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Parasite poster

Film · 2019

Parasite

Original titleGisaengchung

Directed by Bong Joon Ho · starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun and Cho Yeo-jeong

  • 2 h 12 min
  • 15
  • Drama · Thriller
  • South Korea
  • Released in the UK 6 February 2020
  • 8.3 AverageMovieNCo
  • 8.2 Users47 votes
  • 8.4 Critics9 reviews
Watch trailer Where to watch Rate it

Synopsis

The Kim family struggles every day to maintain themselves, as the father, Ki-taek, and every other member of the family, does not have a job. Everything changes for them when they meet the Park, a wealthy family that the Kim will take advantage of when they begin working for them after they son gets a recommendation to start working as an English teacher for the family. A symbiotic relationship will start to develop in which the Kim will offer the Park the services they can't live without, while the Park will allow the Kim to maintain their life style. However, nothing is this simple, and what appeared to be a simple story will affect everyone involved with no option to go back, and this relationship will be at risk when an unexpected incident threatens to end the Kim's new life style. Film directed by Joon-ho Bong ('Mother', 'The Host', 'Okja') and starring Kang-ho Song ('The Age of Shadows'), Sun-kyun Lee ('Night and Day') and Choi Woo-shik ('Okja', 'Train to Busan').

'Parasite' was the first Korean movie to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and has become one of the biggest films to be released this year, getting praise for both film critics and the audiences everywhere it goes. This different comedy is also the film selected to represent South Korea at the 2020 Oscar Awards for Best International Film.

Where to watch Parasite

All the options

Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
132 min2 hours and 12 minutes
Budget
$11.4mBarunson E&A
Box office
$53.4m4.7 times its budget
Rating
15Suitable only for 15 years and over
How long is Parasite?
2 hours and 12 minutes (132 minutes).
When was Parasite released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 6 February 2020.
Who directed Parasite?
Bong Joon Ho.
Who is in Parasite?
It stars Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong and Choi Woo-shik.
Where can I watch Parasite?
In the UK it is available with a subscription on Mubi and with a channel on Apple TV and a channel on Prime Video.
How much did Parasite make?
It took $53.4 million in US. It cost $11.4 million.
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Cast

Full cast (12)
Director
Bong Joon Ho
Writers
Bong Joon Ho
Producers
Bong Joon Ho

Videos and trailers

See the video
'Parasite' Subtitled Trailer 1:344 June 2019

Photos and posters

All 15 photos

Reviews

All 10 reviews
8.2 47 votes
  • 1013 %
  • 934 %
  • 821 %
  • 717 %
  • 66 %
  • ≤59 %

What the critics say average 8.4 from 9 outlets

  • 9.0 IndiewireDavid Ehrlich The impotent rage he feels about that spills into every frame of this incredible film, and leaves us all a little richer as a result. Read
  • 9.0 Los Angeles TimesJustin Chang As an escalating freak show of tension, surprise and class rage, 'Parasite' would make a terrific double bill with Jordan Peele?s 'Us', which it matches and perhaps even surpasses in pact. Read
  • 9.0 VarietyJessica Kiang Bong is back and on brilliant form, but he is unmistakably, roaringly furious, and it registers because the target is so deserving, so enormous, so 2019: Parasite is a tick fat with the bitter blood… Read

Box office

Weekend by weekend
  • Budget $11.4m
  • US $53.4m
  • UK £12m

Awards

All the awards

Soundtrack

All 3 songs
  1. In Ginocchio Da TeGianni Morandi Spotify
  2. Rodelinda: Act 2 - Spietati, io vi giuraiGeorge Frideric Handel
  3. A Glass of SojuArranged, Jung Jae-il, Choi Woo-sik Spotify

Trivia

All 9 facts

  • Winner at Cannes

    First Korean film winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

  • Ki-woo's job

    Ki-woo's job, at-home tutor, was chosen because director realized that sadly the job is the only way that families from two extreme end of the class spectrum in modern day South Korea can cross their paths convincingly in the story arc.

  • The song

    The first song of the closing credits is written by director Joon-ho Bong himself and sung by lead actor Woo-sik Choi.

  • Oscar

    'Parasite' will represent South Korea at the 2020 Oscar Awards and will be up for the Best International Film award.

  • Collaboration

    This is the fourth collaboration between director Bong Joon-ho and actor Song Kang-ho.

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