Parasite

Ki-taek and his family are unemployed and hustling to make ends meet. One by one they slip into the life of the wealthy Park clan, each taking a paid job they barely qualify for while hiding their true circumstances. Their careful ruse relies on timing, charm, and a string of small deceptions that tie the family to the Parks in increasingly intimate ways. As the plan unfolds, the lines between employer and employee blur and the situation spirals into something neither family anticipated. The film tracks how privilege and desperation collide, with consequences that ripple far beyond their apartments. The tension lands with a quietly devastating punch that lingers long after the credits roll.

Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Parasite released in 2019 as an original screenplay by Bong and Han Jin-won with Kim Dae-hwan contributing to world design. It stands as Bong's most acclaimed international hit, celebrated for its precise cross genre craft.

It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, along with Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. The wins marked a milestone for world cinema and Korean filmmaking on the global stage, bringing renewed attention to genre bending thrillers from Asia. It sparked international debates worldwide.

Parasite became a cultural touchstone, merging humor, suspense, and social critique. It sparked conversations about class and inequality worldwide and is widely cited for its moment when a non-English language film won the top Oscar, signaling a shift in global cinema. Its reach changed how studios invest abroad. For audiences.

Critics praised its direction, performances, and tight production design, while audiences appreciated its fearless blending of genres. The film examines wealth gaps and family loyalty without sermonizing, balancing wit with menace to leave a lasting impression. Its nuanced portrayal of ambition and resilience resonates across borders. Across generations and beyond.