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The King of Comedy
1982 109 min United States of America PG 12+
★7.8
Drama, Comedy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Trailers
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Description
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.
Budget:
$19M
US Gross:
$2.54M
Worldwide:
$2.54M
Starring
Robert De Niro
Actor
Jerry Lewis
Actor
Diahnne Abbott
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 1984
— Best Original Screenplay
BAFTA 1984
— Best Director
BAFTA 1984
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 1984
— Best Original Screenplay
BAFTA 1984
— Best Supporting Actor
BAFTA 1984
— Best Actor
Key opinion
The King of Comedy is widely regarded as a prophetic, darkly satirical examination of celebrity culture and the blurred lines between obsession and reality. While some viewers find the protagonist's desperate ambition and the film's uncomfortable tone grating, most praise the nuanced performances and Scorsese's masterful direction.
| Acting | Robert De Niro delivers a transformative performance as Rupert Pupkin, capturing the character's delusions and desperate hunger for fame with remarkable range. | |
| Acting | Jerry Lewis provides a surprisingly effective and restrained performance that serves as the perfect, weary foil to Pupkin's manic persistence. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay excels as a prescient satire of media culture, accurately predicting the rise of reality television and the toxic nature of fame-seeking. | |
| Direction | The film is a testament to Scorsese’s versatility, successfully shifting from his trademark gritty crime dramas to a restrained, psychologically layered black comedy. | |
| Ending | The ambiguous ending, which leaves the viewer unsure whether Pupkin’s success is reality or hallucination, serves as a poignant thematic conclusion. | |
| Humor | Opinions on the film's tone are divided: some find the protagonist's abrasive behavior and the "cringe-worthy" social scenarios deeply off-putting, while others find them hilariously effective and essential to the satire. |