“Parasite” Was the Unexpected Winner at the 2020 Oscars

"Parasite" wins Best Picture at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards. Photo by Rob Latour/Shutterstock (10548150na)

Parasite made history at the 92nd Academy Awards becoming the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture, beating obvious front runners along the way.

Going into the night, the South Korean thriller was nominated for Best Picture along with The Irishman, Marriage StoryJokerOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, 1917Ford v FerrariJojo Rabbit, and Little Women, but Parasite ended up winning the award.

Parasite also won three other Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, International Feature Film, and Best Director.

After accepting the Oscar on stage, the film’s producer Kwak said, “I’m speechless. We never imagined this to ever happen, we are so happy. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening in history right now. I express my deepest gratitude and respect for all the members of the Academy for making this decision.”

Following the four wins, director Bong Joon-Ho said backstage that “it’s really f—ing crazy! I’m just a very strange person. I just did what I always did with producer Kwak. I feel like something will hit me and I will wake up from this dream.”

Also taking home wins last night were Renée Zellweger (Judy), Joaquin Phoenix (Joker), Laura Dern (Marriage Story), and Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) who won the four acting categories.

Sam Mendes’ 1917 was nominated for 10 awards but ended up winning only three Oscars in technical categories. The Irishman, which was also nominated for 10 awards, didn’t go home with any.

The complete winner list includes:

Best Picture: Parasite — Neon

Lead Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker — Warner Bros.

Director: Bong Joon Ho, Parasite — Neon

Original Song: “I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” Rocketman— Paramount

Original Score: Joker, Hildur Guðnadóttir — Warner Bros.

Best International Feature Film: Parasite, Bong Joon Ho — Neon

Makeup and Hair: Bombshell— Lionsgate

Visual Effects: 1917 — Universal/Amblin Partners

Film Editing: Ford v Ferrari, Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland — Walt Disney

Cinematography: 1917, Roger Deakins — Universal/Amblin Partners

Sound Mixing: 1917 — Universal/Amblin Partners

Sound Editing: Ford v Ferrari, Don Sylvester — Walt Disney

Supporting Actress: Laura Dern, Marriage Story — Netflix

Best Documentary Short Subject: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone, Carol Dysinger — A+E Networks

Best Documentary Feature: American Factory, Julia Reichert, Steven Bognar — Netflix

Costume Design: Little Women, Jacqueline Durran — Sony Pictures Releasing

Production Design: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh — Sony Pictures Releasing

Best Live Action Short Film: The Neighbors’ Window, Marshall Curry — A Marshall Curry Production

Adapted Screenplay: Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi — Fox Searchlight

Original Screenplay: Parasite, Bong Joon Ho, Jin Won Han — Neon

Animated Short: Hair Love, Matthew A. Cherry — Sony Pictures Releasing

Animated Feature: Toy Story 4,  Josh Cooley — Walt Disney

Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — Sony Pictures Releasing