Miramax has acquired remake rights to the Thai hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, the studio announced Wednesday, setting the stage for an English-language adaptation of Southeast Asia’s most talked-about film of the past year.
Directed by Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based powerhouse GDH 559, the original film became a sensation across Asia following its release in April 2024, earning over $55 million at the international box office. It was also the first Thai film to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards. In the U.S., the film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival and was widely praised by critics, earning a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A family-centric comedy-drama, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies follows a college dropout who moves in with his terminally ill grandmother in a bid to secure her inheritance — only to discover a deeper emotional journey that reshapes his understanding of family and love.
Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman said in a statement: “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a rare gem that manages to be hilarious, surprisingly poignant, and moving all at once. Like the original, we hope our adaptation brings generations of families to the cinema together.”
The rights deal, which reportedly attracted interest from multiple studios, was brokered by Nelson Mok of Mokster Films on behalf of GDH. Yvette Zhuang, Miramax’s senior vice president of international production and distribution, played a key role in bringing the project to the studio and will stay on as a producer despite stepping down from her executive role later this month.
Speaking about the film’s impressive global resonance, director Boonnitipat said: “Its success worldwide surprises me, yet it warms my heart to know that people across the world share this value — or some kind of core — that connects us beyond the identities of countries or cultures.”
Producer Vanridee Pongsittisak added: “The heart of a family is universal, but each home holds an entirely different story. That’s why I’m excited to see How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies come to life once again — this time in an American household.”
Miramax is currently in production on season two of The Gentlemen for Netflix and recently expanded its footprint on the streamer’s political thriller Zero Day, starring Robert De Niro. On the film side, it is developing a sequel to The Beekeeper, which grossed more than $160 million worldwide, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which took in $130 million.
Miramax’s upcoming theatrical slate includes Roofman, starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst; Scandalous, the directorial debut of Colman Domingo; and a reboot of The Faculty written by Drew Hancock. A new Scary Movie installment, produced by Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory Wayans, is also in the works for summer 2026 release via Paramount Pictures.
