While much of the world self-quarantines due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the stock for Netflix has skyrocketed as people look for things to do in lieu of school, business, and social setting closures. Fellow streaming service Hulu has seen similar business booms, especially after adding four-time Academy Award-winning Bong Joon Ho film Parasite into its library.
After Parasite released exclusively for Hulu on April 8, 2020, it immediately gained traction. In just one week the film has become the most-streamed independent or foreign language film on the service, as well as the second most-watched movie overall according to entertainment news site IndieWire Wednesday.
Neon, the company which distributed Ho's 2020 Best Picture-winning Parasite, responded to IndieWire Tweeting out the article with a gif of So-dam Park confidently blowing on a peach in her starring role as the Kim family ensemble's daughter. With the film's critical acclaim from both festivals and larger events like the Oscars, it only makes sense that it would translate to success on streaming.
While Parasite has been a huge success for Hulu, the streaming platform has also recently made its Hulu + Live TV service available on PlayStation 4. That should help offer home-bound patrons plenty to watch during the pandemic.