Did You Love Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite? Check Out These Engaging Asian Dramas!

Prior to directing Best Picture winning Parasite, Bong Joon-ho was no stranger to critical acclaim as he directed Snowpiercer (2013) starring Chris Evans and Okja (2017). With the popularity of Parasite, it is clear that western audiences still have room in their entertainment diet for asian-centric films. If Parasite left you wanting more drama stories from the East, check out Minari (2021) directed by Lee Isaac Chung or Burning directed by Lee Chang-dong.

Starring The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun, Minari tells the immigration story of a Korean family in search of the American dream in Kansas. Loosely based on director Chang-dong’s upbringing, Minari is sure to grab and hold the audience’s attention (Zoeller). The beautiful Kansas landscapes provide an excellent backdrop as Yeun’s character, Jacob, and his family pursue their dream of owning and running a successful 50 acre farm (Zoeller). Don’t just take my word for it, though. Minari has been nominated for six Oscars including best picture, best director, Youn Yuh-jung for best supporting actress, and Steven Yeun for best actor (Schoellkopf). Yeun’s nomination also makes history, as he is the first Asian American actor to be nominated for the best actor academy award (Schoellkopf).

If you’re looking for a story closer to Parasite in tone, then look no further than 2018’s Burning directed by Lee Chang-dong. A psychological thriller, Burning is based on the short story “Barn Burning” by Haruki Murakami (Ehrlich). Starring Yoo Ah-in and Jeon Jong-so as childhood friends Lee Jong-su and Shin Hae-Mi, Burning tells a gripping story of love, suspicion, and intrigue. Steven Yeun also stars in this film as the primary “antagonist” Ben. Releasing a year before Joon-ho’s Parasite, Burning was nominated for Best Foreing Language Film at the Oscars as well as appearing on multiple critics’ top ten lists for 2018 including the Associated Press, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times. For drama fans that were enthralled by Parasite or love slow-burn psychological thrillers, Burning should hit the top of your list of movies to watch next!