Parasite Crowned Best Film of the 21st Century by New York Times Readers

The film 'Parasite' has been named the best movie of the 21st century by readers of The New York Times. On July 2, 2025, the newspaper revealed the results of a survey conducted with over 200,000 participants, where Bong Joon-ho's critically acclaimed film topped the list.

Following 'Parasite', David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive' secured the second spot, while the Coen brothers' 'No Country for Old Men' came in third. Other notable mentions from South Korea include Park Chan-wook's 'Oldboy' and 'The Handmaiden', which ranked 40th and 67th respectively, along with Bong Joon-ho's earlier work 'Memories of Murder' at 49th.

In addition to this recent accolade, 'Parasite' also previously earned the title of the best film in The New York Times' list of the 100 best films of the 21st century.

The NYT described 'Parasite' as a "witty yet twisted and unsettling" narrative that critiques the harsh realities of neoliberalism, highlighting the divide between the wealthy and the impoverished. It praised Bong Joon-ho as a master of genre who seamlessly navigates between broad comedy and sharp social satire, culminating in a shocking and inevitable act of tragic violence that consumes everything.

Released in 2019, 'Parasite' tells the story of Ki-taek (played by Song Kang-ho) and his family, who become entangled with the wealthy Park family (led by the late Lee Sun-kyun). The film garnered significant attention, winning the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and sweeping four awards at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture.