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Parasite became a global cultural phenomenon following its release in 2019. Director Bong Joon Ho—already a celebrated filmmaker in South Korea for works like Memories of Murder, Mother, and The Host—reached a worldwide audience with Parasite’s unexpected blend of genres and sharp social commentary. The film competed at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or prize. It later made history at the 2020 Academy Awards by becoming the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture. Parasite also won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. These awards brought widespread attention to the South Korean film industry. Bong’s storytelling choices—especially his sudden shifts in tone, unusual use of spatial design, and razor-sharp observations about social status—drew praise from critics and audiences around the world. 

At the time of release, the movie seemed to capture the social strife that was taking place in South Korea. At the beginning of the 2020s, many South Koreans were expressing frustration with growing income and housing inequality and the rigid boundaries between economic classes. The movie’s striking visual contrast between the Kims’ barely livable semi-basement and the Parks’ sleek mansion echoed real disparities in Seoul’s urban landscape. As the movie reached international viewers, the story resonated with people worldwide facing similar wealth gaps and extremely underpaid, underappreciated service jobs.  

Although Parasite was widely celebrated, it also received some notable criticism. Some viewers felt the violent climax at the birthday party clashed with the film’s otherwise nuanced tone. Others argued that characters outside the two central families were underdeveloped, unintentionally reinforcing the divide between the wealthy and the working class that the film set out to critique. Bong also faced questions about whether the ending offered any real resolution, or simply highlighted the futility of breaking out of entrenched social systems. Despite these critiques, Parasite continues to be broadly admired for its strong direction, unexpected emotional impact, and unflinching look at class dynamics. 

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