Marty Supreme

Marty Supreme is a 2025 American sports comedy-drama film directed and produced by Josh Safdie, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bronstein. Loosely inspired by the life and eccentric spirit of American table tennis player Marty Reisman, the film stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a young man obsessed with becoming the greatest ping-pong player the world has ever seen — even when no one around him believes in his dream.

(Original Title: Marty Supreme)

The film explores the chaotic, high-stakes world of underground table tennis, where ambition, ego, and desperation collide. Marty Mauser’s journey from a scrappy basement hustler to an unlikely sporting icon is marked by obsession, failure, and the relentless pursuit of validation. The official logline describes him as “a young man with a dream no one respects who goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.”

Josh Safdie, known for Uncut Gems (2019) and Good Time (2017), returns to solo directing for the first time since The Pleasure of Being Robbed (2008). He brings his signature kinetic realism and anxiety-driven storytelling to the world of competitive ping-pong. Cinematographer Darius Khondji shot the film on 35mm, blending intense match sequences with raw emotional close-ups, while production designer Jack Fisk crafted an immersive New York setting that feels both gritty and surreal.

Timothée Chalamet, who also co-produced, trained extensively for the role under Olympic table tennis coach Wei Wang and professional player Diego Schaaf. Safdie reportedly pushed the actor to his limits, even having him wear dual vision-correcting lenses to achieve a specific visual distortion during matches. The cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone, Odessa A’zion as Rachel, Kevin O’Leary as businessman Milton Rockwell, and Fran Drescher as Marty’s mother, Mrs. Mauser. Notably, French highwire artist Philippe Petit also appears, alongside real-world personalities like John Catsimatidis and Tracy McGrady.

Principal photography began in New York City in September 2024 and wrapped in December, with additional shooting in Japan in February 2025. With a reported $70 million budget, Marty Supreme is A24’s most expensive production to date, signaling a major studio-scale leap for the independent banner.

The film premiered as a “secret screening” at the 2025 New York Film Festival on October 6, where early reactions praised its manic energy, Safdie’s direction, and Chalamet’s committed performance. It is set for a nationwide theatrical release on December 25, 2025, distributed by A24, with Nordisk Film handling its release in Scandinavia.