Chalamet's True Masterpiece Isn't Dune or Marty Supreme
While critics praise Timothée Chalamet's latest performances, his highest-rated film remains an unexpected 2017 coming-of-age drama that earned five Oscar nominations and a perfect 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite widespread acclaim for Timothée Chalamet's recent work in Marty Supreme, which currently holds a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the actor's highest-rated film remains a different project entirely. That honor belongs to the 2017 coming-of-age drama Lady Bird, which achieved a remarkable 99% critical score on the review aggregation site.
Greta Gerwig's directorial debut featured Saoirse Ronan as the lead character, a high school senior navigating a complicated relationship with her mother. The ensemble cast included Chalamet alongside Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Lois Smith. Critics praised Gerwig's writing and direction, with many arguing that even her later blockbuster success with Barbie couldn't match this earlier achievement.
Critical and Commercial Success
The film's critical consensus highlighted how it "delivers fresh insights about the turmoil of adolescence and reveals debuting writer-director Greta Gerwig as a fully formed filmmaking talent." Working with a modest $10 million budget, the production ultimately grossed $79 million worldwide, making it A24's highest-earning release at that time.
Awards recognition followed swiftly, with the Academy Awards presenting five nominations the following year. The film competed for Best Picture, Best Actress for Ronan, Best Supporting Actress for Metcalf, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director for Gerwig. While it didn't secure victories in any category, the nominations themselves represented significant recognition for the independent production.
Chalamet's Career Rankings
Although Chalamet's role in Lady Bird wasn't as prominent as his parts in other highly-rated projects, it demonstrates his consistent ability to select quality scripts and collaborate with talented filmmakers. He later reunited with Gerwig for the 2019 adaptation of Little Women, which also earned a 95% rating, matching his latest release Marty Supreme.
The actor's filmography shows several other standout performances. Call Me By Your Name also achieved a 95% critical score, while his Dune sequel improved upon the original's 83% rating by reaching 92%. Other notable entries include Wonka, Bones and All, and the Oscar-nominated A Complete Unknown, each earning 82% ratings.
Recent Praise for Marty Supreme
Industry critics have been particularly enthusiastic about Chalamet's latest performance as Marty Mauser. The film currently maintains an 8.0 rating on IMDb, with reviewers describing it as "a propulsive epic that realizes its sky-high aspirations even while it critiques its indelible hero's toxic ambition." One critic compared it to "Uncut Gems meets The Catcher in the Rye meets Jerry Maguire, carried by Timothée Chalamet's best performance yet."
During recent interviews, Chalamet expressed confidence in his recent work, stating that his portrayal of Marty Mauser represents "some top-level sh*t." He emphasized the discipline and commitment he's brought to his performances over the past seven to eight years, noting: "This is probably my best performance, and it's been like seven, eight years that I feel like I've been handing in really, really committed, top-of-the-line performances."
The limited theatrical release of Marty Supreme has already set records, achieving the highest per-theater average gross for any film in nearly a decade. The production earned $875,000 from just six theaters during its opening weekend, suggesting strong audience interest alongside critical acclaim.