Marty Supreme First Reactions: Timothee Chalamet Steals the Oscar Spotlight, Leaving Dwayne Johnson Behind

Timothee Chalamet might have just turned ping-pong into an awards-season weapon. Early reactions to Josh Safdie's new sports-drama, 'Marty Supreme', hit X on Oct 7, 2025, and the chatter is loud, weirdly specific, and very pro-Timmy. The twist: this also sets up a sneaky Safdie-vs-Safdie showdown with Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine' on the other side. Inside baseball? Absolutely. Also fun.

So, what is 'Marty Supreme'?

Josh Safdie, flying solo without his brother this time, directs Chalamet in a story loosely inspired by real-life table tennis legend and hustler Marty Reisman. Chalamet plays a character named Marty Mauser, and the vibe is kinetic, chaotic, and very Safdie. The film opens in US theaters on December 25, 2025.

The early buzz is kind of wild

Variety's co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh jumped on X with the kind of comparison cocktail only early screenings produce, calling it a blend of Safdie anxiety and literary angst, with a dash of sports-agent sincerity. He also said this is Chalamet's best performance yet. On the same day, Discussing Film chairman Diego Andaluz called it Safdie's best film to date, pitching the movie as a 'deranged' cross between a Spielberg caper and 'Uncut Gems.' And The Hollywood Reporter's David Canfield chimed in that Chalamet was born to play this guy.

'Marty Supreme is Uncut Gems meets The Catcher in the Rye meets Jerry Maguire, carried by Timothee Chalamet's best performance yet. I loved it so much.' - Ramin Setoodeh, on X (Oct 7, 2025)

'Marty Supreme is Safdie's best film yet... a deranged cross between Catch Me If You Can and Uncut Gems. Timothee Chalamet delivers the performance of a lifetime.' - Diego Andaluz, on X (Oct 7, 2025)

Canfield specifically shouted out Chalamet as Marty Mauser, calling it a career-best turn: 'He was born to play this guy.'

Yes, people are already talking Oscars

Based on that wave of love, the industry chatter has Chalamet in the 2026 Best Actor mix. If that sticks, he could be staring down Dwayne Johnson for 'The Smashing Machine' and Leonardo DiCaprio for 'One Battle After Another.' Both of those performances are getting the 'award-worthy even if the box office is wobbly' treatment: DiCaprio plays a paranoid ex-revolutionary, and Johnson tackles MMA legend Mark Kerr's battle with addiction and recovery. That is a very different trio of performances, which usually makes for a more interesting race.

The Safdie subplot: brother vs brother

Before going their separate ways on these projects, Benny and Josh Safdie were the Safdie Brothers behind 'Good Time' and 'Uncut Gems.' Now Benny directs Johnson in 'The Smashing Machine' while Josh steers Chalamet in 'Marty Supreme.' So beyond the actor face-off, there's a low-key sibling rivalry baked into this season. If you like a little narrative spice with your awards buzz, this is that.

'The Smashing Machine' quick stats

• Directed by: Benny Safdie
• Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader
• Year of release: 2025
• IMDb rating: 7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
• Worldwide box office: $6 million (ongoing)
• Production: A24
• Where to watch: Theaters

Bottom line: the stakes are high, the narratives are messy in a good way, and this could turn into a fun three-way race. For now, 'One Battle After Another' is already in theaters, 'The Smashing Machine' is out there gathering its numbers, and 'Marty Supreme' lands in US theaters on December 25, 2025. If the early reactions are even half right, Chalamet and Josh Safdie just made Christmas Day very interesting.