Laugh at My Pain

Kevin Hart’s 2011 theatrical release marks the exact moment he became an arena-selling superstar. He brings his signature frantic pacing to the stage, mining his personal life, a recent divorce, and a complicated relationship with his father for material. This is the hour that popularized his “alright, alright, alright” catchphrase and established “pineapples” as a highly specific safe word for uncomfortable sex.

Filmed at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the performance capped a tour that broke Eddie Murphy’s ticket sales record at the venue. Released as an independent film, the project grossed over $7 million and fundamentally altered the trajectory of Hart’s career. He details taking the headboard in his divorce settlement and recalls how his Cousin Al found religion only to ruin his mother’s funeral. The feature opens with a short documentary following the comic through his hometown of Philadelphia before settling into the high-stamina stage performance.