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Parasite (2019 film)

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho. It follows the impoverished Kim family as they scheme their way into the household of the wealthy Park family, exposing class inequality, deception, and social resentment. The film became internationally acclaimed and won multiple major awards, including Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Premise

The story centres on the Kim family, who live in poverty and gradually secure jobs inside the wealthy Park household through deception. Their arrangement begins as a practical con but escalates into conflict as hidden realities emerge.

Themes

Parasite examines social class, inequality, greed, and moral compromise. Critics and reference sources note that the title can be read as a comment on how people live off or exploit one another across class lines.

Production and release

The film was directed by Bong Joon Ho and released in 2019. It is a South Korean production and was widely praised for its writing, performances, and genre-blending style.

Awards and reception

Parasite received major international acclaim and became the first Korean film to win the Palme d'Or at Cannes. It later won four Oscars, including Best Picture, making it the first non-English-language film to do so.

Key facts

  • Parasite follows the impoverished Kim family as they scheme their way into the household of the wealthy Park family.
  • The film was directed by Bong Joon Ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won.
  • It is a black comedy thriller that also incorporates drama, suspense, and social satire.
  • Parasite won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
  • The film explores class inequality, exploitation, and the instability beneath apparent social comfort.
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Canadian context

Parasite was widely distributed and discussed in Canada as part of its international awards success, and it is frequently taught or referenced in Canadian film criticism and media as a major example of contemporary world cinema.

Frequently asked questions

What is the movie Parasite about?
It follows a poor family that infiltrates the home of a wealthy family by taking jobs there under false pretences, and the story turns into a darkly comic and tragic examination of class division.
Who directed Parasite?
Parasite was directed by Bong Joon Ho.
How many Oscars did Parasite win?
Parasite won four Academy Awards.
What is the ending of Parasite?
The ending is bleak and violent: the conflict between the two families leads to deaths and long-term separation, with the film closing on the son imagining a future that is unlikely to happen.
Is Parasite a horror movie?
It is usually classified as a black comedy thriller, not a straight horror film, though it includes suspenseful and violent scenes that can feel horror-like.
What does the word parasite mean in the movie?
The title refers to the idea of one person or group living off another. In the film, that idea can be applied to both families, depending on how the class relationship is interpreted.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite_(2019_film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, screenplay credit, and premise of a poor family infiltrating a wealthy family's home.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parasite-2019-film
    Supports: Film overview, director, international acclaim, class-satire interpretation of the title, and major award recognition.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/
    Supports: Plot summary, genre blend, and concise description of class conflict and the Park/Kim families.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/parasite_2019
    Supports: Genre classification and synopsis mentioning greed and class discrimination between the Park and Kim families.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/parasite-movie-review-2019
    Supports: Critical discussion of the film's poverty, class themes, and social commentary.