How Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” (2019) succeeded globally

Thanks to a positive social media reaction, word-of-mouth recommendations, as well as the filmmaker’s niche audience, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019) is the rare foreign release to become a hit in the United States, according to Rutgers University’s The Daily Targum. Set in contemporary South Korea, the conflict in the film arises between two families on opposite sides of the income gap and the ways in which prestige, money, and education pose as obstacles in the struggle for capitalistic status and prosperity. The thematic relevance of this narrative to viewers around the world, in addition to the praise the movie has garnered for its visuals and storytelling, have all contributed to its Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, with some critics calling it the greatest picture of the year.

Author: Hunter Goddard, MA, BA

I am an award-winning journalist, memoirist, and personal essayist in Denver, Colorado. I hold a Master of Arts in Professional Creative Writing with a concentration in Nonfiction from the University of Denver, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Communication from Colorado State University Fort Collins, with a concentration in Publications Writing, Editing, and Production, and an interdisciplinary minor in Film Studies. I am passionate about inspiring positive change and meaningful action through the power of the literary arts. View all posts by Hunter Goddard, MA, BA