After dominating the awards circuit, generating endless memes about his mustache, and becoming A24’s highest-grossing film of all time, Marty Supreme is finally coming to streaming. Josh Safdie’s frenetic table tennis drama starring Timothée Chalamet will hit HBO Max on April 24, giving audiences who missed the theatrical run—or who want to pause and rewind to figure out what the hell just happened—another chance to experience the cinematic equivalent of a panic attack.
The film follows Marty Mauser, a bold, fast-talking table tennis player in 1950s New York who attempts to become the world’s greatest paddle-wielding champion while his personal life collapses around him. Chalamet stars alongside Odessa A’zion as Rachel Mizler, Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler, the Creator) as Wally, and Fran Drescher as Rebecca Mauser. It’s a cast that sounds like it was assembled by pulling names out of a very expensive hat, but somehow works perfectly in the Safdie cinematic universe where everyone is always screaming, sweating, or both.
Marty Supreme debuted to $27.1 million over the four-day Christmas holiday weekend, making it A24’s second-biggest opening weekend ever. It went on to gross $147 million globally, becoming the indie studio’s highest-grossing movie of all time. This is particularly impressive for a film about table tennis, a sport that most Americans associate with suburban basements and Forrest Gump.
Chalamet’s star power clearly drew audiences who were curious to see what the Sadie Sink-kissing, Kylie Jenner-dating heartthrob would look like with a period-appropriate mustache and serious anger issues.
The film earned nine Oscar nominations despite winning zero, which is the kind of bittersweet result that defines modern awards season. Chalamet lost Best Actor to Michael B. Jordan, but he gained something arguably more valuable: the respect of middle-aged film bros who previously dismissed him as a pretty face for teenage girls. His performance as Marty—part hustler, part genius, part complete disaster of a human being—required him to learn actual table tennis skills, adopt a convincing 1950s patter, and maintain a level of coiled anxiety that looks exhausting just to watch.
Josh Safdie directed this solo, without his brother Benny, who was off making other anxiety-inducing cinema. The brothers had previously collaborated on Uncut Gems and Good Time, two films that established the Safdie aesthetic as “what if we made a heist movie but everyone has untreated panic disorder?” Marty Supreme continues this tradition, applying the same frantic energy to the world of competitive table tennis. The paddle becomes a weapon, the ball becomes a bullet, and the camera becomes a participant in the chaos, darting around the table with the same erratic energy as Chalamet’s character.
The HBO Max release comes after a theatrical run that included the kind of elaborate marketing campaign that only A24 can pull off. There were “Marty Supreme” jackets, pop-up events, a blimp, and Chalamet himself appearing absolutely everywhere looking simultaneously exhausted and gorgeous. The film became a cultural moment not just because of its quality but because of its audacity—the sheer gall of making a serious drama about ping pong starring one of the biggest young stars in Hollywood.
For those who missed it in theaters, the streaming release offers a chance to experience the film’s unique rhythm. This is not a movie you can half-watch while scrolling through your phone. The dialogue comes fast, the camera moves faster, and the plot twists require actual attention. It’s the kind of film that benefits from the ability to pause and take a breath, to rewind and catch a line you missed, to appreciate the sheer craft of the thing without the pressure of a theatrical crowd.
The supporting cast deserves special mention. Gwyneth Paltrow brings her particular brand of icy sophistication to the role of Kay Stone, a wealthy socialite who becomes entangled with Marty’s chaotic orbit. Tyler Okonma proves he can hold his own against professional actors, bringing a natural charisma that suggests he should consider acting full-time if he ever gets bored with music. Fran Drescher, as Marty’s mother, provides the kind of Brooklyn-accented energy that makes you wonder why she isn’t in every movie.
At its core, Marty Supreme is about obsession—the single-minded pursuit of greatness at the expense of everything else. Marty Mauser wants to be the best table tennis player in the world, and he will destroy himself and everyone around him to achieve that goal. It’s a classic sports movie trope filtered through the Safdie lens of urban decay and moral ambiguity. By the end, you’re not sure if you should be rooting for Marty or staging an intervention.
April 24. Mark your calendars. Warm up your streaming device. Prepare to watch Timothée Chalamet sweat through his shirt while hitting a tiny ball very hard.
Stream Marty Supreme on HBO Max starting April 24 and experience the table tennis thriller that became A24’s biggest hit ever. Don’t forget to stretch first.
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