The 21st Century’s Greatest Film Revealed by Hollywood’s Finest
Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite has been named the best movie of the 21st century, according to a poll by The New York Times. The newspaper asked over 500 people from the movie industry, directors, actors, and others—to pick the greatest films made since January 1, 2000. With so many amazing movies to choose from, Parasite taking the top spot is a big deal, especially since it’s a Korean-language film that went far beyond expectations to win over audiences around the world.
Parasite is a mix of thriller, dark comedy, and social commentary. It follows the story of the poor Kim family, who slowly work their way into the lives of the rich Park family, pretending to be professionals so they can all get jobs. It starts off funny, but things get darker and more intense as the story goes on.
Bong Joon Ho, who co-wrote the film with Han Jin-won, used this simple setup to talk about something much bigger—how unfair the world can be when it comes to money and class.
The New York Times praised the movie in their write-up, saying, “A tale of haves and have-nots, and a ferocious rebuke to the devastations of neoliberalism, Bong Joon Ho’s pleasurably kinked and unsettling shocker follows a destitute family as it insinuates itself into a wealthy household. Bong, a master of genre unbound by convention, fluidly shifts between broad comedy and blistering social satire throughout, then lights it all on fire with a paroxysm of tragic violence that’s as stunning as it is inevitable.”
It’s not surprising that Parasite made such an impact. It won four Oscars, including Best Picture, and became the first non-English language film to do so. It also opened the door for many viewers to start watching international films, something that hadn’t happened on such a wide scale before.
It changed Bong Joon Ho’s career, turning him from a well-known name among film fans to one of the most respected directors in the world.
- Parasite
- Mulholland Drive
- There Will Be Blood
- In the Mood for Love
- Moonlight
- No Country for Old Men
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Get Out
- Spirited Away
- The Social Network
Alongside Parasite, the top 10 list from the New York Times included other popular and highly praised movies like Mulholland Drive, Moonlight, There Will Be Blood, Spirited Away, and The Social Network. Still, it was Parasite that stood out the most and was named the best of the best.
Whether you think it’s truly the greatest film of the 21st century or not, it’s clear that Parasite left a big mark on cinema. Its story about class division, clever writing, and unforgettable direction has made it a favorite for audiences and critics alike.
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