Timothée Chalamet’s Bold Marty Supreme Promo Sparks Debate

Timothée Chalamet’s latest film, Marty Supreme, has been making headlines not just for its critical reception, but for the actor’s rather unconventional approach to promoting it. His press tour has left punters divided, with some finding the antics hilarious and others cringing at the spectacle. Chalamet himself has weighed in, saying his marketing style is true to the film’s essence. In his words:

This is in the spirit of Marty, and I feel like this is ultimately an original film at a time when original movies aren’t really put out. It’s a movie about the pursuit of a dream. I’m leaving it on the field. Whether it’s the merch or the Zoom or the media appearances, I’m trying to get this out in the biggest way possible. In the spirit of Marty Mauser.

Despite launching alongside some of the year’s biggest blockbusters, including Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, Chalamet’s divisive promo run has played a part in the film’s box office performance during its limited release.

Chalamet’s Offbeat Press Tour

The centrepiece of the campaign was an 18-minute Zoom call, where Chalamet pitched the idea of basing the film’s entire marketing around the colour orange. He argued that Barbie’s box office success was all down to its association with pink. In a tongue-in-cheek move, he revealed a supposedly unique shade of orange to his team, which turned out to be nothing special. He even suggested painting the Statue of Liberty orange and filling the sky with orange, taking the mickey out of traditional marketing tactics.

Elsewhere, Chalamet copped flak for coming across as cocky, boasting about the film’s chances during awards season. He said:

I want the movie to succeed. I want everything to win. The real truth is that ‘Marty Supreme,’ I feel confident to the degree that by next summer … I’m confident I know what it’s gonna be by next summer.

While it’s clear he was playing up the role of an egotistical A-lister, not everyone was impressed, especially given the film’s highbrow reputation.

Box Office Milestones and Critical Buzz

Despite the mixed reactions to his promo antics, Chalamet’s strategy seems to be working. Before its wide release, the film notched up the year’s top-limited opening, selling out all 92 sessions across New York and Los Angeles. It’s pulled in $875,000 from just six screens, one of the best averages since La La Land. Critics have also been kind, with a 95% fresh rating on the Tomatometer.

With Chalamet now one of the most bankable names in the business, Marty Supreme looks set for commercial success and could even be in the running for some major awards. If that’s the case, his offbeat marketing gamble might just have paid off.

Marty Supreme opens across Australia on 25 December 2025.