A Historic Oscars® Night for Parasite

This year’s Academy Awards® competition really could have gone in any direction as we headed into the final categories of the evening. ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD and 1917 had to feel like they had good shots, while a surprise win in the Best Editing category probably gave FORD V FERRARI hope that it was also at the front of the race. Overall, the Academy spread the love to several movies. But the night’s biggest winner was Bong Joon-Ho and PARASITE, and the wins were historic.
By claiming the Best Picture Oscar®, PARASITE became the first foreign-language feature to win that coveted prize in the history of the Academy Awards. Other foreign-language films have received Best Picture nominations. In fact, just last year, Alfonso Cuarón’s ROMA competed in the category (and Cuarón took home Best Director that year). But no film prior to PARASITE managed to win Best Picture. In the past, the Academy saw it fit to recognize foreign-language films in their own, separate category. PARASITE became the first movie to break through that invisible barrier.
It was a huge win that capped off a huge night, which also included three other Oscar victories for the South Korean socio-dramedy. Bong Joon-Ho also surprised many experts, and gave an incredibly touching speech, when he claimed Best Director. The filmmaker, speaking through his translator, heaped praise on his idols — and fellow nominees — Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, while also recognizing Todd Phillips (JOKER) and Sam Mendes (1917) for their skills.
Rounding out the evening, PARASITE also claimed the Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. It missed out in the categories of Best Achievement in Film Editing and Best Achievement in Production Design, but we doubt anyone on Team PARASITE is complaining this morning.
The movie already was doing well at the box office, building off of the awards buzz it has been collecting since winning the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The movie has grossed $35.5 million in the U.S. and is performing incredibly well overseas. Its global box office sits at $165 million, and that’s sure to see a boost following the Best Picture win.
The movie is still playing at select AMC locations, so click here to find tickets. Want to watch it at home? Buy or rent Bong Joon-Ho’s PARASITE by clicking here.