The King of Staten Island (2020)
Story overview
The King of Staten Island is a 2020 comedy-drama film that follows a young man in his mid-20s who is struggling to find direction in life while living with his mother on Staten Island. The story explores themes of grief, family dynamics, and personal growth as the protagonist navigates relationships and responsibilities. With its R rating, the film contains mature content suitable for older audiences.
Parent Guide
This R-rated film contains mature content including strong language, sexual references, and substance use. It explores themes of grief, family dynamics, and personal growth through a comedic-dramatic lens. Recommended for mature teens with parental guidance.
Content breakdown
Some verbal conflicts and tense situations, but no graphic physical violence.
Emotional themes related to grief and family conflict may be intense for sensitive viewers.
Frequent strong language and crude humor throughout the film.
Sexual references, discussions, and situations; some partial nudity.
Depiction of marijuana use and references to other substances.
Explores themes of loss, family pressure, and personal inadequacy with emotional depth.
Parent tips
This R-rated film contains strong language, sexual content, and substance use that make it inappropriate for younger viewers. Parents should be aware that the movie deals with mature themes including grief, family conflict, and personal struggles that may require discussion with older teens. The comedic elements are balanced with dramatic moments that explore serious emotional territory.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- What was your favorite part of the movie?
- Did you see any characters being kind to each other?
- What colors did you notice in the movie?
- How did the music make you feel?
- Did you see any animals or pets in the story?
- What did you think about how the characters treated their family members?
- How did the main character change during the movie?
- What would you do if you felt unsure about your future?
- Did you notice any problems the characters had to solve?
- What makes a good friend according to this movie?
- How does the movie show people dealing with difficult emotions?
- What responsibilities do the characters have in their lives?
- How do the characters support each other during hard times?
- What choices did the main character make that you agreed or disagreed with?
- How does the setting of Staten Island influence the story?
- How does the film explore the transition from adolescence to adulthood?
- What does the movie suggest about finding purpose in life?
- How do the characters' relationships evolve throughout the story?
- What coping mechanisms do characters use when facing challenges?
- How does the film balance comedy with serious emotional themes?
🎭 Story Kernel
At its core, 'The King of Staten Island' is about the suffocating weight of potential and the fear of becoming your parents. Scott Carlin isn't just grieving his firefighter father; he's terrified of inheriting his legacy of responsibility and sacrifice. His self-sabotage—the half-finished tattoos, the stalled firefighter ambitions, the volatile relationships—is a defense mechanism against adulthood. The film argues that true growth isn't about achieving grand dreams, but about learning to tend to the small, mundane fires of daily life. Ray's arrival forces Scott to confront that his father wasn't just a hero who died, but a man who lived, with all the complicated burdens that entails. The real journey is from being a 'king' of a self-made, stagnant kingdom to becoming a functioning citizen of the real world.
🎬 Visual Aesthetics
The film's visual language is one of arrested motion and cluttered frames, mirroring Scott's mental state. Director Judd Apatow and cinematographer Robert Elswit use a grounded, almost documentary-like aesthetic, with handheld camerawork that feels observational rather than intrusive. The color palette is dominated by the muted blues and greys of Staten Island, punctuated by the vibrant reds and oranges of fire—both destructive (the failed grill fire) and heroic (the firehouse). Scenes are often composed with clutter in the foreground or background, visually representing the unresolved chaos in Scott's life. The camera frequently lingers on close-ups of Pete Davidson's face, capturing a raw, unvarnished vulnerability that sells the character's internal struggle without melodrama.
🔍 Details & Easter Eggs
💡 Behind the Scenes
The film is a deeply personal semi-autobiographical project for star and co-writer Pete Davidson, whose own father was a firefighter killed during the 9/11 attacks. Many scenes were shot in actual Staten Island locations, including the real firehouse, Ladder 118/Engine 205, which lost members on 9/11. Davidson's mother even plays a small role. Director Judd Apatow encouraged improvisation to capture authentic, raw dialogue, particularly in the group therapy scenes. The film's development helped Davidson process his own grief, blurring the lines between therapy and performance in a poignant meta-layer to the story.
Where to watch
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Trailer
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