How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies isn't just Thailand’s highest-grossing film of all time.
It also packs a heartfelt message about Southeast Asian family values, especially the emotional bonds between grandchildren and grandparents.
This family drama, released in 2024, was directed by Pat Boonnitipat and produced by GDH 559.
Its success stems from its commercial performance and ability to touch audiences' hearts through an emotional portrayal of intergenerational relationships that closely reflect real life in Asian societies.
Interestingly, Seasians must know that the film also strongly resonates with the value of filial piety in their families.
Filial Piety Toward Grandparents in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
One of the film's greatest strengths is its powerful portrayal of filial piety, the devotion and respect toward parents and grandparents that serve as a cultural pillar in many Asian countries.
The movie also beautifully captures family life rooted in tradition and belief, highlighting customs like the Qingming Festival and Thai-Chinese ancestor worship.
Audiences, especially the younger generation, have shared emotional reactions online, often feeling inspired to reconnect with elderly family members who once cared for them during their childhood.
Filial piety forms the backbone of family values, emphasizing deep respect, care, and obedience toward elders and grandparents.
The movie's storyline, known in Thai as Lahn Mah, masterfully reveals the inner struggle of M, the main character, who must navigate between his desire for inheritance and his genuine obligation to care for his grandmother, Amah.
Read also: Filial Piety and Respect: The Foundation of Vietnamese Culture Towards the Elderly
At first, M's acts of kindness are often self-serving, like offering Amah beef noodles despite her religious dietary restrictions, revealing his initial lack of understanding and sensitivity toward her needs.
However, as the story unfolds, M slowly learns to connect with Amah more sincerely, eventually showing genuine affection and respect.
In contrast, money, rivalry, and inheritance issues overshadow the filial piety among Amah's children.
Soei, the eldest child, is portrayed as someone who only seeks to steal money from Amah. Kiang, the youngest son, plans to move Amah to a remote area.
Only Sew, M's mother, remains truly devoted, genuinely trying to care for Amah with love and respect.
The Role of Grandparents in Raising Children in Southeast Asia
The values portrayed in the film are deeply rooted in the broader social reality of Southeast Asia, where grandparents often play a central role in daily family life.
To fully appreciate this cultural context, it's essential to understand how grandparents actively raise the younger generation across the region.
According to a 2005 survey by the Singapore University of Social Sciences, about 40% of children were cared for by their grandparents from birth until age three.
This intergenerational caregiving pattern is typical in families where both parents work full-time or in dual-income households.
The trend became even more widespread during the 1980s and 1990s as more women entered the workforce.
Grandparents' support offers an alternative for families who cannot afford domestic helpers or prefer not to place their children in daycare centers.
Economic development disparities and labor migration have also been significant factors driving grandparents' involvement in child-rearing.
In urgent and tragic circumstances, grandparents often step in as surrogate parents for children who have lost or been separated from their parents.
In Java, Indonesia, grandparents lovingly raise children left behind by parents who have migrated for work.
The same pattern can be observed in Thailand, where grandparents raise children while their parents seek employment in large cities.
In a rapidly changing Southeast Asian society, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies serves as a heartfelt reminder that, despite imperfections, the bond between generations remains a priceless legacy.
Preserving the value of filial piety is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor, love, and stay connected to our grandparents before time inevitably separates us.
References:
Singapore University of Social Sciences. (2020). Will Grandparenting Still Exist In The Future? https://www.suss.edu.sg/blog/detail/will-grandparenting-still-exist-in-the-future
Films Fatale. (2025). How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. https://www.filmsfatale.com/blog/2025/1/22/how-to-make-Millions-before-grandma-dies
Researchgate. Grandparenthood and Grandparenting in Asia. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352480349_Grandparenthood_and_Grandparenting_in_Asia
Cambridge University Press. (2014). Grandparents and grandchildren: care and support in Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/abs/grandparents-and-grandchildren-care-and-support-in-myanmar-thailand-and-vietnam/70A1CF1D91D1E7091A583489467F6D17
Tempo.co. (2024). Film Thailand How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies Bersaing Menuju Piala Oscar 2025. https://www.tempo.co/teroka/film-thailand-how-to-make-millions-before-grandma-dies-bersaing-menuju-piala-oscar-2025-2577
