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The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy
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The King of Comedy

The King of Comedy

1982
Comedy, Drama
1h 49m
Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin wants to achieve success in showbiz, by resorting to stalking his idol, a late night talk show host who craves his own privacy.

Directed by:

Martin Scorsese

Screenwriter:

Paul D. Zimmerman

Starring:

Robert De Niro, Sandra Bernhard, Tony Randall, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott, Shelley Hack, Ed Herlihy

Genres:

Comedy, Drama, Suspense/Thriller

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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The King of Comedy

1982
Comedy, Drama
1h 49m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 69.87% from 3703 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

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alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 18 Jul 2007
4
70th
You remember that scene in Taxi Driver where Travis calls Betsy after his ill-fated date and gets shot down? This movie is like 2 hours of that same uncomfortable feeling. The worst is when Pupkin shows up at Jerry's house in the country under the guise of spending a weekend with him. It's just so horribly awkward and deluded. This is unlike any other role I've seen De Niro in. His character is socially inept but at the same time is foolish enough to think he's charismatic. It works though.
Rated 18 Jul 2007
moncliviemonclivie
Rated 08 Aug 2010
83
83rd
I'd rather sleep with Uruk-hai than Sandra Bernhard.
Rated 08 Aug 2010
sockmanSockman
Rated 24 Feb 2007
80
81st
Remember that one moment in Taxi Driver (where Travis calls his date to apologize for taking her out to see a porno) and the camera can't bear to look at him because it's so awkward and embarassing? Imagine an entire movie based around that feeling, and you've got The King of Comedy. This is a fantastic little dark comedy with De Niro in top form (Scorsese has said he feels this performance was his best). Highly recommended if you can track it down.
Rated 24 Feb 2007
jebJeb
Rated 20 Jul 2009
94
85th
I walked into this thinking it was a comedy. Do not underestimate it just because of its title. The King of Comedy is a deliriously uncomfortable, imprudently quixotic and frantically eluding film. It messes with your head and the entire endure is just awkward. Rupert Pupkin is one of the most obsessed, persistent and immersedly distracted men in film. Scorsese's most underappreciated and underrated movie.
Rated 20 Jul 2009
paxtonPaxton
Rated 02 Feb 2023
88
87th
I've waited in nicer lobbies.
Rated 02 Feb 2023
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
Rated 25 May 2015
72
71st
The scenes with Sandra Bernhard are either worst or best things about this, i don't even know. Clearly it's De Niro's best performance though, and like so many Scorsese films we've all seen tropes copied from this so many times that it's almost hard to appreciate how well they work here (i feel like everyone from Todd Solondz to Jody Hill to Ricky Gervais owe good chunks of their careers to this movie).
Rated 25 May 2015
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 19 Dec 2014
90
92nd
Every part of me turtled inside to escape this movie. Every part.
Rated 19 Dec 2014
ocelotOcelot
Rated 13 Jan 2014
90
97th
Alternatively titled "Cringe: The Movie," the King of Comedy is likely Scorsese's best film relative to popularity. De Niro is as good as ever, and a surprisingly good Jerry Lewis balances it perfectly. The end is especially brilliant -- is it Rupert's elaborate fantasy, or a reality in which there really is no such thing as bad publicity? And either way, with both so absurd, does it really matter?
Rated 13 Jan 2014
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 02 Feb 2010
92
89th
Underrated. One of De Niro's best performances. Sort of a show-biz remake of Taxi Driver. Sandra Bernhard is excellent, and Jerry Lewis is good too.
Rated 02 Feb 2010
sellissellis
Rated 06 Jul 2009
89
86th
The last fifteen or so minutes are among Scorsese's best. De Niro, Lewis, the other female lead are all great. There is a tone established and maintained throughout that is nearly unbearable because of its effectiveness. Quietly subversive examination of a character, a type of person who gives himself no possible way to succeed in society without diving overboard.
Rated 06 Jul 2009
theficionadotheficionado
Rated 07 May 2007
88
87th
In the wake of so many reality shows, this seems so ridiculously prescient, it's a marvel it came out 25 years ago.
Rated 07 May 2007
obdurateObdurate
Rated 26 Nov 2016
85
81st
I really knew nothing about this but I'm glad I'm not the only person to think that it's a lot like Taxi Driver. That doesn't mean it's bad or unoriginal; it's just the tone is off in the same ways (in a good way). It's not really that funny, though it does have some decent jokes, but De Niro's performance is awesome and it's an unpredictable film; some of it is awkward and uncomfortable, but yet there is some sympathy here for the characters.
Rated 26 Nov 2016
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 06 Aug 2014
7
92nd
oh wow. i love martin's early films. discussing the cold reality of celebrity business versus the absurdly unrealistic culture surrounding it, this is a brutal, bitter, black as black comedy, and often unbearable to watch. in the best way possible. i had to pause it twice just to take a breath. not out of laughter. out of sheer discomfort. in the best way possible.
Rated 06 Aug 2014
ag0stomesmerAg0stoMesmer
Rated 18 Oct 2012
5
98th
Brilliant look at narcissism and entitlement culture.
Rated 18 Oct 2012
hellsditchhellsditch
Rated 28 Dec 2010
89
92nd
Compared with some of Scorsese's other films from this period, from "Taxi Driver" to "Raging Bull" to the concert film about the criminally dull The Band, "The King of Comedy" is barely an afterthought...it might as well not even EXIST. After seeing it, I can't imagine how this came to be. Here you have DeNiro turning in a fantastically dark comic performance (yes, he CAN be funny), some great early-80s New York vibes, a grouchy Jerry Lewis, and a story you can't possibly predict. Awesome.
Rated 28 Dec 2010
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 27 Jan 2010
40
18th
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 24 Oct 2007
10
99th
One of both Scorsese and DeNiro's most underrated film. Hilarious and dark.
Rated 24 Oct 2007
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
96th
Television. Re-watched 21 August 2017: the three leads are all great. Jay Julien is very funny in his bit part and Chuck Low is hilarious. Goes without saying the film is a remake of TAXI DRIVER.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 23 Feb 2007
58
49th
This and Taxi Driver do not deserve being put on the same tier as Raging Bull or even Mean Streets. Both seemed a bit contrived to me and too self-important. I actually think De Niro was all wrong for the role of Pupkin, a character he doesn't seem to really click with.
Rated 23 Feb 2007
slaterman2slaterman2
Rated 12 Dec 2021
94
91st
Scorsese be takin' smack about superhero movies, but he ripped off Joker smh.
Rated 12 Dec 2021
cmonsterCMonster
Rated 01 Feb 2017
88
87th
MOM I NEED TO DO THIS NOW!
Rated 01 Feb 2017
overratedoverrated
Rated 22 Jan 2017
84
93rd
This explains James Corden.
Rated 22 Jan 2017
jaiguyJaiGuy
Rated 16 Jul 2015
85
83rd
I think this movie should be watched back to back with Scorsese's Cape Fear. You get to see, more or less, the full spectrum of DeNiro's abilities. Also, I may be unoriginal in saying that Scorsese is the greatest American filmmaker.
Rated 16 Jul 2015
hsncrspywlhsncrspywl
Rated 25 Apr 2014
91
91st
I like it when Scorsese feels playful. This is still super dark though, and De Niro pulls off a really pitiful character here - I almost feel sympathy kinda for him, it's a difficult role played really well. Cinematography is super cool too, especially the color and lighting. Makes the film seem kinda dreamy and surreal at points, but in a weird threatening way.
Rated 25 Apr 2014
kramyessevKramYessev
Rated 15 Feb 2014
83
94th
Don't be fooled by the title, this is far from a comedy. Troubling and poignant in equal measure, this is Scorsese & de Niro at their best.
Rated 15 Feb 2014
thegreyfoxthegreyfox
Rated 23 Jul 2013
45
17th
It seems it is actually impossible to be honest about a Scorsese film. This was simply terrible with not a single laugh. Whilst the acting ranged from terrific (Lewis, Bernhard) to OK (De Niro, Abbott) the really awful part of this nonsense was the script. A quite ludicrous story which required us to believe that the nice FBI man would allow this idiot to go through with his master plan. As the strapline says "It's no laughing matter" .. it certainly wasn't. Cringingly embarrassing, more like.
Rated 23 Jul 2013
xakkmasterXakkMaster
Rated 02 Jan 2013
87
81st
Perhaps even more relevant now, decades after its release, this is a unique insight into American obsession with celebrity. De Niro is, as Pupkin would say, dynamite. His dual performance as a desperate, yet overly confident stand-up looking to reach the big-time is so akwardly brilliant that you can barely stand to watch it sometimes. The ending manifests in a way that most viewers won't predict, but seems perfectly plausible. In fact, it says more about our culture than Pupkin himself.
Rated 02 Jan 2013
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 07 Aug 2012
85
75th
unnerving. The character of Rupert Pupkin has a great deal of nuance that doesn't become entirely apparent until close to the end. He seems like your garden variety, overly obsessed and enthusiastic fan. Each scene peels back the layer of psychoses until we see him for what he is: a sad, lonely man who was repeatedly abused his whole life, both physically and emotionally. Great performances from De Niro and Bernhard and well thought out commentary on obsession with celebrity and disposable fame.
Rated 07 Aug 2012
kasperlKasperL
Rated 05 Aug 2012
75
77th
Bernhard is hard to watch, making the film at times truly scary. Lewis holds a straight face throughout. But the film's best asset is De Niro whose performance as the sociopathic protagonist, a character not shying away from awkward situations, is top drawer.
Rated 05 Aug 2012
nobletNoblet
Rated 25 Jul 2011
92
96th
Often times hilarious, always disturbing. Every character has a bizarre energy to them, especially De Niro and Bernhard with their strange relationship. I really loved this film, there is really nothing else quite like it.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
trixrabbiTrixRabbi
Rated 12 Jun 2011
97
99th
Scorsese's underrated gem. Rupert Pupkin is just as insane and unstable as Travis Bickle or Jake LaMotta but in a completely different way that shows just how talented DeNiro and Scorsese really are. It's surprisingly disturbing and hard to watch at times.
Rated 12 Jun 2011
spanksSpanks
Rated 20 May 2011
90
94th
De Niro is the King of Tragically Flawed Characters. The underrated Rupert Pupkin is right up there with Jake LaMotta and Travis Bickle.
Rated 20 May 2011
dunbardunbar
Rated 20 Apr 2011
94
96th
Absolutely wonderfully engrossing film with beautiful camera work and exceptional character development. De Niro is incredible with his characterisation of sheer sad desperation, both tragic and traumatically unbearable. A truly great film.
Rated 20 Apr 2011
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 29 Mar 2011
87
90th
So damn awkward and cringe-worthy, but wow what a fascinating look into totally messed up people. De Niro and Bernhard's acting is riveting, completely convincing. Times have changed but if anything that's only made this more fascinating, a prediction of things to come. Maybe not Scorsese's best but it is unfairly overlooked.
Rated 29 Mar 2011
frostyFrosty
Rated 20 Aug 2010
85
93rd
Bobby de Niro playing a slightly different brand of lunatic to his role in Taxi Driver. I really enjoyed how this film looked at the idea of fame as an end in itself compared to fame attained through talent. That we never see Pupkin's 'act' till near the movie's end really works in the favour of this idea. Clever, funny and well acted.
Rated 20 Aug 2010
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 22 May 2010
95
93rd
A splendid, enchanting movie centered around a phenomenal performance from De Niro in one of my favorite roles of his. It's different, it's exciting and, maybe it was just me, but I found it almost uplifting. One of his strangest films, Scorsese is on the top of his game. How could he regret making this?
Rated 22 May 2010
mandymandy
Rated 31 Mar 2010
5
18th
Darkly comic look at the behaviour of 2 obsessed fans and the totally undeserving focus of their attention. This film has much to say about the nature of fame and the desire for it and it can be quite uncomfortable to watch. Some great acting and direction but not one of my favourite Scorsese films.
Rated 31 Mar 2010
cagedwisdomcagedwisdom
Rated 10 Jan 2010
75
65th
I am appalled and shocked that I had not even heard of this movie until I randomly received it as a gift this Christmas. Knowing nothing about it I thought it would play out as a comedy - but no. This is an absolutely incredible dive into the mind of an extremely obsessed and deluded (or is he simply a genius?) individual, that leaves loads of questions unanswered in the very best of ways. I adored this film, and the way Scorsese shows us this character is surely something special.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
miss_jesusmiss jesus
Rated 03 Aug 2009
73
73rd
A very well-made film, but its point has been dulled in the decades since its release, now that there are metaphorical Rupert Pupkins on over a hundred channels. If you've already seen Cape Fear or The Fan, the only new aspect of DeNiro's performance here will be subtlety. But Scorsese gives Pupkin's private life so much more of the center stage that his desperation creeps into you, and you will want any end by the end as well.
Rated 03 Aug 2009
caimancaiman
Rated 21 Jul 2009
83
72nd
One of Deniro's most interesting and uncharacteristic roles. He's just awesome here as the pathetic wannabe Rupert. Scorsese proves he can direct all sorts of genres with his usual expertise. The one thing I dislike about the movie is Sandra Bernhard. I don't know why exactly, but I just hate that woman.
Rated 21 Jul 2009
chemical404chemical404
Rated 17 May 2009
65
71st
Weird film for Scorsese. Hardcore satire that might be unpleasant to watch, but keeps good pace and is very energetic due to unpredictable craziness of its protagonist. De Niro creates very complex character that is original and unforgettable, but almost impossible to connect with in any way.
Rated 17 May 2009
jameskeyjameskey
Rated 08 Aug 2008
90
92nd
Really clever, dark comedy, with wonderful blending of fantasy and reality. De Niro is excellent and creates a likable but clearly twisted character. The ending (which I think is fantasy, to give my two cents) neatly rounds off a nice story, which stretches the bounds of plausibility just enough.
Rated 08 Aug 2008
florvdeFlorVdE
Rated 03 Aug 2008
2
39th
Should have ended on that final scene in the bar.
Rated 03 Aug 2008
farzanFarzan
Rated 24 Mar 2008
90
89th
The King Of Comedy was not at all what I expected it to be. It was a lot like Taxi Driver in the sense of how he's just so crazy. Robert De Niro in one of his greatest performances. This film is crucial to watch if your a fan of De Niro and Scorsese, and show's the range of both.
Rated 24 Mar 2008
tripwyreTripwyre
Rated 20 Mar 2008
84
83rd
In a word: uncomfortable. But in a good way. The movie was misunderstood upon release -- perhaps it helps to look back now, in a time where reality TV makes the desperation for fame in Western culture all the more obvious. De Niro is one such desperate man, eager to get on Late Nite as a stand-up comic. Jerry Lewis is phenomenal as the show host (and the target of De Niro's desperation) and Bernhard, for once, isn't unbearable. It's dark comedy with sad undercurrents, and deserves a better rep.
Rated 20 Mar 2008
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 18 Aug 2007
90
94th
An excellent comedy with some really sharp satire. It's a strong statement about the hypocrisies of showbusiness and life in general, told through the eyes of a deluded comic who wants a shot at fame. What really makes this work is that you can get behind both DeNiro and Lewis, while simultaneously laughing at the positions they put themselves in. The underlying story arc is real enough that you can feel genuine sympathy for the characters, but the situations are just absurd enough to allow
Rated 18 Aug 2007
dieeinzigeDieEinzige
Rated 15 Nov 2024
75
61st
Similar to Taxi Driver but still thematically different in subtler ways.
Rated 15 Nov 2024
gargom04Gargom04
Rated 03 Nov 2024
80
90th
Opinión personal: 7.5 Actores: 9 Guión: 8 Fotografía: 7 BSO: 7.5 Otros:8.25 Iluminación: FX: Director:8.5 Humor: Vestuario/caracterización: Ritmo:8 Total: 80
Rated 03 Nov 2024
eliesrbieliesrbi
Rated 25 Jun 2024
85
71st
excellent interprétation de De Niro, il joue son rôle à la perfection
Rated 25 Jun 2024
sammossSamMoss
Rated 27 Apr 2024
80
63rd
Dark and funny. One of De Niro's best performances
Rated 27 Apr 2024
bzymusbzymus
Rated 22 Jan 2024
84
76th
audiovisual 85 acting 86 overall feeling 81 avg 84
Rated 22 Jan 2024
alanstrangalanstrang
Rated 08 Jan 2024
75
61st
If I were Tony Scott, I wouldn't make The Fan with DeNiro after watching this film.
Rated 08 Jan 2024
silentjakesilentjake
Rated 20 Aug 2023
80
82nd
de Niro is amazing as usual but I expected more from Scorsese. However, I liked the use of color and pace of the movie.
Rated 20 Aug 2023
heynicefilmHeyNiceFilm
Rated 19 Jun 2023
68
26th
Another "highly lauded" film that just went over my head, I guess. Just couldn't root for De Niro's character and the movie/mood just felt a little cornball-ish to me. Maybe I'll need to revisit this one, but I like crime/noir drama Scorsese better, there I said it.
Rated 19 Jun 2023
krulikkrulik
Rated 09 Jan 2023
85
58th
Can't deny it's done very good but I haven't really connected to any character. The end had me surprised.
Rated 09 Jan 2023
videoetronVideoetron
Rated 05 Nov 2022
79
94th
Really interesting movie. Has many layers and causes many opposing feelings. It's scary without being horror, as you know there are people this delusional in real life. It's uncomfortable to watch how unaware the crazies are, and how blunt the "real world" of business is presented. But at once, how easily that "real world" gets turned upside down just because their usual conventions and rules they keep mentioning get broken. Catchy visuals too, interesting progression.
Rated 05 Nov 2022
scribScrib
Rated 03 Sep 2022
100
99th
I mean this in the nicest way possible, but De Niro is great at playing psychotics, neurotics, social outcasts and assholes. Shout out to Sandra Bernhard, who is equal parts frightening and amusing in her role. Intercutting with her dinner scene at the end is delightfully twisted. I'm not a big Scorcese fan, but this is very good. It just does an excellent job of portraying absolute narcissism in the most entertaining way possible.
Rated 03 Sep 2022
bownBown
Rated 03 Aug 2022
85
75th
More like the cring of cringe oh my god the cringe
Rated 03 Aug 2022
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 07 May 2022
8
98th
even better than i remembered if only because i'd completely forgotten the sandra bernhard stuff.
Rated 07 May 2022
chengmingchengming
Rated 21 Aug 2021
60
35th
Some scenes make you feel the main character's delusion surprisingly viscerally, but many scenes are overly long and not leading anywhere (like all of Bernhard's?).
Rated 21 Aug 2021
hssnozdagghssnozdagg
Rated 22 May 2021
72
51st
Thanks to De Niro it was standable in spite of its deadly slow pacing. The final act also offers something.
Rated 22 May 2021
yamilvidalYamilVidal
Rated 12 Apr 2021
73
43rd
The character of Rupert walks the line between correctness, creepiness and sadness, which makes the movie interesting, but besides that, it's a bit flat.
Rated 12 Apr 2021
armilioArmilio
Rated 27 Dec 2020
78
85th
In our modern world social recognition replaced money. Rupert planned a kidnapping not for money, but for 15 minutes of celebrity. The irony is that Rupert has indeed funny material, it just feels entitled to be famous without starting from the bottom, like the stalker girl feels entitled to be loved. Very relevant in an age of entitlement created by broken promises of infinite progress, prosperity and self-realization. I think we can all find something of us in their narcissism.
Rated 27 Dec 2020
imhiilmejohnImHiilmeJohn
Rated 04 Jun 2020
89
88th
I'm gonna eat your mole, you funny thing!
Rated 04 Jun 2020
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 15 May 2020
62
76th
Seen: 2.
Rated 15 May 2020
war_machineWar Machine
Rated 17 Nov 2019
60
26th
Usedthecrazygirltogetincar:P+actuallygetsonairlmao+jerrytricksgirl/freesself+wenttobartomakegirlwatchit-actuallyhasagoodsetaboutupbringing+bettertobethekingforanightratherthanaschmuckforalifetime+jailbutblewuplool+out-getsownshow
Rated 17 Nov 2019
redflagredflag
Rated 01 Oct 2019
92
64th
Weirder than expected. What a strange, strange movie. Bernhard was just as strong as De Niro.
Rated 01 Oct 2019
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 16 Aug 2019
70
56th
The best Scorsese pics take a niche occupation and extrapolate it to discuss the human psyche - de Niro's deluded character here is all of our self-righteousness bursting forth in one long embarrassing bender.
Rated 16 Aug 2019
sourheartsourheart
Rated 11 Aug 2019
4
72nd
Wouldn't you like to see me out of my head!
Rated 11 Aug 2019
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 07 Jun 2019
80
81st
Rupert Pupkin: "Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime."
Rated 07 Jun 2019
filliganFilligan
Rated 31 May 2019
87
67th
Stellar performances from the cast make this fascinating in a morbid kind of way. This actually might be one of my absolute favourite De Niro roles. He's so confident yet pathetic, and though he goes dark places with it, it not only felt like something totally different from him, but also completely true; I've known people who share this fortified ego, propped up more as a defence mechanism than anything else. Great, underlooked addition to Scorsese's filmography.
Rated 31 May 2019
icarusIcarus
Rated 22 Apr 2019
88
85th
I loved the tone and atmosphere here--none of the flashiness of later Scorseses like GoodFellas or (esp) Casino, but plenty of substance. The conclusion really works as well--the comedy and the tragedy working together to create a complex portrait of this unfortunate man.
Rated 22 Apr 2019
yiannosYiannos
Rated 22 Dec 2018
80
92nd
What critics presumably objected to in 1983 was not Pupkin's desire for fame by any means necessary, which was already a shop worn trope in a post-Warhol world, but the sheer unlikeability of the characters and the blackness of Zimmerman/Scorsese's cynicism, which has only been vindicated with time. Pupkin is a monster of self entitlement, and Deniro plays him with prickly nerve, resulting in several uncomforable scenes that reveal the depths of his fractured psychology.
Rated 22 Dec 2018
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 08 Jul 2018
90
91st
I think about it, and what i realize more and more is that Scorsese's smaller films, particularly in the 80s, the ones he directed in the intermittent periods between his films that were in development hell, are where he shines brightest.
Rated 08 Jul 2018
amerigoamerigo
Rated 29 Apr 2018
82
78th
Exquisitely realized but the realistically portrayed obsessions are sometimes grating--as one would expect in real life. All in all, it's a weird, almost genre-less character study fleshed out by a marquee actor who was still at the top of his game.
Rated 29 Apr 2018
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 15 Apr 2018
80
79th
"You lookin' at me?" Almost a mashup of Taxi Driver and Network, The King of Comedy slowly inflates with tension during the whole film like a balloon about to pop at any minute. The humor is generally uncomfortable; like a car wreck, it's hard to turn away from. De Niro masterfully acts like a coiled spring, and Jerry Lewis does fine being the straight man for a change. The movie does plod a little, but I can't think of a single place to cut.
Rated 15 Apr 2018
livLiv
Rated 29 Oct 2017
77
26th
De Niro might have just started career there because his potential is not quite shown. For the cinematographic production limitations of that times, he got to pass over, but still far from his best performances. The plot is actually not very complex. It`s kind of a drama-comedy.
Rated 29 Oct 2017
jordanraidenjordanraiden
Rated 25 Sep 2017
14
44th
6/7
Rated 25 Sep 2017
x_humanx-human
Rated 26 Aug 2017
78
56th
It's a very slow, painful even, build. But it pays off in the end. The second hand embarrassment we feel for the characters here is palpable. De Niro is excellent as "that guy" we all know too well. But Bernhard is especially stand out as the all too real "crazy girl." We can all see something of ourselves in here and that's what's make it so funny and so haunting at the same time. Recommended for those looking for a challenging black comedy unlike any other.
Rated 26 Aug 2017
macswellMacSwell
Rated 10 Mar 2017
85
87th
De Niro is sensational as Rupert Pupkin, an overbearing, delusional comic who resorts to extreme measures to get his big break in television. Whether he imagines his eventual success or achieves it for real ultimately doesn't matter, because either interpretation of his story provides an astute and somewhat chilling commentary on the times. It's often painfully, hilariously uncomfortable, and arguably Scorsese's most underrated work.
Rated 10 Mar 2017
kito1kito1
Rated 25 Feb 2017
40
10th
Not that great. The protagonist is a jerk who is sometimes hilarious to watch; but most of of the film didn't capture my interest.
Rated 25 Feb 2017
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 14 Jan 2017
85
87th
When a director and actor team up as much as Scorsese and De Niro did it's nice to see them branch out and do something completely different.
Rated 14 Jan 2017
fuckchopsfuckchops
Rated 16 Dec 2016
66
51st
Such an odd little film. It took me short little while to get what DeNiro and Scorsese were trying to achieve but it was successful.
Rated 16 Dec 2016
janusjanus
Rated 06 Nov 2016
80
77th
Taxi Diver's wackier twin. Comparable also to the recent gem Nightcrawler. As of this writing it's less than a week until the 2016 US election, which may be why Pupkin reminds me of the depressingly ubiquitous Donald Trump, bumbling his way to inexplicable success by tactics no one else would be stupid enough to even think of. (Postscript: just like Pupkin, despite the fumbles, he won, the fucker.) DeNiro is great in this but Lewis, surprisingly, might be the true highlight of the film.
Rated 06 Nov 2016
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 31 Aug 2016
70
41st
Kind of a fun black comedy, though a lot of the shocking elements have now become commonplace (pitch-black, punchline-free, heavily-improvised cringe-comedy; a psychopathic anti-hero lead who neither learns nor changes and gets everything he wants and becomes famous for it) so you're left with Scorsese cruising on that without putting much of a mark on the style of the thing, so it's a bit lacking in energy. But it's still enjoyable to watch, and I laughed every time someone called him "Pumpkin"
Rated 31 Aug 2016
igormacheteigormachete
Rated 25 May 2016
93
95th
What a great, great movie.
Rated 25 May 2016
judo_koalaJudo Koala
Rated 05 Nov 2015
78
67th
An equally hilarious, prescient, and deeply sad look into celebrity idolatry, the obsession with fame, and the conflation of reality with fantasy in a parable that skewers show business while sympathizing with those who fool themselves into believing it's the life they deserve.
Rated 05 Nov 2015
spaceflohspacefloh
Rated 26 Oct 2015
50
35th
ger; [King of Comedy]; ein künstler will bei einem star in der Sendung auftreten, doch als dieser ihn abblitzen lässt trifft Rupert die Entscheidung den star zu kidnappen.;
Rated 26 Oct 2015
redactedredacted
Rated 20 Nov 2014
81
74th
Delusion & obsession rolled into one. I did like some of the character back story being released right by the finish line. I felt some pretty deep sympathy for the bound up Jerry waiting to be mounted by the off-putting Bernhard, who has a pair of lungs on her by the way. Good creep/farce film, but you can see how many leaps ahead the film Network was, which plays in a similar space.
Rated 20 Nov 2014
damildamil
Rated 09 Nov 2014
70
67th
It's not one of Martin Scorsese's masterpieces, but this is a pretty good film. It's a great exploration of fame and celebrity, and the obsession we have with them, as a society. Robert De Niro is totally brilliant, and Scorsese provides some great shots. It's a bit of an uncomfortable watch, but it's very entertaining, thought-provoking and occasionally pretty funny, too.
Rated 09 Nov 2014
xacviantxacviant
Rated 17 Jun 2014
93
97th
It's been a LONG time since a film made me so uncomfortable. And I mean that in the best way. I fear Rupert Pupkin because I fear I could become him. De Niro, at the peak of his powers, is just perfect. Jerry Lewis proves how good he can be when he wants to be. Sandra Bernhard provides a dash of absurd humor. Do I even need to say how good Scorsese's direction is? The script is bold and unflinching, and if the film loses a bit of steam in the last third, it's one of Scorsese's many masterpieces.
Rated 17 Jun 2014
pyrosexualpyrosexual
Rated 24 May 2014
92
93rd
Sorely underrated in Scorsese's canon, much funnier than Meet the Parents for De Niro's part.
Rated 24 May 2014
rufamRufam
Rated 04 May 2014
85
93rd
The satire of celebrity obsession can get a little obvious, but "The King of Comedy" is, on the whole, a piercing, darkly uncomfortable and thoroughly engrossing character portrait. De Niro, back in the days when it seemed that he could do no wrong, is excellent while Lewis and Bernhard deliver fully as well.
Rated 04 May 2014
rttntomatoesrttntomatoes
Rated 22 Jan 2014
93
83rd
Largely misunderstood upon its release, The King of Comedy today looks eerily prescient, and features a fine performance by Robert DeNiro as a strangely sympathetic psychopath.
Rated 22 Jan 2014
telemecusTelemecus
Rated 22 Jan 2014
38
39th
Up to the kidnapping this was very tedious. From then on the pace and interest came in.
Rated 22 Jan 2014
joaorlazarojoaorlazaro
Rated 09 Oct 2013
89
89th
The monologues are the best
Rated 09 Oct 2013
glm01glm01
Rated 18 Sep 2013
80
64th
80.33.
Rated 18 Sep 2013
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 29 Jul 2013
70
42nd
komedyen, hayran, hayranlik, stand-up, rehin (Rubert pupkin, Jerry Langford'un hayrandir. Bir aksam bir hayran kalabaligi rasinda Jerry ile konusma firsati bulmus ve ona kendisinin de komedi ilgili projeleri oldugunu söylemistir. fakat sonraki görüsmesi mümkün olmamisitir. Defelarca ofisine gitmis fakat eli bos dönmüstür. Seneler sonra irtibat kurdugu Rita ile Jerry2nin evine kadar gitmis, Jerry tarafindan evden kovulmustur. kendisi gibi baska bir hayran olan Masha ile Jerry'i kacirip televizyon
Rated 29 Jul 2013
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 20 May 2013
79
87th
I'm surprised De Niro and Scorsese could make such a successful comedy/satire. Rupert Pupkin is a beautifully crafted character and is played to perfection by De Niro. His self-delusion and obsession with celebrity make him a character that seems more relevant today than he was when this came out.
Rated 20 May 2013
neonmanNeonman
Rated 26 Mar 2013
86
84th
One of the more flawed and wonkily directed films from Scorsese - but the acting and satisfying script make up for that. deNiro is superbly creepy as the attention-seeking wannabe-comedian -- what a character! The ending is ridiculous and sad.
Rated 26 Mar 2013

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