The King of Comedy (1983)
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An aspiring stand-up comedian's obsessive quest for fame leads him to target a successful late-night television host.
The story
Rupert Pupkin is a delusional stand-up comedian struggling to launch his career. After meeting Jerry Langford, a successful comedian and talk-show host, Rupert becomes convinced that his big break has arrived. He attempts to book a spot on Langford's show but is repeatedly rejected by the host's staff and Langford himself. Throughout his pursuit, Rupert retreats into elaborate and obsessive fantasies where he and Langford are close friends and colleagues. Desperate to make an impression, Rupert eventually takes extreme actions to force his way into the spotlight, fueled by a desperate need for recognition in the world of entertainment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Rupert Pupkin, a delusional stand-up comedian, becomes obsessed with the success of talk-show host Jerry Langford. After being repeatedly rebuffed by Langford, Rupert and a fellow stalker named Masha kidnap Langford and hold him hostage in a Manhattan townhouse. They demand that Rupert be given the opening spot on 'The Jerry Langford Show' as his ransom. The network and the FBI agree, allowing the show to air while Langford is held. During the wait, Masha has a 'dream date' with the bound Langford, who eventually escapes. On the night of the broadcast, Rupert performs his stand-up routine, where he confesses to the audience that he kidnapped Langford. The audience, believing it is part of the act, laughs. The film ends with a montage of Rupert's success, including a book deal and a potential TV special, while the narrative remains ambiguous as to whether his final scenes are reality or fantasy.
- First release year
- 1983
- Runtime (minutes)
- 109
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Martin Scorsese
- Writers
- Paul D. Zimmerman · writer
- Cast and characters
- Robert De Niro · Rupert Pupkin; Jerry Lewis · Jerry Langford; Sandra Bernhard · Masha; Diahnne Abbott · Rita Keene
- Genres
- satirical; black comedy
- Themes
- celebrity culture; media illusion; pursuit of notoriety
- Tone and mood
- unsettling
- Premise and plot tags
- comedy; crime; stalking; television
- Source material / true-story basis
- a script by film critic Paul D. Zimmerman
- Content notes
- stalking
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, but it was a commercial failure. It has since achieved cult status and is regarded as one of Scorsese's most distinctive works.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.30 · scale: 10 · review count: 73; Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 13
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in New York City to avoid disruption from a planned Writers Guild of America strike.; Robert De Niro prepared for the role by stalking his own fans and watching stand-up comedians.; The script was inspired by a David Susskind show on autograph hunters and an Esquire article on a fanatical Johnny Carson follower.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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