Parasite
The Kims - mother and father Chung-sook and Ki-taek, and their young adult offspring, son Ki-woo and daughter Ki-jung - are a poor family living in a shabby and cramped half basement apartment in a busy lower working class commercial district of Seoul. Without even knowing it, they, especially Mr. and Mrs. Kim, literally smell of poverty. Often as a collective, they perpetrate minor scams to get by, and even when they have jobs, they do the minimum work required. Ki-woo is the one who has dreams of getting out of poverty by one day going to university. Despite not having that university education, Ki-woo is chosen by his university student friend Min, who is leaving to go to school, to take over his tutoring job to Park Da-hye, who Min plans to date once he returns to Seoul and she herself is in university. The Parks are a wealthy family who for four years have lived in their modernistic house designed by and the former residence of famed architect Namgoong. While Mr. and Mrs. Park are all about status, Mrs. Park has a flighty, simpleminded mentality and temperament, which Min tells Ki-woo to feel comfortable in lying to her about his education to get the job. In getting the job, Ki-woo further learns that Mrs. Park is looking for an art therapist for the Parks' adolescent son, Da-song, Ki-woo quickly recommending his professional art therapist friend "Jessica", really Ki-jung who he knows can pull off the scam in being the easiest liar of the four Kims. In Ki-woo also falling for Da-hye, he begins to envision himself in that house, and thus the Kims as a collective start a plan for all the Kims, like Ki-jung using assumed names, to replace existing servants in the Parks' employ in orchestrating reasons for them to be fired. The most difficult to get rid of may be Moon-gwang, the Parks' housekeeper who literally came with the house - she Namgoong's housekeeper when he lived there - and thus knows all the little nooks and crannies of it better than the Parks themselves. The question then becomes how far the Kims can take this scam in their quest to become their version of the Parks.
Despite its limited budget of $11.4M, Parasite became a runaway success, earning $257.6M worldwide—a remarkable 2167% return. The film's distinctive approach connected with viewers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
4 Oscars. 309 wins & 260 nominations
Matt Zoller Seitz
"Bong Joon-ho has made a darkly comedic thriller that doubles as a scathing critique of class inequality, executed with masterful precision."Read Full Review
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Parasite (2019) exemplifies strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Bong Joon-ho's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 12 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 3.5, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Kim family lives in a cramped semi-basement apartment, folding pizza boxes for meager wages. They scan for unsecured WiFi, fumigated by pesticide meant for bugs outside. This opening establishes their poverty and resourcefulness.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Ki-woo arrives at the Parks' modern hillside mansion for his interview. The visual contrast between the two worlds is stunning - he ascends from poverty to wealth, crossing a literal threshold into opportunity.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 21% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ki-jung (Jessica) is hired as Da-song's art therapy teacher through an elaborate con. The family commits fully to infiltrating the Park household - this is no longer opportunism but active deception requiring all of them., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: The Parks leave for camping, and the Kims take over the house, drinking expensive whiskey and lounging like they own it. Ki-taek says "This is so fucking nice." They've made it - or so they think. The plan has worked perfectly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Kim family flees the Park house in the torrential rain, descending the endless stairs back to their neighborhood. They arrive home to find their semi-basement flooded with sewage water. Ki-woo clutches the scholar's stone. Everything is literally destroyed - their home, their dignity, their con., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 95 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Ki-woo takes the scholar's stone, planning to kill the bunker husband Geun-sae. He says "I'm going to end this." The family decides to attend the party, each with their own breaking point reached. The synthesis will not be peaceful., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Parasite's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Parasite against these established plot points, we can identify how Bong Joon-ho utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Parasite within the drama genre.
Bong Joon-ho's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Bong Joon-ho films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 3.5, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Parasite represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bong Joon-ho filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Bong Joon-ho analyses, see Memories of Murder.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Kim family lives in a cramped semi-basement apartment, folding pizza boxes for meager wages. They scan for unsecured WiFi, fumigated by pesticide meant for bugs outside. This opening establishes their poverty and resourcefulness.
Theme
Min, Ki-woo's friend, says "This stone is supposed to bring material wealth to families" when giving Ki-woo the scholar's stone. The theme of wealth, class, and what people believe will elevate them is introduced.
Worldbuilding
We see the Kim family's routines: folding boxes, stealing WiFi, watching drunk men urinate outside their window. Ki-woo receives a recommendation to tutor the Park daughter, Da-hye. The family's desperation and opportunism are established.
Disruption
Ki-woo arrives at the Parks' modern hillside mansion for his interview. The visual contrast between the two worlds is stunning - he ascends from poverty to wealth, crossing a literal threshold into opportunity.
Resistance
Ki-woo successfully becomes Da-hye's tutor by lying about his credentials. He sees an opportunity and begins scheming to get his sister hired as the art tutor for young Da-song. The family debates and plans their infiltration strategy.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ki-jung (Jessica) is hired as Da-song's art therapy teacher through an elaborate con. The family commits fully to infiltrating the Park household - this is no longer opportunism but active deception requiring all of them.
Mirror World
The Park family is introduced more fully - particularly the trusting, naive Mrs. Park (Yeon-kyo) and the detached Mr. Park (Dong-ik). They represent everything the Kims are not: wealthy, educated, comfortable. They trust easily because they've never had to struggle.
Premise
The fun and games: the Kim family systematically gets the driver and housekeeper fired, replacing them with Ki-taek (father) and Chung-sook (mother). All four Kims now work for the Parks, posing as unrelated skilled professionals. They enjoy the luxuries of the house.
Midpoint
False victory: The Parks leave for camping, and the Kims take over the house, drinking expensive whiskey and lounging like they own it. Ki-taek says "This is so fucking nice." They've made it - or so they think. The plan has worked perfectly.
Opposition
The former housekeeper Moon-gwang returns, revealing a bunker where her husband has been hiding for years. She discovers the Kims' deception and films evidence. A brutal fight ensues. The Parks return early due to rain, forcing the Kims to hide. Tensions escalate toward catastrophe.
Collapse
The Kim family flees the Park house in the torrential rain, descending the endless stairs back to their neighborhood. They arrive home to find their semi-basement flooded with sewage water. Ki-woo clutches the scholar's stone. Everything is literally destroyed - their home, their dignity, their con.
Crisis
The Kims spend the night in a gymnasium shelter with other flood victims. Meanwhile, Moon-gwang dies in the bunker from her head injury. The next day, Mrs. Park calls asking them to work Da-song's birthday party - oblivious to their suffering. The class divide has never been clearer.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ki-woo takes the scholar's stone, planning to kill the bunker husband Geun-sae. He says "I'm going to end this." The family decides to attend the party, each with their own breaking point reached. The synthesis will not be peaceful.
Synthesis
At Da-song's birthday party, Geun-sae emerges from the bunker and stabs Ki-jung. Chaos erupts. Ki-taek witnesses Mr. Park's disgusted reaction to Geun-sae's smell - the final humiliation. Ki-taek snaps and stabs Mr. Park, then flees to the bunker. Ki-woo is bludgeoned with the stone, left brain-damaged. Ki-jung dies.
Transformation
Ki-woo is back in the semi-basement apartment, recovered but damaged. He writes a letter to his father, now trapped in the bunker beneath the house that new owners have bought. Ki-woo vows to make enough money to buy the house and free his father - a fantasy as unreachable as the mansion once seemed possible. The class divide remains unbridgeable.