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The King of Staten Island

The King of Staten Island is a 2020 American comedy-drama film directed by Judd Apatow.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The King of Staten Island is a 2020 American comedy-drama film directed by Judd Apatow. It stars Pete Davidson as an aimless young man in Staten Island whose life changes after his mother begins dating a firefighter, prompting him to confront grief and adulthood.

Premise

The story follows Scott Carlin, a directionless young man living with his mother in Staten Island. His stalled life and unresolved grief intensify when his mother starts a relationship with another firefighter.

Development and writing

The screenplay was written by Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, and Dave Sirus. The film uses elements of Davidson’s own biography, including his father’s death in the line of duty.

Cast and characters

Pete Davidson leads the cast as Scott Carlin. Supporting roles include Marisa Tomei as Margie, Bill Burr as Ray, Bel Powley as Kelsey, Maude Apatow as Claire, and Steve Buscemi in a supporting role.

Release

The King of Staten Island was released in 2020 and has a runtime of 137 minutes. It was distributed as an R-rated comedy-drama in the United States.

Key facts

  • The film is a semi-autobiographical story drawing on Pete Davidson’s life and family background.
  • Davidson plays Scott Carlin, a young Staten Island man who dreams of becoming a tattoo artist.
  • The plot centers on Scott’s grief over his father’s death, inspired by Davidson’s father, a New York City firefighter who died in the September 11 attacks.
  • The film was released in 2020, runs 137 minutes, and is rated R.
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Canadian context

The film was available in Canada through major streaming and digital platforms, including Apple TV in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Is The King of Staten Island based on a true story?
It is semi-autobiographical and draws on Pete Davidson’s life, especially the death of his firefighter father in the September 11 attacks.
Who directed The King of Staten Island?
Judd Apatow directed the film.
Who plays the main character?
Pete Davidson plays Scott Carlin, the film’s central character.
What kind of movie is it?
It is a comedy-drama with coming-of-age and dark-comedy elements.
When was it released?
The film was released in 2020.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Staten_Island
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, premise, semi-autobiographical basis, release year
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_king_of_staten_island
    Supports: Genre, rating, runtime, director, screenwriters, plot synopsis
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9686708/
    Supports: Runtime, genre, rating, plot summary, cast
  4. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/ca/movie/the-king-of-staten-island/umc.cmc.4lwpfa33gozxsg2ksi2l5zqp
    Supports: Canadian availability and runtime