Overview: What Happened at the 2019 Best Picture Oscar
At the 91st Academy Awards in 2019, Parasite won Best Picture, marking the first time a non–English language film received the top honor. This ceremony followed months of campaigning, ballots from the Academy’s branches, and widely watched global broadcasts. Below is a breakdown of the nominees, winner, key context, and enduring influence, organized for lasting reference.
Official Nominees and Winner
Each year, the Academy invites qualified films to be considered for Best Picture. Final nominees are determined by branch members, with the full membership voting to decide the winner. The table below summarizes verified entries for the 2019 cycle, including the winner.
| Film | Director(s) | Primary Language(s) | Verified Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roma | Alfonso Cuarón | Spanish, Mixtec | Nominated |
| Parasite | Bong Joon Ho | Korean | Winner |
| Joker | Todd Phillips | English | Nominated |
| Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Quentin Tarantino | English | Nominated |
| 1917 | Sam Mendes | English | Nominated |
| The Irishman | Martin Scorsese | English | Nominated |
| Marriage Story | Noah Baumbach | English | Nominated |
| Little Women | Greta Gerwig | English | Nominated |
| The Lion King | Jon Favreau | English | Nominated |
| Jojo Rabbit | Taika Waititi | English | Nominated |
Parasite: The Winner
Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite swept multiple categories, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Its Best Picture win was historic, highlighting global storytelling in a format that traditionally favored English-language films.
Key Nominees by Category
Beyond Best Picture, major winners at the 2019 Oscars included acting and technical achievements. Some notable category outcomes are summarized below.
| Category | Winner | Nominated Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Best Director | Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) | Alfonso Cuarón (Roma); Sam Mendes (1917); Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) |
| Best Actor | Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) | Adam Driver (Marriage Story); Joaquin Phoenix (Joker); Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) |
| Best Actress | Olivia Colman (The Favourite) | Glenn Close (The Wife); Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born); Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) |
| Best International Feature | Parasite (South Korea) | Pain and Glory (Spain); Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France); The Great Beauty (Italy) |
| Best Animated Feature | Toy Story 4 | Frozen II; I Lost My Body; Missing Link; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer |
Why Parasite Resonated Globally
Parasite’s win reflected evolving audience and industry appetite for stories that transcend language while addressing universal themes of class, labor, and aspiration. The film’s tonal shifts—blending dark comedy, suspense, and social critique—offered a fresh alternative to traditional Hollywood narratives. Strong festival momentum, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and broad critical praise fueled its awards trajectory.
Industry and Cultural Impact
Parasite’s victories inspired studios and creators to invest in international projects, increasingly prioritizing authentic voices and cross-cultural collaboration. Streaming platforms and foreign-language divisions at major studios expanded their presence, while audiences became more open to subtitled films in theaters.
Context: The 2019 Oscar Ceremony
The 91st Academy Awards took place on February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced by actors and organizers focused on representation and clarity, the broadcast highlighted achievements across all categories. The telecast balanced legacy presenters with newer faces, underscoring a shift toward broader inclusion. Historically, the ceremony stands as a pivotal moment when a non-English film claimed the top prize.
Evergreen Takeaways and Influence
Years after its release, Parasite continues to shape conversations around global cinema, distribution models, and equitable storytelling. Film programs now routinely reference its structural innovations, and awards bodies have revisited policies to encourage international submissions and access. For creators, Parasite demonstrates that distinctive vision and precise storytelling can find audiences anywhere.
- First non–English language Best Picture winner in Academy history.
- Strong festival performance (Cannes Palme d’Or) informed awards momentum.
- Catalyzed increased investment in foreign-language content by streamers and studios.
- Continues to influence curricula, retrospectives, and global production strategies.
FAQ
Reader questions
Which film won Best Picture in 2019?
Parasite, directed by Bong Joon Ho, won Best Picture at the 91st Academy Awards in 2019.
Were there other notable foreign-language nominees that year?
While Parasite won Best Picture, Roma (also in Spanish) was nominated for Best Picture and won Best Director at the same ceremony.
How did Parasite perform at Cannes before the Oscars?
Parasite won the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, boosting its global profile and awards trajectory.
Did any films sweep both the top acting and top film awards that year?
No; Rami Malek won Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody, and Olivia Colman won Best Actress for The Favourite that year.
Why does Parasite remain influential beyond 2019?
Parasite reshaped industry attitudes toward international film, proving that non-English stories can achieve commercial and critical success on the largest stages, influencing funding, distribution, and education practices.