Timothée Chalamet's Marty Supreme, the A24 sports epic that divided audiences and critics alike, has found a second life on streaming. Five months after its theatrical debut, the ping-pong drama is now one of the top 10 most-streamed movies on HBO Max in the U.S., currently sitting at number four on the platform's charts. The film's streaming success comes as a surprise to some, given its polarizing reception and the controversy that surrounded its Oscar campaign.
Directed by Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme follows the rise of a professional table tennis player, with Chalamet delivering a performance that earned him both a Critics' Choice Award and a Golden Globe. Despite winning none of its nine Academy Award nominations, the film boasts a near-perfect 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its originality, ambitious narrative, and Chalamet's charismatic turn. The movie also became A24's highest-grossing release ever, raking in $150 million globally.
However, the road to Oscar glory was rocky. Chalamet's controversial comments about ballet and opera during the campaign trail, along with some questionable PR decisions, may have cost him the Best Actor trophy, which ultimately went to Michael B. Jordan. The film's divisive nature only added to the buzz, making it a must-watch for curious viewers on streaming.
Now, as Marty Supreme climbs the HBO Max charts, it joins a growing list of films and shows finding success on the platform. For context, Euphoria's divisive Season 3 also enjoyed a lengthy streaming streak on HBO Max earlier this year, proving that controversy can sometimes fuel viewership.
Chalamet, meanwhile, is already looking ahead to his next big project. Later this year, he'll reprise his role as Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three, which hits theaters on the same day as Avengers: Doomsday—a clash fans have dubbed "Dunesday." The sci-fi epic is expected to be a box office juggernaut and a major Oscars contender, starring alongside Chalamet a stellar ensemble including Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Josh Brolin.
For now, though, Marty Supreme is proving that a film doesn't need to win every award to win over audiences. Its quiet streaming dominance on HBO Max is a testament to the power of a compelling, if controversial, story—and to Chalamet's enduring star power.
