The King of Comedy

"It's no laughing matter."

1982 1h 49m EN

🙌

7.8

BANGER

★7.8TMDB · 2,686

DramaComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“It's no laughing matter.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Robert De Niro
Rupert Pupkin
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Langford
Diahnne Abbott
Rita
Sandra Bernhard
Masha
Shelley Hack
Cathy Long
Frederick de Cordova
Bert Thomas
Ed Herlihy
Ed Herlihy
Lou Brown
Band Leader

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Paul D. Zimmerman
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 13% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Martin Scorsese, shot by Fred Schuler. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Robbie Robertson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Thelma Schoonmaker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis and Diahnne Abbott carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "It's no laughing matter.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0085794 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Martin Scorsese directs. Fred Schuler behind the camera. Robbie Robertson scores. Thelma Schoonmaker cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 13% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
244 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Martin Scorsese, shot by Fred Schuler. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Robbie Robertson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Thelma Schoonmaker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis and Diahnne Abbott carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "It's no laughing matter.".
8IMDB entry: tt0085794 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 13 themes, including "prison", "new york city", "blackmail", "show business".
10Released under 18 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Fred Schuler
Original score: Robbie Robertson
Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker
Production design: Boris Leven
Costume design: Richard Bruno
Makeup / hair: Philip Goldblat
Sound: Tom Fleischman
Runtime: 109 min · 1h 49m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $19,000,000
Box office: $2,536,000
Return: 13% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: The King of Comedy (1982)

Awards

National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
London Film Critics Circle Award for Film of the Year
BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Martin Scorsese

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Ian Beale2017-02-18
★ 8/10
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 break. Jerry Lewis is impressive as the total bastard that Pupkin so admires. A disturbing movie that is more relevant nowadays than ever since the advent of the Big Brother tv show which places national attention on people with no talent. - Ian Beale
adorablepanic2020-04-07
★ 10/10
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 lack of popularity was the audience's loss, as Paul Zimmerman graced Scorsese with a screenplay which was just as prescient on the topic of fame as Paddy Chayefsky's NETWORK (1976) was on the future of television. In a day and age where television reality shows and online video platforms allow talent-bereft fame-seekers to offer their wares to an anesthetized public, De Niro's Rupert Pupkin displays an uncanny ambition just by leaving his mother's basement, much less his willingness to use crime as a means to his end.
CinemaSerf2023-10-22
★ 7/10
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 clearly just to be rid of the man. "Pupkin", though, isn't so easily deterred and what ensues now are a rather darkly comedic series of escapades as the little man determines to get that spotlight - even if he has to turn to lying, housebreaking - even kidnapping. The writing here is taut and entertaining; the characters - especially that of the rather pompous "Jerry" are well crafted by the actors who really seem to be enjoying their roles. Martin Scorsese manages to skilfully keep this on the right side of what could easily have become far-fetched farce. It's the ultimate speculate to accumulate film poking fun at the whole television "opportunity" system, and with the odd sight of an almost unrecognisable Ed Herlihy it all adds up to a fun film to watch and I challenge anyone not have a laugh here.