Although Christmas has passed, the ghost of Marty Supreme Christmas Day still lingers well into February and this upcoming award season. We’re about a month into the new year, and I’m still being haunted by a bald Timothée Chalamet being escorted around the world by an entourage of orange ping-pong heads. 

With the eccentric marketing of the film serving a series of orange-themed shenanigans, including the trending Marty Supreme track jackets worn by stars such as Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner and even Justin Bieber, the hype of “Marty Supreme” has been hard to avoid. The marketing even reached global status with Chalamet’s feature, and Lil Timmy Tim’s return, on British rapper and masked look-a-like, EsDeeKid’s, “4 Raws” remix. 

Since its release Dec. 25, 2025, “Marty Supreme” has been nominated for three Golden Globes, alongside a series of other accolades, with Chalamet walking home with the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, and the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actor. His wins, however, did not come without scrutiny, with the Critics’ Choice win stirring controversy for its win over Michael B. Jordan’s performance in “Sinners”. A film, which, might I add, was one of the greatest pieces of media I’ve seen in 21 years. My point is that controversy excluded Marty Supreme was… well, supreme. 

For those who haven’t seen it yet, Marty Supreme tells the story of Marty Mauser, an (overly) confident, arrogant hustler in NYC who will stop at nothing to achieve his dream of becoming a world-champion in the fastest-growing sport, table tennis. Despite his arrogance, Marty is undeniably a talented table tennis player who does, in fact, have the skills to back up his mouth. We see his conniving ways play out comically as he talks his way out of the responsibilities of being a father, into a Royal Suite at The Ritz-Carlton and even across the world to Japan where he plays, unofficially, against real-life Japanese table tennis player, Koto Endo, a man who doesn’t say a word the whole film but eludes aura unlike any other. Between the brashness of his personality, I think there is a lot of inspiration to take away from Marty’s journey. 

Amidst his desperation, Marty displays an unwavering sense of belief and determination in himself. From his performance, through all of the ups and downs, I saw someone who believed in themself both at their lowest and in the face of discouragement from others. Mauser reminded me that if I put my mind to something, no matter how far-fetched, as long as I carry on with my belief, it will come to fruition in due time. Additionally, with that belief and determination, Marty also displayed a negative-but also positive-and slightly toxic-yet kind of #real display of confidence. Yes, you should have confidence in yourself; you will get that job because you know you’re a great candidate; you will get everything you want because if not you, then who else? Who is a better contender than you? Especially in your own life. We, unfortunately, live in a world that thrives on self-deprecation, and you should think highly of yourself with everything you’ve got to offer, and you should always know you’ve got a lot to offer. 

Although there seems to be a lot of confusion on the ending, the film ended beautifully with Marty having achieved his life-long dream and now grieving yet embracing the reality of having completed his ‘life’s accomplishment’ of being the greatest table tennis player in the world Following his unofficial win against Koto, he races back to the United States from Japan to meet Rachel Mizler, played by Odessa A’zion, and his newborn. A newborn, which now represents the culmination of the biggest consequence of his brazen choices. At 23 years old, it’s the beginning of the end to his immature ways, such as getting women pregnant and abandoning them to go to Japan, slash engage in other small crimes, and yet the end of his beginning table tennis career. 

As the credits rolled and Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” played, I couldn’t help but feel not only proud and astounded by Marty’s journey, but inspired to take my own leap of faith in the outside world. Marty Supreme is a film I’ll carry with me into the high spirits of the new year.