The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy

The King of Comedy

1982Movie109 minEnglish

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.

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Insights

IMDb7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes87%
Metacritic74/100
Google Users87%
Director: Martin ScorseseGenres: Comedy, Drama, Crime

Plot Summary

Rupert Pupkin, a delusional and obsessed fan of a popular talk show host, Jerry Langford, believes he is destined for stardom. He relentlessly pursues Langford, attempting to gain access to the show and prove his comedic talents. When his attempts at conventional methods fail, Pupkin resorts to increasingly desperate and illegal measures, including kidnapping, to achieve his dream of becoming a celebrated comedian.

Critical Reception

While initially met with a mixed reception and underperforming at the box office, 'The King of Comedy' has since achieved significant critical re-evaluation and is now widely regarded as a dark masterpiece and a prescient commentary on celebrity culture and media obsession. Its themes of aspiration, delusion, and the hunger for fame resonate strongly with modern audiences.

What Reviewers Say

  • A chilling and darkly humorous exploration of celebrity obsession and the elusive nature of fame.
  • Robert De Niro delivers a masterful performance as a disturbingly relatable, aspiring comedian.
  • Martin Scorsese's unique blend of satire and suspense creates a thought-provoking cinematic experience.

Google audience: Audiences praise the film's sharp satire, Robert De Niro's performance, and its prescient themes about fame and media. Some find the tone bleak, but most appreciate its thought-provoking nature and dark humor.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Robert De Niro was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.

Fun Fact

Jerry Lewis, known for his extensive career in slapstick comedy, was initially hesitant to play the role of Jerry Langford, fearing it might alienate his existing fanbase. However, Martin Scorsese convinced him by emphasizing the dramatic nature of the character and its importance to the film's themes.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

A bit long-winded, but undoubtedly a very good movie. <em>'The King of Comedy'</em> has a sturdy Robert De Niro lead performance, as well as solid support from Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard. I enjoyed seeing the split from what actuall...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Robert De Niro is great in this enjoyable comedy about the aspiring comedian "Pupkin" who is prepared to go to great lengths to get his moment in the sun. To that end he doorsteps acclaimed chat-show host "Jerry" (the entirely convincing Je...
adorablepanic

adorablepanic

Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY was the lowest-grossing major studio film of 1982. It isn't difficult to see why: It's loaded with uncomfortable situations; there is no obvious protagonist; no sympathetic characters (the one that could...
Ian Beale

Ian Beale

**De Niro as yet another deluded psycho** De Niro is Rupert Pitkin, a comedian who seeks to be as famous as his hero, Jerry Lewis. Pupkin could be Travis Bickle's equally disturbed brother - both of them living in New York and both of th...