Rise, BongHive: Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" Has Dominated the 2020 Oscars

The film took out four major awards.

After the events of the 92nd Academy Awards, only one thing is for certain: this is Bong Joon-ho's world and we're just living in it.

Nominated in six categories, Parasite took home four of the night's biggest awards, including Best Picture, International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay, with Bong also winning Best Director. That makes him the second director of a foreign-language film to win the category, following Alfonso Cuarón who won for Roma in 2018. 

Prior to this year, no South Korean movie had even scored a single nomination, making Parasite the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture.

Parasite, which we rated #1 on our Best Movies of 2019 countdown, follows the members of a poor South Korean family as they worm their way into an upper-crust household by pretending to be unrelated and taking on jobs as housekeepers, drivers and tutors. We don't want to spoil too much for those who haven't seen it, but just know you cannot prepare yourself for the late-in-the-film twist.

To the surprise of Bong, the flick has even attracted mass fandom. Fans, known as the #BongHive have hosted special screenings, designed t-shirts and advocated for him on social media.

With the film's critical acclaim (it's rated 99 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes) and Bong's natural wit, it's no surprise the internet was absolutely ecstatic that he won big. 

It seemed like Bong couldn't contain his excitement either. In the most adorable moment of the night, he was caught giggling at his golden statue while accepting the award for Best Original Screenplay alongside Han Jin-won.

We have no choice but to stan.

i want someone to look at me like bong joon-ho looks at his oscar pic.twitter.com/zlHzxrJP2z

— clemmie - PARASITE BP WINNER (@cIemmie) February 10, 2020

Additionally, in his acceptance speech for Best Director, the filmmaker melted everyone's hearts when he thanked fellow nominee Martin Scorsese.

Translated into English by his translator Sharon Choi, he said, "When I was in school, I studied Martin Scorsese's films. Just to be nominated was a huge honor. I never thought I would win."

As for his celebratory plans, Bong already told the audience "I'm ready to drink tonight" while giving his speech for Best International Film. 

Hopefully Parasite sweeping the Oscars encourages more people worldwide to watch foreign language films, and for them to continue to be recognised by the Academy. 

Header Image: Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images