Parasite
2019
Bong Joon Ho
133 min
Comedy, Thriller, Drama
All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.
The Conversation
Critics universally hailed Parasite as a genre-defying masterpiece, earning near-perfect scores (99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 97 on Metacritic). Brian Tallerico at RogerEbert.com praised its perfect calibration in every frame, while Peter Bradshaw’s five-star Guardian review called it a “brilliantly brutal battle of the wretched and the rich.” Don’t miss IndieWire’s deep dive into Bong Joon-ho’s Criterion commentary, which reveals the real-life basement apartments that inspired the film’s haunting architecture of inequality.
The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 8 - 'Parasite'
2025-10-22
The Big Picture ranks Parasite as the 8th best movie of the 21st century.
The 2020 Oscars: Holy S***, 'Parasite' Won!
2020-02-10
The Big Picture reacts to Parasite's historic Best Picture win.
#200: Family Matters, Pt. 2 - Parasite
2019-11-12
Next Picture Show pairs Parasite with Bong Joon Ho's The Host for a family dynamics deep dive.
Ep. 540 - Parasite
2019-10-29
The Filmcast's dedicated review of Parasite.
"Gemini Man," "Parasite," "El Camino"
2019-10-14
Tim Grierson and Will Leitch review Parasite.
Parasite
By Brian Tallerico
2019-10-11
RogerEbert.com calls Parasite 'unquestionably one of the best films of the year' — perfectly calibrated in every frame.
Bong Joon-ho on the Themes and Crafts of His Must-See Film, Parasite
2019-10-11
Bong Joon-ho discusses the themes, architecture, and craft behind Parasite.
Parasite — Tragedy and Comedy in Bong Joon-ho's Masterpiece
2020-02-10
Luís Azevedo's video essay explores how Bong juxtaposes comedy and tragedy in Parasite.
Parasite: Notes from the Underground
By Inkoo Kang
2020-10-27
Inkoo Kang's Criterion essay on the architecture of inequality in Parasite.
Bong Joon-ho's Parasite
2019-06-10
Criterion's early essay on Parasite following its Cannes Palme d'Or win.
10 Things We Learned from Bong Joon Ho's Parasite Criterion Commentary
2020-10-25
Key revelations from Bong's Criterion audio commentary, including the real-life basements that inspired the film.
Parasite Review: Bong Joon Ho Delivers a Devastating Financial Parable
By David Ehrlich
2019-05-21
IndieWire calls Parasite 'giddy, brilliant, and totally unclassifiable' — proof that Bong has become a genre unto himself.
Parasite Review: The Best Movie of the Year So Far
2019-10-10
Slate's review traces how Parasite cycles through social realism, black comedy, satire, suspense, and slapstick.
Slate Spoiler Specials: Parasite
2019-10-15
Slate's spoiler-filled deep dive into Bong Joon-ho's Parasite.
Parasite review – brilliantly brutal battle of the wretched and the rich
By Peter Bradshaw
2019-06-07
Peter Bradshaw's five-star review calls it 'a horribly fascinating film, brilliantly written, superbly furnished and designed, with a glorious ensemble cast put to work in an elegantly plotted nightmare.'
'Parasite' Review: Bong Joon Ho Delivers His Masterpiece
By Peter Travers
2019-10-08
Travers calls it 'explosive filmmaking on every level' that 'starts as a class-conscious satire' and 'ends as a portrait of a world at war with itself.'
Parasite Review
By John Nugent
2020-02-03
Five-star Empire review calling it 'insanely entertaining' and 'hard not to watch rapt and gobsmacked,' praising its bittersweet ending.
Bong Joon-ho drags class warfare off the Snowpiercer and into the world of ingenious farce
By A.A. Dowd
2019-05-21
A- review from Cannes calling it 'the latest blast of lunatic genre alchemy' that 'shifts tonal gears in total service of its class politics.'
'Parasite' Review: An Extraordinarily Cunning Masterpiece From Bong Joon-Ho
By Justin Chang
2019-10-10
NPR review describing it as 'the most deviously entertaining con-artist thriller,' praising Bong's elegance and flair as a filmmaker.
Parasite review
By Jessica Kiang
2019-05-21
Kiang writes that 'Bong is back and on brilliant form, unmistakably, roaringly furious' calling it 'a tick fat with the bitter blood of class rage.'
Parasite's Perfect Montage
By Evan Puschak
2020-01-09
Nerdwriter breaks down the five-minute montage that epitomizes Bong's rhythm, examining how editor Jinmo Yang crafted one of the greatest montages ever. Over 6.5 million views.
Parasite — The Power of Symbols
By Michael Tucker
2020-02-11
Examines how Parasite cleverly uses symbols and motifs — the scholar's rock, the peach, the flood — to express its themes of class division.
Sunset Boulevard vs. Parasite — The Disillusionment Arc
By Michael Tucker
2020-03-01
Explores how both films use the disillusionment arc — characters who scheme to achieve dreams only to discover those dreams are hollow.
How To Storyboard Like Bong Joon-ho
By Thomas Flight
2020-06-27
Examines what can be learned from Parasite's storyboards and Bong Joon-ho's meticulous visual planning process, comparing drawings to the final film.
Parasite / Pain and Glory / The Midnight After
By Adam Kempenaar, Josh Larsen
2019-10-25
Episode #749. Adam and Josh discuss Bong Joon-ho's Palme d'Or winner, tackling its class warfare themes, black comedy, and genre hybridity.
Bong Joon Ho's Parasite
2019-10-01
Film Comment's in-depth discussion of Parasite following its Cannes triumph and US release.
Parasite Is A Genre-Bending Look At Capitalism
2019-10-22
NPR's pop culture panel discusses Parasite's genre-bending approach to social commentary and capitalism.
'Parasite' Director Bong Joon-ho 'Wanted To Reflect The Truth Of Current Times'
By Terry Gross
2019-12-10
Fresh Air interview with Bong Joon-ho and translator Sharon Choi discussing the film's themes, production, and his desire to reflect contemporary inequality.
'Parasite': Bong Joon Ho on Making the Movie of the Year
By David Fear
2019-11-01
In-depth Rolling Stone interview with Bong Joon-ho about making Parasite, his inspirations, and his approach to social satire.
The Genius of Bong Joon Ho
2019-12-01
Variety's FYC interactive feature examining Bong Joon-ho's genius as demonstrated through Parasite's craft and storytelling.
The Ending Of 'Parasite' Explained | Pop Culture Decoded
2020-01-15
Insider breaks down the ending, analyzing the symbolism, social commentary, and hidden meanings.
How 'Parasite' Delivered One Of The Best Twists In Cinema
2020-02-08
Analyzes the pivotal 10-minute sequence that delivers one of cinemas most shocking twists.
How Bong Joon-ho Recycles Moments From Movie To Movie
2020-04-15
Explores how Bong reuses thematic elements across Parasite and Snowpiercer as parallel explorations of class.
How 'Parasite' Handles a 'Mission: Impossible' Moment | Anatomy of a Scene
2019-11-01
Bong Joon-ho narrates a sequence that plays like an action scene, breaking down tension and choreography.
Parasite: The Complete Case Study Part 1 - CONTEXT
2024-12-31
Deep dive into the cultural and socioeconomic context behind Parasite.
Parasite 2019, directed by Bong Joon-Ho | Film review
By Dave Calhoun
2019-05-22
Five-star review calling it the dazzling social-satire-cum-home-invasion-drama we need right now.
Parasite (Bong Joon Ho, South Korea)
By Adam Cook
2019-06-24
The most deserving Palme winner in quite a while, praising its effortless mastery and moral ambiguity.
A Hellish Commons: Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite'
By Rebecca Liu
2020-02-13
Feminist film journal essay examining how Bongs cinema goes beyond good and evil.
How Parasite Uses Brilliant Design and Invisible VFX
2020-01-13
Technical deep-dive into production design and invisible VFX that supported the class commentary.
Parasite - Eat the Rich?
2019-11-08
Wisecrack analyzes Parasites philosophical argument that class stratification is inescapable.
Bong Joon Hos Parasite
2019-10-25
Film Comment discusses genre hybridity and class commentary.
Bong Joon-ho discusses the making and meaning of Parasite
2020-02-10
In-depth interview about storyboarding, set design philosophy, and what Parasite says about Korean society.