The King of Comedy
Movie, 1982, The '80s, Set in A would-be comic
The King of Comedy is #8 of 26 in release order and #8 of 26 in chronological order in the Martin Scorsese.
The story
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.
The King of Comedy recap
The King of Comedy (1982) follows Rupert Pupkin, a would-be stand-up comic who stalks a late-night talk show host to get himself a spot on the show. Martin Scorsese directs from a script by Paul D. Zimmerman. Robert De Niro plays Rupert, a messenger who lives with his mother and rehearses fake interviews in his basement; Jerry Lewis plays Jerry Langford, the host. Rupert pushes his way into Jerry's car after a show, and Jerry, trying to get rid of him, tells him to call the office. The staff keep fobbing him off, but Rupert imagines himself as Jerry's friend and equal. He turns up uninvited at Jerry's country house with Rita (Diahnne Abbott), a bartender he wants to impress, and Jerry tells him exactly what he thinks of him. Rupert then teams up with Masha (Sandra Bernhard), another obsessed fan, and they kidnap Jerry, demanding that Rupert open that night's show. Eighth of the 26 films here, it comes between Raging Bull and After Hours; it premiered in December 1982 and opened in the United States in 1983.
The King of Comedy ending explained
The King of Comedy ends with Rupert getting his wish. With Tony Randall hosting in Jerry's place, Rupert performs his routine, about his miserable childhood, to a laughing audience, then confesses he kidnapped Jerry to get there, and they laugh at that too. Jerry escapes from Masha. Rupert goes to prison, while his memoir becomes a bestseller and he walks onto the stage of his own TV special to applause. Scorsese leaves open whether the last scene is real or another fantasy.
Post-credits scenes
No. The King of Comedy has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 7.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 89%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Raging Bull, before After Hours.
- Chronological order: after Raging Bull, before After Hours.
Cast
- Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin
- Jerry Lewis as Jerry Langford
- Diahnne Abbott as Rita
- Sandra Bernhard as Masha
- Shelley Hack as Cathy Long
- Frederick de Cordova as Bert Thomas
- Ed Herlihy as Ed Herlihy
- Lou Brown as Band Leader
- Loretta Tupper as Stage Door Fan
- Peter Potulski as Stage Door Fan
- Vinnie Gonzales as Stage Door Fan
- Whitey Ryan as Stage Door Guard
Directed by Martin Scorsese.