Thailand chooses “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies”

Thailand has picked director Pat Boonnitipat’s heartwarming blockbuster How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies as a selection for the 2025 Oscars in the “Best International Feature Film” category. The choice was announced on 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, grossing more than any other film in the country this year. Produced by Bangkok-based hit studio GDH, the film has struck a chord with its irreverent and 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 is that the grandson is played by pop singer and actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (also known as Billkin).

How to make millions earned $34 million from its theatrical release in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand, becoming the highest-grossing Thai film of all time in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Australia and New Zealand. After recent theatrical releases in the US and China, the film is now approaching the $50 million mark at the global box office, according to GDH.

Announcing the Oscar nomination, GDH said that in Thailand the film “has brought people of all generations to the cinemas, with audiences in their 20s and 50s bringing their 70- to 80-year-old grandparents to experience the film together, forever.” “a sight that is becoming rarer in today’s digital age.”

Thailand has submitted films for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film since 1994, but the country has not yet been nominated.

The shortlist for the best international feature film candidates for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on December 17th. Nominations will be announced on January 17th and the winners of the 2025 Academy Awards will be announced on Sunday, March 2nd.