Timothée Chalamet has made a habit of chasing greatness, both on and off the screen. In his latest role as Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme, the new A24 drama directed by Josh Safdie, Chalamet delivers a performance that’s as relentless as the character he embodies—a young table tennis prodigy with a burning desire to become the best, no matter the cost. Released in theaters on December 25, 2025, Marty Supreme is already being hailed as one of the most ambitious and electrifying films of the year, and it’s easy to see why. The movie marks Safdie’s first solo directorial effort since parting ways with his brother Benny, and it’s a project that’s been years in the making.
Set against the gritty backdrop of 1950s New York, the film draws inspiration from real-life ping-pong legend Marty Reisman. But as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have noted, the story is less a biopic and more a feverish character study. Chalamet’s Marty Mauser is a shoe salesman by day, but his true passion lies at the ping-pong table, where he’s determined to win the British Open and bring global attention to his sport. Marty’s journey is anything but straightforward—he lies, manipulates, and cons his way through a series of escalating challenges, leaving a trail of broken relationships in his wake.
For Chalamet, the role struck a deeply personal chord. "In spirit, this is the most who I was that I’ve had to play a role," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "This is who I was before I had a career." That sense of authenticity permeates every frame of the film, with Chalamet onscreen for nearly the entire two-and-a-half-hour runtime. He attacks the part with a sports-movie earnestness, having trained with a table tennis coach for six years to prepare. "He has a huge dream," Chalamet said of Marty on Good Morning America. "And when you have a big dream in life, and you don’t really have anyone supporting you when you’re young, you’re your best supporter."
The supporting cast is equally compelling. Gwyneth Paltrow returns to the screen as Kay Stone, a former movie star at a crossroads who becomes entangled with Marty. Her wealthy husband, Milton Rockwell, is played by none other than Kevin O’Leary—better known to many as Mr. Wonderful from Shark Tank—making his feature film debut. Odessa A’zion shines as Rachel, Marty’s closest confidante and eventual lover, while Tyler, the Creator (credited as Tyler Okonma) brings warmth and humor as Wally, Marty’s best friend and occasional scam partner. Abel Ferrara appears as mobster Ezra Mishkin, and Fran Drescher rounds out the ensemble as Marty’s mother, whose strained relationship with her son adds another layer of complexity.
Paltrow, who hadn’t acted in several years, initially hesitated to join the project. "My managers texted me and said, ‘There’s a great director named Josh Safdie who’s very interested in having you playing this part in a movie,’" she recalled to Gold Derby. "I wrote back, ‘Maybe.’" It was only after watching Safdie’s Uncut Gems that she changed her mind. "I just kind of thought, ‘All right, well, I’ll do it. I’ll move to New York and do it.’ And I’m so glad I did. It was such a wonderful experience." Paltrow described her character as "shut-down" and emotionally fractured, drawn to "how broken she seemed, and very fascinated by the journey that I saw her going on in my mind’s eye." She praised Safdie’s direction, calling him "one of the greats" and lauding his ability to push scenes toward something unpredictable and alive.
Visually and sonically, Marty Supreme is a whirlwind. Safdie juxtaposes the 1950s setting with anachronistic 1980s music and a propulsive, modern editing style. Composer Daniel Lopatin’s synthwave score pulses through the film, while up-close camerawork and sharp sound design turn every table tennis rally into a high-stakes showdown—paddle cracks and sneakers squeaking ring out like gunshots. The result is a movie that feels both timeless and utterly of the moment, mirroring Marty’s own fixation on the present and his refusal to dwell on the past.
Thematically, the film delves deep into ambition, morality, and the cost of success. Marty Mauser sees himself as a symbol of Jewish resilience, at one point calling himself "the ultimate product of Hitler’s defeat" and, in another scene, chipping off a piece of an Egyptian pyramid while declaring, "we built this." Yet his actions are often unethical, and he leaves those who trust him worse for wear. The film asks: how far is too far in the pursuit of greatness? Marty’s answer is clear—there are no limits. At the film’s climax, he faces a choice between preserving his career and winning at any cost. He chooses the latter, cementing his status as a flawed, but undeniably compelling, antihero.
It’s a story that resonates with Chalamet’s own public persona. At the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (2024). In his acceptance speech, Chalamet declared, "I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats." The speech sparked debate online about whether he was being arrogant or simply honest, but there’s no denying his ambition mirrors that of Marty Mauser.
Critical response to Marty Supreme has been overwhelmingly positive. Chalamet’s performance is being touted as one of the great acting achievements of the decade, and he’s already picked up the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor, with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The film itself is in contention for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes, and many critics are calling it the best film of 2025. As Variety put it, "It’s easily one of the best films of the year and one that deserves to be seen in a theater, ideally with as little plot foreknowledge as possible."
For now, Marty Supreme remains exclusively in theaters, with no confirmed streaming release date. A24 has marked it as "coming soon" on Apple TV, and given the studio’s existing deal, it’s expected to eventually land on HBO Max. But Safdie and Chalamet are urging audiences to experience the film on the big screen. "This is an original film at a time where a lot of original films aren’t made," Chalamet told the BBC. "If you bring yourself to see this movie, you won’t be let down. I do think cinemas will survive and thrive. And that’s not to be a false optimist."
With its breakneck pacing, unforgettable performances, and unflinching look at the price of ambition, Marty Supreme isn’t just a sports movie—it’s a portrait of obsession, resilience, and the messy pursuit of greatness. And for Timothée Chalamet, it’s another bold step toward the very legacy he so openly craves.
