King of the Gypsies
“They have their own language... Their own codes of sex, honor and vengeance... And their own way of choosing a king.”
Synopsis
Zharko, leader of the Romanis in NYC, passes his position of leadership on to his unwilling grandson, Dave, leading to infighting between Dave and his father.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Cinématographe 4K UHD & Blu-ray Promo TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-10-10
Top Cast
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Sterling Hayden
King Zharko Stepanowicz
Shelley Winters
Queen Rachel
Susan Sarandon
Rose
Judd Hirsch
Groffo
Eric Roberts
Dave
Brooke Shields
Tita
Annette O'Toole
Sharon
Annie Potts
Persa
Alice Drummond
Zharko's Nurse
Michael V. Gazzo
Spiro Giorgio
Antonia Rey
Danitza Giorgio
Stephen Mendillo
Adolf
Joe Zaloom
Rui Ilanovitch
Linda Manz
(uncredited)
Zvee Scooler
Phuro
Matthew Labyorteaux
Middle Dave
Danielle Brisebois
Young Tita
Marc Vahanian
Young Groffo
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 20, 1978
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$7.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.47x
+$2.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Frank Pierson
- Screenplay & Story
- Frank Pierson
- Original Score
- David Grisman
- Original Title
- King of the Gypsies
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Budget
- $5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $7.3M
- Production Studios
- The De Laurentiis Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Frank Pierson
Frank Pierson, Peter Maas
David Grisman
Sven Nykvist
Paul Hirsch
Dino De Laurentiis, Federico De Laurentiis
Department Leadership Roster
Frank Pierson
Director
Paul Hirsch
Editor
Sven Nykvist
Director of Photography
David Grisman
Original Music Composer
Gene Callahan
Production Design
Anna Hill Johnstone
Costume Design
Federico De Laurentiis
Producer
Frank Pierson
Screenplay
Glenn R. Wilder
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for King of the Gypsies.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring King of the Gypsies.
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Frequently Asked Questions About King of the Gypsies
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is King of the Gypsies about?
Zharko, leader of the Romanis in NYC, passes his position of leadership on to his unwilling grandson, Dave, leading to infighting between Dave and his father.
Who directed King of the Gypsies?
King of the Gypsies was directed by Frank Pierson.
Who stars in King of the Gypsies?
The principal cast of King of the Gypsies includes Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Judd Hirsch, Eric Roberts.
When was King of the Gypsies released and how long is it?
King of the Gypsies was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
What was the box office and production budget of King of the Gypsies?
King of the Gypsies had a reported production budget of $5M and grossed $7.3M at the worldwide box office (1.47 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for King of the Gypsies?
The original motion picture soundtrack for King of the Gypsies was composed by David Grisman.
Is King of the Gypsies based on a book or true story?
King of the Gypsies is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Peter Maas".
What is the age rating and content advisory for King of the Gypsies?
King of the Gypsies holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).