What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedParasite
Bong Joon Ho · Film · 2019
If you loved Parasite, start with Parasyte -the maxim- (2014) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Parasite across media.
If you loved Parasite, you are drawn to stories where sharp social critique and moral ambiguity collide within intense domestic power struggles.
Books on the same thread
Jurassic Park
Michael Crichton · Book · 1991
Explores: Genetic Engineering, Ethical Dilemmas of Science, Man vs. Nature.
Like Parasite, this story explores the catastrophic consequences when human arrogance and greed attempt to control natural systems, leading to a breakdown of order within an isolated, high-stakes environment.
Parable of the Talents
Octavia E. Butler · Book · 1998
Explores: Religious Fanaticism, Social Breakdown, Climate Change.
You will appreciate how this narrative mirrors the societal fractures found in Parasite, focusing on how vulnerable individuals navigate systemic collapse and the struggle for survival in broken worlds.
Born a Crime
Trevor Noah · Book · 2019
Shares a thread with Parasite: social commentary.
This memoir shares the visceral social commentary of Parasite, examining how individuals carve out an identity and survive within rigid, oppressive class and racial hierarchies through personal grit.
Perfume (Das Parfum)
Patrick Süskind · Book · 1985
Explores: Obsession, Sensory Deprivation, Social Isolation.
This gothic examination of obsession and isolation mirrors the dark, atmospheric tension of Parasite, showing how one man’s singular, destructive desire can lead to a haunting series of moral compromises.
Series on the same thread
Parasyte -the maxim-
Series · 2014
Explores: Parasitic Invasion, Loss of Humanity, Moral Ambiguity.
The unsettling intrusion of an outside force into a family dynamic echoes the central tension in Parasite, forcing characters to confront the loss of their humanity amidst parasitic invasion.
Succession
Jesse Armstrong · Series · 2018
Explores: Wealth and Power, Dysfunctional Family, Corporate Intrigue.
Much like the Parks in Parasite, the wealthy subjects here are defined by their detachment from reality, creating a compelling, satirical look at how extreme privilege dictates family behavior.
The Penthouse
Kim Soon-ok · Series · 2020
Explores: Social Climbing, Wealth and Power, Obsession.
This show captures the desperate social climbing and moral decay seen in Parasite, focusing on the lengths to which people will go to infiltrate elite circles and secure their status.
Crash Landing on You
Park Ji-eun · Series · 2019
Explores: Forbidden Love, Culture Clash, Fish Out of Water.
The fish-out-of-water scenario here mirrors the deception present in Parasite, as characters navigate entirely foreign social worlds while maintaining secret identities to protect their fragile, newfound domestic arrangements.
Podcasts on the same thread
Chapo Trap House
Podcast
Explores: social criticism, anti-capitalism, current events analysis.
If the biting anti-capitalist critique of Parasite resonated with you, this podcast provides the same sharp, satirical dissection of current events and the systemic failures that define our modern era.
NerdCast
Jovem Nerd · Podcast
Explores: humor, satire, current events commentary.
This show echoes the satirical spirit of Parasite, utilizing humor to dismantle cultural norms and provide a critical lens on the absurdity of the world around us and current events.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Parasite about a family?
Yes, Parasite centers on Ki-taek's family. They are unemployed and begin to take a peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks to improve their own livelihood.
What is the premise of Parasite?
Parasite follows an unemployed family that infiltrates the lives of a wealthy household. By inserting themselves into the employment of the Parks, they seek to change their financial circumstances through this peculiar association.
Who directed Parasite?
Parasite is a 2019 film directed by Bong Joon Ho. The story explores the social dynamics between the unemployed Ki-taek family and the wealthy Parks.
Does Parasite focus on the Parks?
Yes, the Parks are central to Parasite. Their glamorous and wealthy lifestyle becomes the focus of Ki-taek's family, who maneuver to work for them as a means of survival.