The King of Comedy (1982)
Kernel Score: 86% · 2,537 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Drama, Comedy
Released: 1982-12-18
Runtime: 109 minutes
Is The King of Comedy worth watching?
Worth watching. A wannabe comedian stalks his idol, a talk-show host, in Scorsese's cringe-filled dark comedy. It's uncomfortable on purpose and De Niro is superb, but it's not very funny in a laugh-out-loud way.
Watch it if you
- like dark, awkward comedy
- admire De Niro and Scorsese
- enjoy character studies of obsession
Skip it if you
- want laughs and likeable characters
- dislike cringe humor
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The King of Comedy
- Free with ads: Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
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 parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The King of Comedy is a PG dark comedy-drama about an aspiring comic who stalks and eventually kidnaps a talk-show host to achieve fame.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Involves a kidnapping/blackmail plot but with minimal depicted physical violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The King of Comedy
If you liked The King of Comedy, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Taxi Driver (1976) — 90%: Same director and star, a lonely man on the edge
- GoodFellas (1990) — 92%: Scorsese at his sharpest
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) — 93%: Charming impostor chasing the life he wants
- Man on the Moon (1999) — 82%: Comedian biopic about fame and obsession
- The Truman Show (1998) — 94%: Fame and media turned into something unreal
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) — 95%: Scorsese's black comedy of ambition and excess
Director
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
The King of Comedy FAQ
Is The King of Comedy worth watching?
Worth watching. A wannabe comedian stalks his idol, a talk-show host, in Scorsese's cringe-filled dark comedy. It's uncomfortable on purpose and De Niro is superb, but it's not very funny in a laugh-out-loud way.
Where can I watch The King of Comedy?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is The King of Comedy OK for kids?
The King of Comedy is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The King of Comedy is a PG dark comedy-drama about an aspiring comic who stalks and eventually kidnaps a talk-show host to achieve fame.
What movies are like The King of Comedy?
If you liked The King of Comedy, try Taxi Driver, GoodFellas, Catch Me If You Can and Man on the Moon.