Parasite review: Bong Joon Ho's Best Picture winner is a thriller with a sting

Parasite, directed by Bong Joon Ho and co-written with Han Jin-won, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019 and won the Palme d'Or. Months later it made history at the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature. It was the first film not in English to win Best Picture.

This spoiler-free review is based on the film, its awards record and critical reception. Parasite is best experienced knowing as little as possible, so we stick to the opening premise and focus on what makes it work, who it suits and how to watch it.

What is Parasite about? (No spoilers)

The Kim family, a father, mother, son and daughter, live in a cramped semi-basement flat in Seoul and scrape by on odd jobs. When the son is offered the chance to tutor the teenage daughter of the wealthy Park family, a door opens into a very different world.

The Kims begin to see opportunities in the Park household, and the story follows what happens as the two families' lives become entangled. Anything beyond that is best discovered on screen.

Tone: comedy, thriller and tragedy in one

Parasite's biggest achievement is how smoothly it changes gear. The first half plays like a sly heist comedy, full of clever schemes and sharp dialogue. As the film goes on, the tension rises and the tone darkens, yet it never feels like a different movie.

Bong has said the title applies to both families, and the film avoids easy heroes and villains. It invites sympathy and discomfort in equal measure.

Fans of Bong Joon Ho's earlier work, including Memories of Murder, The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja, will recognise his blend of genre thrills and social commentary. Parasite is often seen as the most controlled and precise version of that style, with every early detail paying off later.

Performances and craft

Song Kang-ho, a regular Bong collaborator, anchors the film as the Kim father, with strong support from Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam and Jang Hye-jin as his family, and Lee Sun-kyun and Cho Yeo-jeong as the Parks. The ensemble works like clockwork.

The production design is a character in itself. The sleek, spacious Park house and the Kims' half-underground flat express the gap between the families visually, and Bong uses stairs, windows and levels to reinforce it. The editing and score keep the pace precise throughout.

What does Parasite mean?

At its core, Parasite is about inequality: how wealth shapes space, smell, manners and opportunity, and how people on both sides depend on each other. It is specific to modern South Korea yet recognisable almost anywhere, which helps explain its worldwide success. Its symbols reward a second viewing and discussion afterwards.

Is Parasite suitable for everyone?

Parasite is rated R in the US and 15 in the UK. Most of the film is suspenseful rather than graphic, but there is strong violence late on, along with some language and sexual references. It is not a horror film, although some tense scenes may feel like one.

A few practical points before you watch:

• Avoid trailers and plot summaries if you can
• Watch in Korean with subtitles for the best experience
• Allow for the full 132 minutes without interruptions
• Plan time to talk about it afterwards

The black-and-white version and what came next

Bong also produced a black-and-white version, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2020 and is included in the Criterion Collection release. It is a rewarding alternative for a second viewing. A limited television series set in the same world has been in development with HBO, though it was still at an early stage in 2025. Streaming availability varies by country, and the film is widely available to rent or buy digitally and on Blu-ray.

Parasite's place in film history

Parasite was the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or, and its Oscar night in February 2020 was a turning point for international cinema. Along with its four Academy Awards, it won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and two BAFTAs, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Not in the English Language.

It was also a commercial success, taking about 258 million US dollars worldwide, including more than 53 million in the US and Canada, an unusually high figure for a subtitled film. Many critics credit its success with encouraging audiences to seek out more Korean films and series, and with changing how awards bodies view non-English cinema.

Key specs

Director

Bong Joon Ho

Writers

Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin-won

Release

Premiered at Cannes 21 May 2019; South Korea 30 May 2019

Runtime

132 minutes

Language

Korean

Awards

Palme d'Or; 4 Academy Awards incl. Best Picture; Golden Globe; 2 BAFTAs

Box office

About 258 million US dollars worldwide

Ratings

R (US), 15 (UK)

Alternatives to consider

• Memories of Murder: Bong Joon Ho's earlier crime thriller, a tense and darkly funny classic of Korean cinema.
• Burning: Lee Chang-dong's slow-burn mystery that also explores class tension in South Korea.
• Knives Out: A more playful whodunit that also skewers a wealthy family.

Frequently asked questions

Parasite is the rare awards champion that is also an absolute pleasure to watch. It is funny, tense, beautifully made and genuinely thought-provoking. If you have not seen Bong Joon Ho's masterpiece yet, go in knowing as little as possible, switch on the subtitles and let it surprise you.

How we research: Reviews are based on the maker’s specifications, published independent tests and owner reports. Scores compare the product with others in its class.