20th Century Fox
Tell me if the plot of this movie sounds familiar: a struggling, unhinged comedian who’s obsessed with a late-night host takes extreme matters into his own hands in the name of becoming famous. If it sounds an awful lot like Joker, there’s a reason for that. Director Todd Phillips drew a ton of inspiration from the often-overlooked Robert De Niro-Martin Scorcese movie The King of Comedy, which you can watch FREE on Plex this month.
WATCH “THE KING OF COMEDY” FREE TODAY
Robert De Niro plays Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comedian with delusions of grandeur of becoming a big star like his idol, comedian and late-night host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). After several snubs, Rupert decides that the only course of action left is to kidnap Langford and use him as ransom in exchange for a standup spot on TV.
In the grand scheme of Scorcese movies like Goodfellas and Casino, this one might seem out of place in his filmography (besides, of course, the presence of De Niro). What helps is to think of The King of Comedy as a spiritual successor to Taxi Driver, Scorcese’s breakthrough hit six years prior.
Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly depending on your perspective), The King of Comedy did not do well in theaters probably due to the dark nature of the plot. It is a very weird movie, but that’s what makes me love it. It’s funny, it’s creepy, but above all else, it’s still starring De Niro and directed by Scorcese. I’ll watch anything with those two working together.
Where To Watch The King of Comedy FREE Online
Thanks to Plex, you can watch this dark comedy classic and other great movies free from almost any device (Apple, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire, and more).
Plus, Plex has an incredible library of movies and TV shows, including Saturday morning staples. Get started at the link below!