WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
Timothée Chalamet trades a chocolate factory for a ping pong paddle in a 1950s hustle that’s more stressful than your kid's math final.
94%
94%View →Josh Safdie doesn’t make movies; he makes panic attacks. Marty Supreme is a high-speed, 1950s ping pong odyssey that proves Timothée Chalamet can make literally any hobby look cool. It’s brilliant, but it’s also exhausting.
This isn't a 'sit back and relax' movie—it’s a 'clutch your armrest' movie. If your teen is into film history or just wants to see a masterclass in acting, this is the one. Just don’t expect a clean-cut sports hero story; Marty is a hustler through and through.
This is strictly for the 14+ crowd. It’s a sophisticated, intense film that older teens will find 'cool' and artistically inspiring, but it's far too anxious for younger kids.
It's a gritty 'hustle' story about ego and ambition rather than kindness. The pursuit of greatness is compelling, but Marty's journey is a stressful climb, not a gentle stroll.
Josh Safdie’s kinetic visual style turns 1950s ping pong into a high-stakes, explosive cinematic event. It's a fresh, hyper-charged take on the classic underdog story.
Common Sense Media marks this for ages 15+. Expect the trademark Safdie anxiety, likely heavy language, and a 'Hell and back' intensity that will overwhelm younger kids.
It’s a masterclass in performance and period atmosphere. It offers deep insights into the cost of obsession and the reality of the 1950s American dream.
If you’re expecting the polished, triumphant arc of a typical underdog story, Marty Supreme will leave you looking for the exit. This isn't a sports movie about the love of the game; it’s a movie about the obsession of the hustle. Josh Safdie brings the same manic, skin-crawling energy he’s known for, turning 1950s New York into a pressure cooker where a ping pong paddle is the only way out.
Critics are calling this a "Safdie-esque comedy of errors," which is code for a movie that makes you feel like you’ve had four espressos and lost your car keys. It’s a "bildunsgroman"—a coming-of-age story—but one that trades sentimentality for adrenaline. The table tennis matches aren't filmed like a broadcast; they are "explosive" and "unpredictable," using CGI and tight choreography to make a plastic ball feel like a lethal weapon.
If your teen is used to the slow-burn pacing of modern prestige TV, the sheer velocity here might be a shock. It’s "electrifying" but also "nightmarish." The film treats Marty Mauser’s dream with a level of intensity usually reserved for war movies. It’s that specific brand of anxiety that has earned it massive scores on Letterboxd and a near-perfect critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
For most teens, the draw isn't the 1950s setting or the niche sport—it’s the lead. Timothée Chalamet has reached a point where his presence alone turns a mid-century period piece into a cultural event. We’ve seen this before in The Chalamet Effect, where his ability to make "uncool" hobbies look like high fashion drives massive interest from younger audiences.
In Marty Supreme, he’s not the charming lead from his recent blockbusters. He’s playing a "nobody who wants to be somebody," a character with a "chip on his shoulder" who is often difficult to like. It’s a masterclass in acting that is already dominating the conversation for the Critics Choice Awards 2026. If your kid is into film as an art form rather than just entertainment, they’ll want to see this just to stay in the loop.
The movie doesn't lean on traditional "bad guy" tropes. Instead, the conflict comes from Marty's own "inability to take a loss" and his "questionable choices" as a hustler. It’s a "Hell and back" journey where the "Hell" is largely self-inflicted.
Parents should be ready for the "Safdie effect"—the dialogue is often fast, overlapping, and loud. It’s a movie that demands your full attention and leaves you feeling drained. If your kid liked the high-stakes obsession of something like Whiplash, this will be their new favorite film. If they prefer movies where the protagonist is a clear-cut hero, Marty’s moral ambiguity might just be frustrating.
This isn't a "sit back and relax" experience. It’s a movie to watch when you want to be "constantly entertained and deeply anxious" at the same time. Just don't be surprised if they ask for a ping pong table immediately after the credits roll.
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