Timothée Chalamet’s Top-Rated Film Isn’t Dune or Marty Supreme

Timothée Chalamet’s recent run of acclaimed performances has seen him lauded for his work in Marty Supreme, with many calling it his standout role to date. His portrayal of Marty Mauser has earned a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it his second highest-rated film. But there’s another title from eight years ago that quietly sits above the rest, boasting a near-perfect 99% rating and cementing itself as his best-reviewed project.

Lady Bird: The Quiet Achiever

Chalamet’s part in the coming-of-age comedy-drama Lady Bird marked an early highlight in his career. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film drew widespread praise for its sharp writing and direction. Some critics even reckon Gerwig’s later blockbuster Barbie didn’t quite reach the same heights as this 2017 gem. The story centres on Saoirse Ronan’s character, a high schooler navigating a rocky relationship with her mum. Alongside Chalamet and Ronan, the cast features Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Lois Smith.

Lady Bird delivers fresh insights about the turmoil of adolescence and reveals debuting writer-director Greta Gerwig as a fully formed filmmaking talent.

Made on a modest $10 million budget, Lady Bird pulled in $79 million at the box office, becoming A24’s top earner at the time. At the 90th Academy Awards, it scored five nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress for Ronan, Best Supporting Actress for Metcalf, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director for Gerwig. Despite the strong showing, it walked away empty-handed, which left plenty of punters disappointed.

Chalamet’s Choices and Career Highlights

While Chalamet’s role in Lady Bird isn’t as front-and-centre as in some of his other films, it’s a testament to his knack for picking strong scripts and working with top directors. He later teamed up with Gerwig again for Little Women in 2019, which also holds a 95% rating, matching Marty Supreme’s score.

Looking at Chalamet’s highest-rated films, Lady Bird leads the pack, followed by Marty Supreme, Little Women, and Call Me By Your Name—all sitting at 95%. His more recent releases, including Dune: Part II and A Complete Unknown, have also been well received, with Dune: Part II outscoring the original (92% versus 83%). Other notable entries like Wonka, Bones and All, and A Complete Unknown each hold an 82% rating.

Marty Supreme: A New Benchmark

Marty Supreme has been described as a career-defining moment for Chalamet, currently holding an IMDb score of 8. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads:

Serving up Timothée Chalamet at his most infectiously charismatic, Marty Supreme is a propulsive epic that realises its sky-high aspirations even while it critiques its indelible hero’s toxic ambition.

Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh called the film “Uncut Gems meets The Catcher in the Rye meets Jerry Maguire, carried by Timothée Chalamet’s best performance yet.” David Canfield from THR added, “Timothée Chalamet’s career-best performance—he was born to play this guy.”

Box Office Records and Chalamet’s Reflections

Chalamet himself has spoken about the discipline and effort he’s poured into his recent work, saying he’s delivered “really committed, top-of-the-line performances” over the past seven or eight years. He described his turn as Marty Mauser as “some top-level sh*t,” emphasising the importance of not taking his work ethic for granted.

Marty Supreme’s limited release set a new record, achieving the highest per-theatre average gross in nearly a decade, pulling in $875,000 from just six cinemas over the weekend. Despite the buzz around his latest projects, it’s Lady Bird that remains his most critically celebrated film. The coming-of-age classic is now available to stream on Cinemax.