The critically acclaimed South-Korean thriller sheds light on the disparity between social classes with a morbid sense of humor and a killer third act.
Revisit the award-winning black comedy thriller and discover where you can stream “Parasite” in Canada.
Table of Contents
What Is Parasite About?
“Parasite” is a South Korean black comedy thriller that follows two families living in different worlds: the Kim family that lives paycheck to paycheck and dwells in a decrepit basement apartment and the wealthy Park family that comfortably resides in a luxurious upscale home.
Their two worlds converged when the Kim family’s eldest child Ki-woo poses as a tutor for the Park family’s youngest. Ki-woo hatches an idea and devises a convoluted plan to replace the Park’s staff with his family. Little by little, the Kim family invaded the Park family’s residence, shedding their former lives to present a picture-perfect identity.
Their pitch-perfect plan would be derailed when the Park’s former housemaid returns with a harrowing secret about the Park residence — a secret that would ultimately cause both families’ worlds to crumble.
“Parasite” narrates an engrossing and morbid thriller within a 132-minute runtime. “Parasite” premiered at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival in France on May 21, 2019. The film premiered in theaters on May 30, 2019.
Who Are in the Cast and Production of Parasite?
Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho directed the film. Bong collaborated with Han Jin-won on the film’s screenplay. Among Bong Joon-ho’s former films are “The Host,” “Okja,” and “Snowpiercer.” Barunson E&A produced the film while CJ Entertainment handled the distribution.
“Parasite” is composed of seasoned and promising South Korean actors like:
- Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo
- Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung
- Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek
- Jang Hye-jin as Chung-sook
- Cho Yeo-Jeong as Choi Yeon-gyo
- Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik
- Lee Jung-eun as Gook Moon-gwang
- Park Myung-hoon as Oh Geun-sae
What is the Rating for Parasite?
“Parasite” is rated 14A in Canada. The film contains scenes depicting sexual content and a graphic and disturbing violent action sequence. All mature scenes are limited to the second half of the film. The movie also bears an unnerving atmosphere for the majority of the third act.
The movie is inappropriate for viewers younger than 14 years old.
How Many People Watch Parasite?
“Parasite” is a commercial success, both domestically and abroad. Bong Joon-ho’s latest thriller grossed $71.4 million in South Korea. The movie grossed $133.9 million in theaters abroad, resulting in an impressive global box office of $258.7 million.
How Are the Reviews for Parasite?
“Parasite” received glowing reviews from international publications. Critics applauded Bong Joon-ho’s masterful direction and the subtle yet alarming social commentary shown in the film. Critics also commended the movie’s nerve-wracking and shocking third act.
The film received the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, marking a historic win for Bong Joon-ho and South Korean filmmaking. It would go on to nab four more distinctions from the Academy Awards. “Parasite” became the first non-English language film to win the highly-coveted Best Picture Award.IMDb gave the acclaimed South Korean thriller an 8.5 rating, while Metacritic gave it a Metascore of 96%. “Parasite” received a near-perfect score of 99% from Rotten Tomatoes. Find out why critics are saying “Parasite” is a phenomenal film:
- “Parasite won the top prize at Cannes, and it’s South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar. There are good reasons why it’s poised to resonate worldwide. It tells a story you could probably follow without subtitles, or any dialogue at all: the faces of these actors show with piercing clarity how it feels to be outsiders in a world of wealth and privilege.” – Stephanie Zacharek of TIME Magazine
- “Parasite is an unpredictable, thought-provoking masterpiece about inequality.” – Alissa Wilkinson of Vox
Where to Watch Parasite in Canada?
Relive Bong Joon-ho’s renowned masterpiece on different platforms in Canada.
Is Parasite Available on Streaming?
Netflix
The award-winning thriller is streaming on Netflix. You can binge similar thrillers like “Breaking Bad” and “Narcos” on the streaming platform.
Plan | Price | Number of Simultaneous Streams | Quality |
Standard with Ads | CAD$ 5.99 | 2 Device | SD |
Basic | CAD$ 9.99 | 1 Device | HD |
Standard | CAD$ 16.49 | 2 Devices | HD |
Premium | CAD$ 20.99 | 4 Devices | Ultra HD |
Is Parasite Available for Rent (VOD)?
You can either rent or purchase “Parasite” on the following VOD streaming services:
Platform | Rent | Purchase |
Amazon | CAD$3.99 | CAD$14.99 |
iTunes | CAD$5.99 | CAD$14.99 |
Google Play Store | CAD$3.99 | CAD$12.99 |
Microsoft Store | CAD$3.99 | CAD$9.99 |
Cineplex Store | CAD$5.99 | CAD$14.99 |
Is Parasite Available on Cable or Free TV?
You would need to search elsewhere as “Parasite” is not currently airing on TV. It is available for purchase on Blu-ray or DVD in online stores.
Should I Use a VPN to Watch Parasite?
You won’t need a VPN to stream “Parasite” on the listed streaming services.
A Thrilling And Morbid Social Commentary
“Parasite” blurs the lines between comedy, thriller, and horror while highlighting the divide that separates the poor from the rich. It uses its off-kilter premise to reveal a bleak and all-too-real image of the severity of the social divide and the wealth distribution that permeates society.
Revisit Bong Joon-ho’s highly-entertaining and provocative comedy thriller on Netflix or VOD.