Timothée Chalamet Praises Theatrical Releases, Reflects on Press Tour

The 'Marty Supreme' star discussed his preference for movies in theaters and the 'aspirational, hip-hop' side of promoting his films.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a Q&A at the Los Angeles Theatre, actor Timothée Chalamet discussed his past projects with Netflix and his feelings about skipping the traditional theatrical window. Chalamet expressed his belief that putting out a movie theatrically creates 'more of a moment' and is 'more ceremonial' compared to a direct-to-streaming release. He also reflected on the unconventional press tour for his film 'Marty Supreme', which included a memorable appearance at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Why it matters

Chalamet's comments come amid ongoing debates about the future of theatrical releases, as streaming services like Netflix continue to make major acquisitions and push for more direct-to-streaming content. His perspective provides insight into how some actors view the importance of the traditional moviegoing experience.

The details

Chalamet has starred in two films distributed by Netflix, 'The King' and 'Don't Look Up', but he believes putting out a movie theatrically creates 'more of a moment' and is 'more ceremonial'. He contrasted this with the difficulty of generating the same level of excitement for a direct-to-streaming release. Chalamet also discussed his enjoyment of the press tour for 'Marty Supreme', which included a memorable appearance at the Las Vegas Sphere, saying 'This is the aspirational hip-hop part of me'.

  • On Friday, Chalamet appeared at a special Valentine's Eve screening of 'Call Me by Your Name' in Los Angeles.

The players

Timothée Chalamet

A 30-year-old actor who has starred in films distributed by both theaters and streaming services, and who discussed his preference for the theatrical experience.

Zane Lowe

A DJ and Apple Music podcast host who interviewed Chalamet at the event.

Netflix

A streaming service that has distributed some of Chalamet's films, including 'The King' and 'Don't Look Up'.

Warner Bros. Discovery

A media company that recently made a $72 billion bid to acquire Netflix, sparking fears about the future of theatrical releases.

Luca Guadagnino

The director of 'Call Me by Your Name', which was the final installment in the American Cinematheque's Chalamet career retrospective series.

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What they’re saying

“If you put out a movie theatrically, what I've felt — based on my experience with The King or Don't Look Up — is that it's just more of a moment. It sounds like cheesy marketing talk, but it's more ceremonial. It's more drumroll. And I think it's hard when something goes direct to streaming … to do that.”

— Timothée Chalamet, Actor

“I relish it. This is the aspirational hip-hop part of me. … What a dream, man. Are you kidding me?”

— Timothée Chalamet, Actor

The takeaway

Chalamet's comments highlight the ongoing debate around the future of theatrical releases, as streaming services continue to gain prominence. His preference for the 'more ceremonial' experience of a theatrical release reflects the views of many in the film industry who believe the big-screen experience is essential to creating a 'moment' for a movie's release and promotion.