Marty Supreme: A Refreshing Take On The Sports Movie Genre
It's not often we see a sports movie centered around the world of table tennis but that's far from the only thing that makes Marty Supreme a unique entry into that genre. Sports films are often inspirational tales where we follow an underdog who overcomes the odds to find success in the sport at the end. Even if they don't win a championship at the conclusion, they've found some form of success. For example, Rocky fights Apollo to a draw in Rocky and Cleveland makes the playoffs in Major League. Marty Supreme goes a totally different route when it comes to the sports aspect and that's why it works so well.
Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser wearing glasses in Marty Supreme© A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection
When watching a sports movie, you typically want to see the protagonist become a winner at the end of the story. Marty Supreme subverts that because its protagonist, Marty Mauser, is actually kind of a loser. That's unusual, yet it's part of the film's genius. Marty is certainly very good at table tennis. He confidently believes he'll win against anyone he faces, and he does beat most of the people he faces. However, he runs into someone better than him and loses early in the film. That starts a string of losses throughout his life. Pretty much every single thing Marty attempts to do doesn't go according to plan. He tries to talk his way out of getting in trouble with his uncle but fails and has to run away from the police. His attempts to hustle people at ping pong lead to him getting attacked and a literal explosion at the gas station. When Marty runs out of options, he has to humble himself in humiliating fashion. He goes to Milton Rockwell and begs him to pay for him to go to Japan for the big tournament. Not only does Marty have to beg but Milton forces him to take down his pants and get spanked with a paddle in front of people. Then, when Marty actually makes it to Tokyo, he gets informed that he's too late and he won't be able to compete in the tournament. Everything he did throughout the movie was ultimately for nothing. He might be good, even great, at table tennis, but he comes up short in most other avenues of his life.
That Doesn't Stop Marty From Being Incredibly Arrogant
Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme
One of the most interesting things about Marty Supreme is watching Timothée Chalamet toe the line between being a protagonist we root for and someone we find insufferable. Despite his loser tendencies, he's remarkably confident in a way that almost comes back around to be endearing. When Kay Stone brings up his lack of a plan in life outside of table tennis, Marty confidently says that train of thought doesn't even enter his mind. He will steal, hustle, lie, and embarrass himself to get where he wants to be in the table tennis world because he can't fathom any other outcome. Marty believes he will come out on top of every single situation he's in, despite the fact that nearly scene involving him sees him come out on the losing end. It's a fascinating look at the male psyche that makes Marty a layered character. He's certainly not the most likable sports protagonist but that's the point. It's thanks to Chalamet's performance that, even when Marty is at his most unlikable, a part of us still cheers for him. When we learn that all his work to get to Tokyo was mostly for nothing, it's almost as devastating to us as it is to him.
Marty Still Becomes A Better Person By The End
Timothee Chalamet as Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme
While Marty doesn't get to participate in the table tennis tournament, he does get one major victory when he beats Endo in their exhibition. However, a movie doesn't really work if the protagonist doesn't grow or come out on top in some fashion.
That's why the Marty Supreme ending works so well. After all his embarrassments, humiliations, failures, and losses, Marty returns home to be with Rachel as she gives birth to their child. We watch as Marty looks at his baby and breaks down into tears. He's overcome with emotion over something he repeatedly said he didn't want. At one point, Rachel even seems to understand Marty's viewpoint on their child. He never wanted or pictured that life and his ambition in his chosen sport meant his focus had to be on table tennis. However, with everything falling apart for him, Marty realizes that something close to home is beautiful. There is some question about the baby's true parentage, as Rachel's husband could technically be the birth father. Even so, Marty clearly sees the baby as his own and his emotional breakdown suggests that he believes there's a future with the kid and Rachel. He grows as a person, which is his true victory.
Release Date
December 19, 2025
Runtime
150 minutes
Director
Josh Safdie
Writers
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
Producers
Anthony Katagas, Ronald Bronstein, Timothée Chalamet, Eli Bush, Joe Guest, Jennifer Venditti, John Paul Lopez-Ali, Maiko Endo
