The King of Comedy

Introduction by J. Hoberman on August 24

In Martin Scorsese’s iconic cringe comedy, Robert De Niro stars as Rupert Pupkin, a cheerful but deranged comic who aspires to get his big break on the late-night talk show hosted by Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Beneath his cockeyed smile and dorky suits are the creepy trappings of Travis Bickle, so make no mistake: Pupkin’s a psycho, albeit a hilarious one. Featuring superb supporting performances by Lewis and Sandra Bernhard, The King of Comedy remains one of the great films about excruciating embarrassment, and an evocation of a lost New York. Hoberman writes: “Langford unavoidably evokes Ronald Reagan, nearly killed by an assassin who imagined himself as Travis Bickle, but so does Rupert Pupkin—a mediocre comic who is brilliantly delusional.”

2-for-1 double feature with Videodrome!

The 2-for-1 double feature discount will automatically be reflected in the check-out process once both screenings have been added to your cart. As a reminder, this special pricing is only valid for double feature pairings on the same day.

The King of Comedy will be the subject of Film at Lincoln Center’s next Film Club, a quarterly discussion for New Wave members exploring a film’s aesthetics, themes, and why it matters over wine and light bites. For more information on New Wave membership, visit filmlinc.org/newwave.