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They are a freelance list author for ScreenRant. They are passionate about introducing readers to lesser-known media, especially with a focus on representation. They're always scavenging for offbeat content that tells stories mainstream media won't, or that have been forgotten over time.
The disappearance or even death of the movie star has become one of the most popular subjects of discussion in film communities today. Many fans of Hollywood and its grandeur have been mourning the fact that larger-than-life movie stars aren't around anymore. It's rare for a single actor's name to be the reason a movie becomes a box office hit.
Many are of the opinion that Tom Cruise is the last movie star, as his name is still able to motivate people to go to theaters, irrespective of what specific movie he is in. But as Harrison Ford once pointed out about movie stars today, there are still great actors who elevate films with their performances and earn universal acclaim.
Some might even argue that it's good that the age of the movie star is ending, because stardom frequently courts controversy and has seldom been a thing to actually celebrate, unless you're blind to politics. However, the truth is that the movie star isn't truly dead, celebrity culture is still prevalent, and one actor recently proved his name fills theaters.
Marty Supreme Is One Of The Most Successful Movies Of 2025
On paper, Marty Supreme is a great movie, but it's not expected to become a major commercial success. It follows a ping-pong player, the titular Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), loosely based on real-life table tennis star Marty Reisman, during a tough week when he hustles around New York, looking for a way to participate in the World Championship in Tokyo.
Table tennis isn't a particularly popular sport in the country, unlike the case of 2025's F1, which also had the added advantage of being a Brad Pitt movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski, who made the Oscar-nominated Top Gun: Maverick. Moreover, Josh Safdie, despite the popularity of Uncut Gems, is unfortunately not a big enough name to fill out movie theaters.
Marty Reisman is only popular in table tennis circles. So, on paper, this film is as niche as it gets. However, and this is what proves that he's one of the upcoming movie stars of our current generation, Marty Supreme is a Timothée Chalamet movie, and that is clearly reason enough for many moviegoers to flock to their closest theater.
Marty Supreme smashed A24's box-office record with its debut, and it is at least possible the movie will make at least $100 million in the country itself, making it the highest-grossing domestic movie in A24's history. Even Josh Safdie's last movie, co-directed with his brother, despite featuring Adam Sandler in a serious role, giving his career-best performance, hadn't made as much money.
The Movie's Marketing Was Entirely About Timothée Chalamet
The impact of marketing is felt through Marty Supreme's box office, because the entire promotional tour focused on the fact that he's the movie's leading man. It is true that franchise movies today have the pull that movie stars used to have. However, a film about ping-pong drawing such a big audience is reminiscent of the era of movie stardom.
Even people completely uninterested in them are motivated to watch Mission: Impossible movies because Tom Cruise stars in them. The classic era of romcoms gave us Julie Roberts' stardom, which became a reason to watch a movie, irrespective of its subject matter. Some last-generation Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt can still lead promotional tours like Marty Supreme's.
Timothée Chalamet Is Dedicated To Bringing People To Theaters
However, what sets Chalamet apart from some of the biggest names still working in the industry, or rising to prominence like him, is his dedication to filling up theaters. This is where the comparisons to Tom Cruise become even more obvious, because Cruise's name will forever be associated with the efforts he continues to put into keeping movie theaters open.
Timothée Chalamet's Marty Supreme press tour and promotional campaign were focused on ensuring people feel compelled to go watch the movie in theaters. This is why the marketing was so focused on highlighting the fact that Marty Supreme is the actor's return to the big screen after a whole year, and that he wouldn't be back before Dune: Part Three.
Marty Supreme's Press Tour Proved Chalamet Has Developed A Movie Star Persona
Now, the internet has done its job of illustrating a sense of ridiculousness in regards to how the actor has sounded at times during the press tour, but the fact is, Chalamet deserves to be proud. He's not being rude or mean; he's simply confident, and his dedication to the craft justifies the larger-than-life attitude with which he has been talking about himself.
It's only abrasive by current standards, but Chalamet's attitude is a positive one. This is what true stardom looks like. He knows he is popular, he knows people will watch the movie because he's in it, and he's doing his best to spread the word and get more people excited to see it. The box office proves the strategy worked.
Timothée Chalamet's Oscar chances for Marty Supreme have been helped by its commercial success, as well as the critical acclaim that his electric performance has earned. So, he is a man at the peak of his prowess, confidently capitalizing on his popularity to keep a gradually disappearing form of media consumption alive. He has clearly become a Hollywood movie star.
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