King of Staten Island: True Story, Cast, Reviews

Pete Davidson spent years cracking up millions on Saturday Night Live, but the character he played in his 2020 film debut was anything but funny. The King of Staten Island follows Scott Carlin, a 24-year-old stuck in arrested development after losing his firefighter father as a child.

Release Year: 2020 · Director: Judd Apatow · Lead Actor: Pete Davidson · Genre: Black comedy-drama · Screenplay By: Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, Dave Sirus

Key facts

The core details reveal a film built around authentic personal history and seasoned talent.

Was The King of Staten Island a true story?

The King of Staten Island draws heavily from Pete Davidson’s real life, though it’s not a straight documentary of events. The film is semi-autobiographical, meaning it uses Davidson’s actual experiences as a foundation while taking creative liberties for storytelling purposes. Davidson co-wrote the screenplay with Judd Apatow and Dave Sirus, giving the project an unusually personal edge for a mainstream comedy.

Based on Pete Davidson’s real experiences

The parallels between Scott Carlin and Pete Davidson run deep. In the film, Scott’s firefighter father dies when he is seven years old — exactly what happened to Davidson when his real father, also named Scott, died on September 11, 2001. At the time, Davidson was just seven years old. The film dedicates itself to Davidson’s father, and the tattoo culture that appears throughout the movie reflects Davidson’s real practice of using tattoos to remember his father.

The film’s portrayal of Staten Island also mirrors Davidson’s actual upbringing in the borough. Scott lives with his mother and sister, smokes weed daily, and drifts without purpose — a period Davidson has described as characterized by grief, lashing out at school, and suicidal thoughts during his youth.

Differences from actual events

Judd Apatow described the premise as “an imagining of what Pete’s life would have been if he didn’t find comedy.” This framing explains why some events in the film differ from Davidson’s actual history. The film omits Davidson’s well-known celebrity relationships, including his high-profile romance with Ariana Grande, and fictionalizes certain plot elements to create a more cohesive narrative arc.

Director Judd Apatow shaped the autobiographical elements with creative freedom, using Davidson’s life as a template rather than a strict blueprint. The result is a film that feels authentic while serving dramatic needs.

Is The King of Staten Island about Pete Davidson’s life?

Yes, the film is fundamentally about Pete Davidson’s life, though filtered through fictional names and altered circumstances. Scott Carlin is essentially Pete Davidson, and the film traces his Staten Island upbringing and the lingering effects of his father’s death.

Firefighter father parallels

The firefighter father connection is the film’s emotional core. Both Scott Davidson (the real father) and the fictional version were firefighters who died when their sons were seven. The film shows Scott in the fictional version dying during a building collapse, while in reality, Scott Davidson was last seen running up the stairs of the Marriott World Trade Center before the towers fell on 9/11. Steve Buscemi’s role carries particular resonance — he was a New York City firefighter from 1980 to 1984 and volunteered in the aftermath of 9/11, creating a real-life bridge to the tragedy.

Staten Island upbringing depicted

The film captures Staten Island’s distinct culture, portraying it as a place where ambition sometimes takes a back seat to loyalty and local identity. Scott’s character embodies arrested development, living with his mother in his mid-20s with no clear direction. This mirrors Davidson’s own description of his post-college years before comedy changed his trajectory.

Is King of Staten Island a good movie?

Critical reception for The King of Staten Island was positive but qualified. The film holds a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 287 reviews, with an average score of 6.9/10. Metacritic assigns it a weighted average of 67 out of 100, categorized as “generally favorable” reviews.

Critical reception

The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus states that “The King of Staten Island’s uncertain tone and indulgent length blunt this coming-of-age dramedy’s ability to find itself, but Pete Davidson’s soulful performance holds it together.” This captures the central tension in reviews — the film struggles with tonal consistency and runs 137 minutes, which some critics found excessive, but Davidson’s vulnerability and comedic instincts elevate the material.

Cult MTL called it “Judd Apatow’s most mature film about chronic issues,” praising the emotional depth beneath the comedy. The Film Experience described it as a “comedy about man-child with trauma,” noting it’s a subtle departure from typical Apatow films despite sharing his signature style.

Audience reactions

Metacritic user reviews highlighted standout performances by Bel Powley, Steve Buscemi, Rickey Velez, Maude Apatow, and Moisés Arias. General audience sentiment appreciated the film’s willingness to tackle grief and mental health while maintaining humor, though some viewers found the runtime challenging for the material’s emotional arc.

“The King of Staten Island’s uncertain tone and indulgent length blunt this coming-of-age dramedy’s ability to find itself, but Pete Davidson’s soulful performance holds it together.”

— Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

“An imagining of what Pete’s life would have been if he didn’t find comedy.”

— Judd Apatow, Director (via Men’s Health interview)

What mental illness is in The King of Staten Island?

Pete Davidson has been open about his mental health struggles, and several elements of the film reflect these real experiences. While the film doesn’t explicitly diagnose Scott with specific conditions, it portrays symptoms and behaviors that align with Davidson’s documented challenges.

Pete Davidson’s real conditions

Davidson has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which he has discussed publicly in the context of his life improvement journey. The film indirectly explores traits associated with this condition through Scott’s emotional volatility, unstable relationships, and self-destructive tendencies. While not a direct dramatization of the diagnosis, the character’s internal landscape draws from Davidson’s real experiences.

The film also references Crohn’s disease, which Davidson publicly manages. This appears in the fictionalized version through character details and medical conversations that reflect real aspects of Davidson’s health management.

Portrayal in the film

The film’s approach to mental health is nuanced rather than clinical. Scott’s grief manifests as depression, apathy, and emotional outbursts rather than being labeled or treated explicitly. This mirrors Davidson’s own description of his youth, which included suicidal thoughts and lashing out behavior. The film uses comedy as both a coping mechanism (the character has comedic inclinations) and as something Scott never fully develops, leaving his emotional processing incomplete.

Who is in the King of Staten Island cast?

The cast combines professional actors with Davidson’s real-life friends, creating an unusual blend of Hollywood talent and authentic Staten Island energy.

Main roles including girlfriend, Claire, Igor, Gina

Pete Davidson stars as Scott Carlin, delivering what critics described as a soulful lead performance. Marisa Tomei plays Margie Carlin, Scott’s mother navigating her own grief while trying to manage her adult son. Bill Burr appears as Ray Carlin, a firefighter who begins dating Margie and becomes an unlikely mentor figure for Scott.

Bel Powley plays Kelsey, Scott’s love interest who pushes back against his emotional immaturity. Maude Apatow (Judd’s daughter) portrays Scott’s sister Gina, providing sibling dynamics that reflect family dysfunction. Steve Buscemi appears as firehouse captain George, bringing his authentic firefighter background to the role.

Ricky Velez plays Oscar, Scott’s best friend based on Davidson’s real friendships. Moisés Arias appears as Kim, another member of Scott’s friend group. Dave Sirus, who co-wrote the screenplay, has a supporting role, and some cast members are actual colleagues of Pete Davidson’s father, adding documentary realism.

Related reading: Pete Davidson · Judd Apatow

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