The King of Comedy official wallpaper
The King of Comedy poster

The King of Comedy

  • 7.8 /10

  • 2236

  • 89%

Plot

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.

Cast

Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin
Robert De Niro

as Rupert Pupkin

Jerry Lewis as Jerry Langford
Jerry Lewis

as Jerry Langford

Sandra Bernhard as Masha
Sandra Bernhard

as Masha

Diahnne Abbott as Rita Keane
Diahnne Abbott

as Rita Keane

Shelley Hack as Cathy Long
Shelley Hack

as Cathy Long

Frederick de Cordova as Bert Thomas
Frederick de Cordova

as Bert Thomas

Kim Chan as Jonno
Kim Chan

as Jonno

Ed Herlihy as Himself
Ed Herlihy

as Himself

Lou Brown as Band Leader
Lou Brown

as Band Leader

Margo Winkler as Receptionist
Margo Winkler

as Receptionist

Movie Facts

Rated

  • PG

Status

  • Released

Release Date

  • December 18, 1982

Production Companies

  • Embassy International Pictures

  • 20th Century Fox

Production Countries

  • United States of America

Spoken Language

  • English

Budget

  • $19,000,000.00

Revenue

  • $2,536,000.00

Runtime

  • 1.82 hrs

Links

Gallery

Reviews

**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 them losing their minds in unison. After much rejection, the crazed Pupkin decides to kidnap his hero and hold him for ransom until a studio gives him a big b…

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 potentially get our sympathy turns out to be a thief); and everyone is grating and/or unpleasant (even Tony Randall plays 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 as a demanding prick). This …

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 Jerry Lewis) and, not exactly lacking in self-confidence, convinces him to listen to his material. Anything for a peaceable life thinks the star and agrees clear…