

The King of Comedy
It's no laughing matter.
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.
TMDB
7.8/10
2,691 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $19M
- Box office
- $2.5M
- Language
- English
- prison
- new york city
- blackmail
- show business
- entertainer
- fbi
- studio
- receptionist
- zealous
- cautionary
- hilarious
- audacious
Top billed cast









Behind the camera
Director
Writers
Music
Produced in
United States of America
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- Theatrical (limited)PG18 Feb 1983
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalPG30 Jun 1983
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalPG30 Jun 1983
CanadaCA
- Theatrical (limited)14A18 Dec 1982
BrazilBR
- Theatrical18 Feb 1983
- Physical12DVD/VHS Fox15 Aug 2005
CzechiaCZ
- Physical18+1 Nov 1994
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical (limited)1518 Dec 1982
FinlandFI
- Theatrical (limited)K-1618 Dec 1982
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival7 May 1983
- TheatricalU18 May 1983
- PhysicalDVD3 Mar 2004
- PhysicalBlu-Ray14 May 2014
- Digital / OTTVOD31 Jul 2014
- Digital / OTTDisney+3 Jun 2022
GermanyDE
- Theatrical64 Mar 1983
IcelandIS
- Theatrical18 Dec 1982
IndonesiaID
- Digital / OTT17+KlikFilm1 Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
The King of Comedy was released on 18 December 1982.
Audience reviews
4- I8/10
Ian Beale
2/18/2017
**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 …
- A10/10
adorablepanic
4/7/2020
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 popula…
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
10/22/2023
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 …
- R8/10
r96sk
8/12/2024
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 actually happens and how De Niro's Rupert Pupkin views things via his dreams; especially with how merged they become by the end. Absolutely zero surprise to now learn that Todd Phillip…
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