A24 dreams big with "Marty Supreme"

“Marty Supreme” takes its place as A24’s highest earning debut, grossing $70.1 million worldwide since its release on Dec. 25, 2025. Written and directed by Josh Safdie, the film follows the young and tenacious Marty Mauser’s pursuit of greatness, with the goal of becoming the greatest table tennis player.

The film, which draws inspiration from the true story of table tennis player Marty Reisman, portrays the struggles of trying to achieve a goal while fighting an uphill battle. With the cards stacked against him, Marty, played by Timothée Chalamet, uses his charm and unshakeable confidence to get what he wants. Marty’s character is so self-assured in his abilities that he is willing to take huge risks and make sacrifices even if it hurts the people around him. 

The success of this film is largely due to A24’s impeccable marketing through social media, helping to draw in young audiences, with the memorable tagline, “dream big.” Other marketing tactics ranged from exclusive merch pop-ups in New York to a bright orange blimp flying over cities like Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. “Marty Supreme’s” unique and ambitious advertisement style reflects the protagonist’s driven and enthusiastic attitude, leading to a large amount of hype.

Promotion for a movie, however, does not always correlate with its quality. Though, in the case of “Marty Supreme,” it absolutely does. Marty, the protagonist, is unique because he is not the type of character that an audience should look up to. His goals are clear and he is driven to achieve them, but does not go about it in the most morally correct way. Marty’s character even has a way of tricking the audience with his narcissistic charm, as his confidence and humor may seem appealing, but he damages his relationships as a result of his actions.

A significant detail in this film is the casting. Not only is this film comprised of talented and accomplished actors, but each member of the cast has a background that relates to the character, adding valuable context that makes the film all the more interesting. Timothée Chalamet, for example, is a driven and committed actor from New York, playing a driven and committed table tennis player from New York. In addition, Chalamet’s dedication to the role of Marty Mauser and his demeanor in recent interviews really exemplifies the similarities to his character. Chalamet had been preparing for the role since 2018, reportedly practicing table tennis while on the sets for “Dune” and “Wonka.” Another example is Kevin O’Leary’s character, Milton Rockwell, a manipulative and wealthy businessman who both helps with and takes advantage of Marty’s success. O’Leary’s background as a successful businessman and investor on “Shark Tank” helps sell the character even more. This similarity between actor and character is the case for nearly the entire cast, offering extra context and depth to each character.

“Marty Supreme” is a one of a kind movie with marketing that lives up to its name, becoming successful in the same way as its protagonist, by dreaming big.