The King of Comedy 1982

Vincent Canby, New York Times: It's very funny, and it ends on a high note that was, for me, both a total surprise and completely satisfying. Yet it's also bristly, sometimes manic to the edge of lunacy and, along the way, terrifying. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: The uncenteredness of the film is irritating, though it's irritating in an ambitious, risk-taking way. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It is frustrating to watch, unpleasant to remember, and, in its own way, quite effective. Read more

Joyce Millman, Salon.com: It's Martin Scorsese's second least popular movie, after The Last Temptation of Christ. Which is a shame, because it's Scorsese's second greatest film, after Taxi Driver. Read more

Time Out: Creepiest movie of the year in every sense, and one of the best. Read more

Variety: Read more

Gary Arnold, Washington Post: The King of Comedy fancies itself a scathing social satire about the lust for celebrity carried to extremes. But ultimately, director Martin Scorsese's movie is a severely misconceived and distasteful study of delusional behavior. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: To be sure, Robert De Niro turns in another virtuoso performance for Martin Scorsese, just as in their four previous efforts. But once again -- and even more so -- they come up with a character that it's hard to spend time with. Read more