M, a university dropout low on money and luck, volunteers to take care of his terminally ill grandmother, in the hope of pocketing an inheritance.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Inheritance of Laughter
I’ve seen this trick before—the scheming heir, the ailing matriarch, the clock ticking down to a fortune. It’s a setup that’s launched a thousand dark comedies, from The Royal Tenenbaums to Parasite. But How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies doesn’t just replay the formula.
It strips it down to its emotional bones, then rebuilds it with something rare in stories about greed: a beating heart.
The film opens with M (Putthipong Assaratanakul), a university dropout with the kind of luck that runs in reverse. He’s broke, directionless, and—like so many young people in Bangkok’s cramped apartments—staring down the barrel of another month he can’t afford. When he hears his grandmother Amah (Usha Seamkhum) is terminally ill, his first thought isn’t grief.
It’s opportunity. If he can play the devoted caregiver, maybe he can secure a slice of her fortune before the other relatives swoop in. What follows is a high-wire act: a comedy of manners that could easily tip into cynicism, but instead lands somewhere far more interesting—somewhere tender, messy, and deeply human.
Director Pat Boonnitipat’s debut is a masterclass in tonal balance. The script, which he co-wrote with Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, walks the line between biting satire and genuine pathos with the precision of a tightrope walker. Early scenes play like a Thai Succession, all sharp elbows and familial backstabbing.
M’s relatives circle like vultures, each with their own angle on Amah’s estate. There’s his aunt, who treats caregiving like a transaction, and his cousin, who’s already counting her inheritance like it’s a done deal. The dialogue crackles with the kind of barbed wit that makes you laugh even as it stings.
(One exchange, where M’s mother casually mentions that daughters are expected to inherit the burden of care while sons inherit the assets, lands like a gut punch.)
But here’s the thing about How to Make Millions: it’s not actually about the money. Or at least, not just about the money. The film’s real subject is the quiet, complicated love that exists between people who are supposed to be family but often feel like strangers.
Amah isn’t some passive victim waiting for her grandson to exploit her. She’s sharp, stubborn, and fully aware of M’s game. Their early interactions are a dance of mutual suspicion, each testing the other’s limits.
Yet somewhere along the way, something shifts. Not in a grand, cinematic moment, but in the small, lived-in details—the way Amah’s hand trembles when she reaches for her tea, the way M’s posture softens when he thinks no one’s looking.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsDebut Delight: How How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies Launched New Talent and a Fresh Thai Comedy-Drama
Pat Boonnitipat’s 2024 directorial debut, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, isn’t just a darkly comedic tale of inheritance and family dysfunction—it’s also a launchpad for emerging Thai talent. The film, which blends humor with poignant drama, marks the first feature for both its director and its two leads, Putthipong Assaratanakul and Usha Seamkhum. With a premise that’s equal parts absurd and heartfelt, the movie has already sparked curiosity about its origins, its cast, latestnetflix.com argues, and the creative risks behind its production.
A Director’s Gamble: Pat Boonnitipat’s First Feature
Pat Boonnitipat didn’t just direct How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies—he co-wrote the screenplay with Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, making the project a true labor of love. In an interview, Boonnitipat described the film as a personal challenge, his first foray into feature-length storytelling after working in shorter formats 
. The script’s premise—a broke university dropout volunteering to care for his terminally ill grandmother in hopes of securing an inheritance—was designed to walk a tightrope between satire and sincerity. Boonnitipat’s goal? To craft a story that was "funny but not cruel," a balance that’s tricky in a genre often dominated by cynicism .
The film’s Thai title, Lahn Mah, hints at its cultural roots, though the English title leans into the film’s more irreverent, universal appeal. Boonnitipat’s decision to tackle such a high-concept premise as his debut suggests confidence in his ability to juggle tone—a gamble that could have backfired but instead seems to have paid off, at least in terms of generating buzz .
Breakout Stars: Billkin and Taew’s Big Screen Debut
The film’s two leads, Putthipong Assaratanakul (known as Billkin) and Usha Seamkhum (Taew), were relative newcomers to feature films when they signed on. Both had built followings in Thailand’s entertainment industry—Billkin as a singer and actor in television dramas, Taew as a model and social media personality—but How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies was their first major cinematic role .
Their casting was a deliberate choice. Boonnitipat reportedly wanted actors who could bring authenticity to the film’s mix of comedy and pathos, and early reactions suggest the duo delivered. Billkin’s portrayal of M, the opportunistic but ultimately sympathetic protagonist, has been a standout, while Taew’s role as his foil adds emotional depth to the story 
. The film’s supporting cast, including veterans like Sanya Kunakorn and Sarinrat Thomas, provides a grounding presence, but it’s the leads who carry the film’s tonal shifts .
A Premise That Raises Eyebrows (and Questions)
The film’s plot—a young man scheming to inherit millions by caring for his dying grandmother—is undeniably provocative. Early descriptions of the movie have emphasized its dark humor, with some sources framing it as a satire of greed and family dynamics . However, the evidence doesn’t clarify how far the film leans into cynicism versus sentimentality. Does it ultimately reward M’s selfishness, or does it subvert expectations with a more heartfelt resolution? The snippets available suggest the latter, but without broader critical consensus, the film’s tone remains a topic of speculation.
One intriguing detail from the TMDB summary hints at a subplot involving M’s cousin, Mui (played by Tontawan Tantivejakul), who inherits a large home after meticulously caring for an elderly man. This suggests the film may explore themes of entitlement and earned versus unearned rewards, though the full narrative remains unclear .
Behind the Scenes: What We Know (and What We Don’t)
Given the limited evidence, details about the film’s production are sparse. There’s no confirmation of budget, shooting locations, or on-set anecdotes—common gaps when covering a debut feature. What is clear is that Boonnitipat and his team took creative risks, from the film’s premise to its casting of relative newcomers. The decision to pair a darkly comedic plot with a drama label also suggests an ambition to appeal to multiple audiences .
Rumors about the film’s reception are similarly thin. While the snippets indicate it’s been discussed in interviews and early reviews, there’s no mention of box office performance, awards buzz, or audience reactions beyond general curiosity . For now, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies remains a promising but under-examined entry in Thailand’s 2024 film slate.
The Bottom Line
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a film built on bold choices: a first-time director, debut lead actors, and a premise that straddles comedy and drama. Whether it succeeds in balancing those elements—or becomes a cult favorite for its audacity—remains to be seen. For now, it’s a fascinating case study in creative risk-taking, and a reminder that sometimes the most interesting stories come from those willing to gamble on something new.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.