Bong Joon-ho is having quite a moment in history. After sweeping the Oscars with four wins for Parasite, the South Korean director has become a superstar (and let's be real, one hell of a hilarious personality [1]) in the film community. Parasite definitely isn't his only big feature movie, though. A notorious genre blender [2], Bong has long been creating socially aware, twist-riddled [3] movies throughout his prolific career, helming critical darlings such as the Chris Evans-led Snowpiercer and Netflix's Okja. Ahead, we've put together a guide to all of the movies he has directed and where you can watch them.
Parasite (2019)
Taking place in Bong's home country of South Korea, Parasite tackles the tensions between the haves and have-nots with an animated story full of twists and turns. We follow the poor Kims as they essentially scam their way into working for the rich Parks, getting rid of their competition by any means necessary.
Watch Parasite on Amazon. [4]
Okja (2017)
Netflix's Okja is loaded with Korean and American stars, including Choi Woo-shik, who plays Ki-woo in Parasite. It tells the story of Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun), a South Korean girl who takes care of a superpig named Okja, who's being sought after by the Mirando Corporation ran by Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton).
Watch Okja on Netflix. [5]
Snowpiercer (2013)
We see themes of class differences yet again in Snowpiercer. Basically, an experiment to stop global warming wipes out humanity, and so now survivors board onto a global train ran by a perpetual motion engine. A revolution ensues to democratize the train's resources, which have been mainly delegated to elites. Chris Evans [6] leads the film, with support from A-listers such as Song Kang-ho (Mr. Kim from Parasite) and Octavia Spencer [7].
Watch Snowpiercer on Netflix. [8]
Mother (aka Madeo) (2009)
In this family drama, a young man (Won Bin) with an intellectual disability is accused of murdering a girl. While the cards are stacked against him, his doting widowed mother (Kim Hye-ja) is determined to clear his name.
Watch Mother on Tubi. [9]
Tokyo! (2008)
Bong collaborated with directors Michel Gondry and Leos Carax in Tokyo! The film follows three separate stories set in the titular city. Bong directed the section titled "Shaking Tokyo," which is about a reclusive man who falls in love with the woman who delivers his pizza.
Watch Tokyo! on Amazon. [10]
The Host (2006)
In this creature feature, Song (aka Mr. Kim) stars as Park Gang-du, a snack bar vendor whose daughter is kidnapped by a river creature. He doesn't give up on her though, working with his family to take on the monster.
Watch The Host on Tubi. [11]
Memories of Murder (2003)
Based on Korea's first serial murder cases [12], Memories of Murder features an earlier performance from Song and Kim Sang-kyung as detectives trying to solve a chain of brutal homicides in a rural town.
Watch Memories of Murder on iTunes. [13]
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)
In this dark comedy, an out-of-work professor (Lee Sung-jae) gets driven mad by barking dogs in his building and resorts to abusing them. His apartment manager (Bae Doona) becomes set on finding the missing dogs and the person responsible for their absence.
Watch Barking Dogs Never Bite on Tubi. [14]