Movie Profile: THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND (2020)
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | The King of Staten Island |
| Release Date | June 12, 2020 (VOD / USA) |
| Director | Judd Apatow |
| Writers | Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, Dave Sirus |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Coming-of-Age |
| Runtime | 136 minutes |
| Budget | $35 million |
| Box Office / VOD | Released digitally due to COVID-19 pandemic closures; topped digital rental charts for weeks. |
| Lead Cast |
• Pete Davidson (Scott Carlin) • Marisa Tomei (Margie Carlin) • Bill Burr (Ray Bishop) • Bel Powley (Kelsey) • Maude Apatow (Claire Carlin) • Steve Buscemi (Papa) |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) is a 24-year-old burnout living on Staten Island, New York. His growth has been severely stunted since his father, a firefighter, died responding to a fire when Scott was seven years old. Scott spends his days smoking weed, hanging out with his friends, sleeping with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley), and harboring unrealistic dreams of opening a “tattoo restaurant.”
His comfortable, aimless lifestyle is shaken when his younger sister Claire (Maude Apatow) leaves for college, and his mother Margie (Marisa Tomei) begins dating again for the first time in 17 years. The man she starts seeing is Ray Bishop (Bill Burr), a loudmouthed, opinionated firefighter.
Ray’s arrival sparks fierce friction, eventually leading Scott to be kicked out of the house. Forced to take his first steps into adulthood, Scott reluctantly takes a job at Ray’s firehouse, where he comes face-to-face with his father’s legacy, helping him process his grief and take control of his life.
Behind-the-Scenes & Significance
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Personal Catharsis: The film is heavily based on Pete Davidson’s real life. His father, Scott Davidson, was a real NYC firefighter who died in the line of duty during the September 11 attacks.
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Judd Apatow’s Signature Style: Like Knocked Up and Trainwreck, director Judd Apatow blends crude, grounded humor with sincere emotional depth, using improvs and personal storytelling to guide Davidson’s performance.
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Standout Supporting Performances: Stand-up comedian Bill Burr delivers a strong, surprisingly tender performance as Ray, while Steve Buscemi—who was an actual NYC firefighter before becoming an actor—brings authentic warmth as the firehouse veteran Papa.