In theaters on December 25 from A24 is ‘Marty Supreme,’ the latest film from director Josh Safdie and loosely inspired by real-life ping pong players who struggled with their own ambition and their sport’s viability in the 1950s.
Since deciding to go their separate ways after making the likes of stress-inducing dramas ‘Good Time’ and ‘Uncut Gems,’ who can say they expected the Safdie siblings to both put out sports-connected dramas months apart?
On the heels of Benny Safdie’s bio-drama ‘The Smashing Machine,’ here comes brother Josh’s ‘Marty Supreme’ which is more of a fictional screwball effort, albeit inspired by real-world ping pong players. But can it find more of an audience than ‘Smashing,’ which has struggled to connect?
Script and Direction
Director Josh Safdie and actor Timothée Chalamet on the set of ‘Marty Supreme’. Photo: A24.
Safdie, working with longtime collaborator Ronald Bronstein (‘Daddy Longlegs’) here brings a similar level of intensity to his latest, albeit the hysteria even further cut with comedy. It’s certainly made for a watchable movie full of great lines and outrageous moments, though it really will ignite debate over the central character, who is clearly talented but also treats people like dirt on his way to find sporting glory.
Safdie continues his ability to find interesting people to cast in both lead and minor roles and he imbues the whole affair with real energy.
Cast and Performances
(L to R): Tyler Okonma, Timothée Chalamet in ‘Marty Supreme’. Photo: A24.
Chalamet is the big draw here, and he’s all quirky power charisma and greed, and manages to make you root for Marty even when he’s being an absolute monster to those he claims to love and beyond.
But there are also great performances littering the film, including Gwyneth Paltrow as a former movie star grasping back towards success, ‘Shark Tank’ veteran Kevin O’Leary as an odious business type who spots an opportunity in Marty.
Final Thoughts
Odessa A’zion in ‘Marty Supreme’. Photo: A24.
‘Marty Supreme’s rhythms (and indeed its main character’s behavior) definitely won’t be to everyone’s taste. But it’s still a fascinating look at someone who puts their own needs over everyone else’s until they can’t.
‘Marty Supreme’ receives 75 out of 100.
Timothée Chalamet in ‘Marty Supreme’. Photo: A24.
What’s the story of ‘Marty Supreme’?
Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ won the weekend’s box office.
James Cameron’s latest earned $345 globally.
Angel Studios’ David took second place.
Once again, it’s James Cameron’s world, and we’re just living in it.
The filmmaker’s latest trip to the moon of Pandora, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ heated up the frosty box office, opening top of the charts with $88 million.
And while that figure puts it behind the launch of 2022’s predecessor ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ it’s never in the opening that ‘Avatar’ movies really perform, and this new franchise entry is likely to hang around the charts, hoovering up cash.
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The new movie also represents some hefty figures for the filmmaker in particular, representing his biggest global launch (more on that below) and the second-biggest start for a movie this year (squeezed in between fellow Disney stablemates ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch.’)
Overseas, the new ‘Avatar’ entry took in $257 million, leading to a global launch of $345 million. That is, as mentioned, the best international start for a Cameron movie.
According to Cameron himself, the movie needs to perform in order for him to keep making ‘Avatar’ films:
“It is one metric f**k ton of money, which means we have to make two metric f**k tons of money to make a profit. I have no doubt in my mind that this movie will make money. The question is, does it make enough money to justify doing it again?”
Now, we wait to see what sort of staying power ‘Fire and Ash’ displays…
What else happened at the box office this weekend?
‘David.’ Photo: Angel Studios.
With a big-screen Goliath dominating the chance, it seems somehow fitting that faith-based outfit Angel Studios chose to release ‘David,’ a kid-friendly story inspired by the Biblical tale of the warrior who took on the giant, and spun-off from TV series ‘Young David.’
The movie made $22 million on 3,118 screens, arriving in second place and marking the best three-day opening for Angel.
In fifth place was ‘Zootopia 2’, which is still doing great business. It added $14.5 million in its fourth weekend on release, tallying $282 million domestically to date and a massive $1.27 billion globally, making it the most successful Hollywood release of the year so far.
Finally, opening 10th, Timothée Chalamet-starrer ‘Marty Supreme’ made an impressive debut in limited release, earning $875,000. That doesn’t sound much until you remember it opened on just six screens ahead of an expansion planned for Christmas Day.
That represents $145,933 per theater — the best of the year and highest average since ‘La La Land’ in 2016, according to studio A24.
The Golden Globes will take place on December 8th.
Despite lots of changes behind the scenes and some serious PR airbrushing, the Golden Globes never quite retained their luster. Still, they’re a big stop on the awards circuit and the nominations were announced today by Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall during a press conference held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
And on the TV front, ‘The White Lotus’ and this year’s big small screen sensation, the one-shot drama ‘Adolescence’ have the most nominations for their side of the awards.
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
(L to R) Teyana Taylor as Perfidia and Sean Penn as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Paul Thomas Anderson, ‘One Battle After Another’ Ryan Coogler, ‘Sinners’
Guillermo del Toro, ‘Frankenstein’ Jafar Panahi, ‘It Was Just an Accident’ Joachim Trier, ‘Sentimental Value’
Paul Thomas Anderson, ‘One Battle After Another’ Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, ‘Marty Supreme’
Ryan Coogler, ‘Sinners’
Jafar Panahi, ‘It Was Just an Accident’ Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier, ‘Sentimental Value’ Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell, ‘Hamnet’
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
“Dream as One”, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
“Golden”, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
“I Lied to You”, ‘Sinners’
“No Place Like Home”, ‘Wicked: For Good’
“The Girl in the Bubble”, ‘Wicked: For Good’
“Train Dreams”, ‘Train Dreams’
The 31st Annual Critics Choice Film Awards Nominations have been announced.
‘Sinners’ leads the pack with 17 nominations.
The ceremony will air on E! and the USA Network in January.
After turning its box office fortunes around (and er, just being purchased), Warner Bros. is also seeing some awards success this year, with the likes of ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ nabbing nominations and taking home trophies.
Also up for awards this year are the likes of ‘Hamnet’, ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Wicked: For Good,’ which have all also been getting attention during the current awards season.
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming in November and December of 2025, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
Cast out from his clan, a young Predator finds an unlikely ally in a damaged android (Elle Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her little brother Elliot (Elias Janssen) journey into the wildly absurd landscape of their own dreams to ask the Sandman to grant them the perfect family.
Sydney Sweeney in ‘Christy’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim (Ben Foster). But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.
Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
In postwar Germany, an American psychiatrist must determine whether Nazi prisoners are fit to go on trial for war crimes, and finds himself in a complex battle of intellect and ethics with Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), Hitler’s right-hand man.
(L to R) Alexandra Daddario as Hannah and Cole Sprouse as Thomas in ‘I Wish You All The Best’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
In this refreshingly modern coming-of-age story based on the best-selling book by Mason Deaver, a high school junior (Corey Fogelmanis) comes out as nonbinary and is thrown out of their family’s home. With nowhere else to turn, they move in with their estranged older sister (Alexandra Daddario) and her husband (Cole Sprouse). After enrolling in a new school, they find support from an eccentric art teacher (Lena Dunham) and form an unexpected bond with a kindhearted student (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). With the help of their new relationships, they navigate the awkward hurdles of young adulthood in this sweetly funny journey of self-discovery that celebrates the power of being true to yourself.
Stellan Skarsgård in ‘Sentimental Value’. Photo: Kasper Tuxen Andersen.
Sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star (Elle Fanning).
(L to R) Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson in ‘Die My Love’. Photo Mubi.
Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattinson) move into an old house deep in the country. With ambitions to write The Great American Novel, Grace settles into her new environment, and the couple soon welcome a child. However, with Jackson frequently – and suspiciously – absent, and the pressures of domestic life starting to weigh on her, Grace begins to unravel, leaving a path of destruction in her wake.
Glen Powell stars in Paramount Pictures’ “The Running Man’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
(L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Ariana Greenblatt as June, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
The Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher) return along with a new generation of illusionists performing mind-melding twists, turns, surprises, and magic unlike anything ever captured on film.
(L to R) Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland in ‘Keeper’. Photo: Neon.
Liz (Tatiana Maslany) and Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland) escape for a romantic anniversary weekend at a secluded cabin. When Malcolm suddenly returns to the city, Liz finds herself isolated and in the presence of an unspeakable evil that reveals the cabin’s horrifying secrets.
Follows Bobby Sanders (Tom Blyth), an ex-pro-hockey-player-turned-junior-banker as he navigates the peculiar and somewhat surreal world of high finance and faces life’s meaning within this gilded cage.
Based on extensive research involving law enforcement and gang members, a never-before-seen, authentic look inside the underworld of fentanyl trafficking from gangs inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester a.k.a. “Big Mac.”
(L to R) Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller and Callum Turner in ‘Eternity’. Photo: A24.
In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with (Miles Teller) and her first love (Callum Turner), who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.
Mischa Barton as “Miranda Green” in the mystery thriller ‘Murder at the Embassy’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
When a private detective (Mischa Barton) is called to investigate a suspicious murder inside Cairo’s seemingly impenetrable British Embassy, she discovers a second crime has been committed that could spark war across the globe. Everyone within the walls of the embassy is a suspect, but the ultimate evil force is lurking right around the corner.
A father and his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. They’re searching for Mar — daughter and sister — who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. Surrounded by electronic music and a raw, unfamiliar sense of freedom, they hand out her photo again and again. Hope is fading but they push through and follow a group of ravers heading to one last party in the desert. As they venture deeper into the burning wilderness, the journey forces them to confront their own limits.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Set in the Land of Oz, before and after Dorothy Gale’s arrival from Kansas, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda’s (Arianna Grande) friendship is put to the test as they embrace their new respective identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North, and how the consequences of their actions will change all of Oz forever.
Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, ‘the man who refuses to die’ dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the Red Army commander who killed his family comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues – a fight to the death.
An American actor (Brendan Fraser) in Tokyo struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality.
After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) find their partnership isn’t as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counseling program. But it doesn’t take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis.
When young priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, ‘Hamnet’ tells the powerful love story that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, ‘Hamlet’.
(L to R) Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson in ‘Tinsel Town’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
Egotistical A-lister Bradley Mack (Kiefer Sutherland) is blindsided when his iconic action franchise is abruptly canceled. His career in freefall and worried his Hollywood days are behind him, Bradley heads to England, hoping to rebuild his image as a serious West End actor. But his long-suffering agent has other plans, sending him instead to a small, snow-dusted village to star in the eccentric town’s production of ‘Cinderella’. As he fumbles through rehearsals with a colorful cast of oddball locals, Bradley begins to discover a spark of new beginnings in the form of no-nonsense choreographer Jill (Rebel Wilson).
John Prine in ‘You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine. Photo: Abramorama.
This concert film was shot in October, 2022, over two nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. More than 70 artists gathered with family, the Nashville community, and music fans to remember and pay tribute to the life and songs of John Prine.
Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) organizes a special Christmas outing when her family forgets her in the shuffle. By the time they realize their mistake, she’s gone missing. Their Christmas is in jeopardy, but Claire has other plans.
One year since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town’s first ever Fazfest. With the truth about what transpired kept from her, Abby (Piper Rubio) sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, setting into motion a terrifying series of events that will reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s, and unleash a long-forgotten horror hidden away for decades.
Kelsey Pribilski in ‘Man Finds Tape’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
Pulled in by a series of strange and unexplainable video clips, a brother and sister team up to investigate the events captured in the footage, only to discover a shocking secret that’s overtaking their small-town Texas community.
Famous movie actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) embarks on a journey of self discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler).
A scene from ‘Frontier Crucible’. Photo: Well Go USA Entertainment.
In 1870s Arizona Territory, a desperately needed wagon full of medical supplies falls victim to an Apache attack. The only man who can guide it through is Merrick Beckford, but in order to get there, he’ll need to enlist the help of a trio of dangerous outlaws hellbent on survival. When they accidentally kill an Apache scout, all bets are off, and survival is the name of the game.
An idealistic young politician (Emma Mackey) juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state’s longtime incumbent governor (Albert Brooks).
Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is a struggling woman who is relieved to get a fresh start as a housemaid to Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), an upscale, wealthy couple. She soon learns that the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than her own.
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family—forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.
In the wake of the devastating war against the RDA and the loss of their eldest son, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) face a new threat on Pandora: the Ash People, a violent and power-hungry Na’vi tribe led by the ruthless Varang (Oona Chaplin). Jake’s family must fight for their survival and the future of Pandora in a conflict that pushes them to their emotional and physical limits.
A group of friends facing mid-life crises (Paul Rudd and Jack Black) head to the rainforest with the intention of remaking their favorite movie from their youth, only to find themselves in a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes and violent criminals.
Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams.
Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo: Searchlight Pictures .
An epic fable about religious leader Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried), the founding leader of the Shaker Movement, who was proclaimed by her followers as the female Christ and went on to build one of the largest utopian societies in American history. Lee — one of the rare female religious leaders at the time —and her followers worshipped through exuberant song and dance.
Ralph Fiennes in ‘The Choral’. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.
Yorkshire, 1916. A choral society’s male members enlist in World War I, leaving the demanding Dr. Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) to recruit teenagers. Together, they experience the joy of singing while the young men grapple with their impending conscription.
Timothée Chalamet is in final talks to star in ‘Marty Supreme’.
It would follow the career of ping pong pro Marty Reisman.
Josh Safdie co-wrote the movie and will direct.
In the last couple of years, we’ve gotten used to seeing Timothée Chalamet as fantastical characters –– ‘Dune’s troubled Paul Atreides or the cheerier chocolatier who lends his name to ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ prequel ‘Wonka’.
Yet for a potential new film, as reported by Variety, he’ll be tackling a real-life sports hero, albeit in a sport that is rarely brought to screens.
Chalamet is now in final negotiations to star in and co-produce a new movie about ping pong pro Marty Reisman, called ‘Marty Supreme’.
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Who was Marty Reisman?
Marty Reisman in the documentary ‘Fact or Fiction: The Life & Times of a Ping Pong Hustler’.
Reisman was a table tennis champion who started his career as a hustler in Manhattan, playing for bets and prize money.
He won 22 major ping pong titles from 1946 to 2002 and won five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships.
At 67, he competed in the United States National Hardbat Championship and became the oldest player to win an open national competition in a racket sport. He was known as the “wizard of table tennis” and even opened for the Harlem Globetrotters with his ping pong comedy routine.
In 1974, Reisman published an autobiography titled ‘The Money Player: The Confessions of America’s Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler.’ He also inspired a 2014 television documentary titled ‘Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping Pong Hustler.’ Reisman died in 2012.
Safdie is best known for working with his brother Benny Safdie on films including ‘Good Time’ and ‘Gems’, though the brothers have parted ways to work on their own movies (Benny is in production on MMA biopic ‘The Smashing Machine’ with Dwayne Johnson in the lead.
The Safdies still work together to produce other projects, including a Paul Reubens documentary.
A24 is backing ‘Marty Supreme’, and made it official via social media:
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in director James Mangold’s ‘A Complete Unknown.’ Photo: James Mangold’s Twitter Account.
The actor has most recently worked on James Mangold’s ‘A Complete Unknown’, about the younger days of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan (Chalamet plays Dylan).
Beyond that, ‘Marty Supreme’ would appear to be the only project that has been announced, though given how in demand the young performer is, there’s every chance that several other potential movies are in development.
Chalamet is also likely to reunite with Villeneuve for the planned third ‘Dune’ outing, ‘Dune Messiah’, though that is still at a very early stage and the director may well make another movie or two before he returns to the world of the sci-fi story.
