Timothée Chalamet’s much-anticipated Marty Supreme made a surprise world premiere at the New York Film Festival (NYFF) on October 6, 2025, ahead of its theatrical release on December 25, 2025. Directed by Josh Safdie, the film has been hailed by critics as a “cinematic tour-de-force” — a pulsating sports drama that captures the chaos, ambition, and allure of greatness.
Critics Are Calling Marty Supreme a “Cinematic Tour-de-Force”
The first reactions to Marty Supreme have been nothing short of ecstatic. Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh described it as “Uncut Gems meets The Catcher in the Rye meets Jerry Maguire,” calling it “Timothée Chalamet’s best performance yet.”
Discussing Film’s Diego Andaluz called it Safdie’s “best film yet,” adding that it’s “a kinetic odyssey that plays like a deranged cross between Catch Me If You Can and Uncut Gems.” He went on to describe Chalamet’s work as “the performance of a lifetime.”
David Canfield and David Crow Praise Safdie’s Exhilarating Direction
The Hollywood Reporter’s David Canfield was equally impressed, writing:
“‘Marty Supreme’: Major, exhilarating filmmaking from Josh Safdie. Timothée Chalamet’s career-best performance — he was born to play this guy — with a tremendous Odessa A’zion leading a superb supporting cast. It’s a wow.”
Meanwhile, Den of Geek’s David Crow called the film “an absolute blast of adrenaline” and “the follow-up to Uncut Gems we’ve been craving.” Crow highlighted the movie’s intensity, saying it’s “just as demented and tense, but drunk on the confidence of youth and the arrogance to believe that talent and charm is enough.”
Matt Neglia Applauds Marty Supreme’s “Organized Chaos” and Audience Impact
Next Best Picture’s Matt Neglia described Marty Supreme as “a sprawling and electrifying sports epic bursting with vitality from the first frame to the last.” He praised Safdie for delivering “a masterful slice of organized chaos on a larger scale than ever before,” while noting Chalamet’s “total commitment, emotionally and physically.”
Neglia also revealed that the film’s finale “had the audience standing on their feet and cheering.”
Liam T. Crowley and Brandon Lewis Celebrate Chalamet’s Star Power
Entertainment journalist Liam T. Crowley called Marty Supreme “the best film of the year,” highlighting “the signature Safdie manic energy perfectly infused with the generational charisma” of Chalamet. “I love major motion pictures,” he added — a nod to the film’s sweeping cinematic energy.
Film critic Brandon Lewis echoed the sentiment, describing the movie as “a pure delight” and “a chaotic, sprawling globetrot to break down the swaggering hubris of a ping-pong prodigy.” He concluded, “Any doubts that Timothée Chalamet is a movie superstar are dead.”
Anne Thompson Predicts Awards Buzz for Timothée Chalamet
IndieWire’s veteran journalist Anne Thompson revealed that Marty Supreme was NYFF’s secret screening, calling it “a wild rush of nonstop adrenaline much like Uncut Gems.” She added, “Timothée Chalamet’s no-holds-barred performance could be his Wolf of Wall Street. He’ll be nominated for sure.”
‘Marty Supreme’ is ‘Uncut Gems’ meets ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ meets ‘Jerry Maguire,’ carried by Timothée Chalamet’s best performance yet. I loved it so much.
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) October 7, 2025
The Safdie Style Reimagined
For longtime fans of the Safdie brothers’ gritty New York stories, Marty Supreme feels both familiar and refreshingly ambitious. Critics describe it as a natural evolution of the Safdie aesthetic — all the kinetic energy and handheld anxiety of Uncut Gems, but expanded to a global scale.
The film reportedly travels across continents, tracing Marty Mauser’s chaotic rise from an underground ping-pong prodigy to a sports phenomenon chasing international glory. Safdie’s camera, as noted by several reviewers, “never stops moving”, immersing the audience in the protagonist’s feverish mindset.
Where Uncut Gems thrived on claustrophobic tension, Marty Supreme opens that chaos to a wider world — from neon-lit New York clubs to seedy European tournaments — without losing the intensity that defines Safdie’s storytelling.
If early reactions are any indication, Marty Supreme could redefine Timothée Chalamet’s career trajectory. Critics agree that his portrayal of Marty Mauser is his most daring and dynamic performance yet — a whirlwind of confidence, insecurity, and manic energy that anchors Safdie’s restless narrative.
Ramin Setoodeh of Variety called it “Chalamet’s best performance yet,” while The Hollywood Reporter labeled it a “career-best”. Others likened his turn to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Wolf of Wall Street moment — loud, physical, and unafraid to be unlikable.
Chalamet reportedly spent months training for the ping-pong sequences, performing much of the sport choreography himself. Critics noted his “mile-a-minute dialogue delivery and total physical commitment,” qualities that had audiences “on their feet and cheering” by the film’s climax.
Odessa A’zion’s supporting role also received attention, with THR’s David Canfield describing her as “tremendous” in balancing the film’s manic rhythm with emotional warmth.
The Buzz Heading Into Awards Season
The New York Film Festival has long served as a launchpad for awards contenders — and Marty Supreme appears destined to follow that tradition. Chalamet’s name is already circulating in early Best Actor predictions, while Safdie’s direction has drawn comparisons to Martin Scorsese’s kinetic storytelling.
For A24, the film represents both a commercial gamble and a prestige opportunity. Industry insiders note that Marty Supreme is among the studio’s most expensive original films to date. Its Christmas release date positions it perfectly for awards momentum heading into 2026.
If critical enthusiasm holds, Marty Supreme could emerge as one of the few modern sports dramas to transcend genre — blending the intensity of competition with the existential themes of obsession, fame, and identity.
A Standing Ovation for Marty Supreme
Audience reactions at NYFF matched the critical enthusiasm. Many attendees took to social media to share their excitement, calling the film “electric,” “addictive,” and “a new cult classic in the making.”
“This movie had me gripping the armrest — Chalamet is unrecognizable,” wrote one viewer.
“The energy in the theater was insane — people cheered like it was a championship match,” said another.
The standing ovation reportedly lasted several minutes, solidifying Marty Supreme as one of the festival’s most memorable premieres.
A24’s High-Stakes Christmas Release
Directed and produced by Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme is written by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, loosely inspired by the life of American table tennis legend Marty Reisman. The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler, the Creator, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher.
A Bold, Electrifying Triumph for Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet
With near-unanimous praise from critics and a rapturous audience response, Marty Supreme has positioned itself as one of 2025’s most talked-about releases. Josh Safdie’s solo vision and Timothée Chalamet’s career-defining performance combine to deliver a thrilling, character-driven sports epic that’s both chaotic and profoundly human.
As Marty Supreme races toward its December 25 release, it looks every bit the powerhouse awards contender that fans and critics hoped for — an uncompromising, adrenaline-charged triumph from A24.
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