Timothee Chalamet's 'Marty Supreme' nominated for 9 Oscars

The table tennis drama is based on the life of real-life ping pong hustler Marty Reisman.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:20am

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Timothee Chalamet's film "Marty Supreme" has been nominated for 9 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Chalamet. The movie is loosely based on the life of Marty Reisman, a renowned table tennis player known for his unique style of play and larger-than-life personality. While the film takes creative liberties, it draws inspiration from Reisman's career as a ping pong hustler and his interactions with notable figures like the Harlem Globetrotters.

Why it matters

"Marty Supreme" has resonated with both casual and hardcore sports fans, proving that a film centered around table tennis can still captivate audiences. The movie's Oscar nominations highlight the enduring appeal of underdog sports stories and the ability of filmmakers to breathe new life into niche sports through creative storytelling.

The details

Director Josh Safdie based the film on the life of Marty Reisman, a five-time World Championship bronze medalist in table tennis known for his trash-talking and eccentric personality. While the characters and some plot points are fictionalized, the film does incorporate real events from Reisman's life, such as his time performing with the Harlem Globetrotters and the story of Holocaust survivor Alojzy Ehrlich. The film also draws inspiration from the careers of other renowned table tennis players like Japan's Hiroji Satoh and Hungary's Jozsef Koczian.

  • Marty Reisman performed with the Harlem Globetrotters from 1949 to 1952.
  • "Marty Supreme" was released in theaters in 2025.

The players

Marty Reisman

A table tennis player known for his unique style of play, trash-talking, and larger-than-life personality. He captured five World Championship bronze medals and performed with the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1940s and 1950s.

Josh Safdie

The director of "Marty Supreme" who took creative liberties in adapting Reisman's story for the film.

Timothee Chalamet

The actor who portrays Marty Mauser, the character based on Marty Reisman, in "Marty Supreme" and is nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars.

Alojzy Ehrlich

A world-class table tennis player and Holocaust survivor whose story of having his life spared by Auschwitz officers who recognized his talents inspired a plot point in "Marty Supreme".

Hiroji Satoh

A Japanese table tennis player whose career and accomplishments partially inspired the character of Koto Endo in "Marty Supreme".

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What they’re saying

“Alojzy Ehrlich was a Jewish guy from Hungary whose life was spared by Auschwitz officers who recognized him and his talents. He was a genius. Like a lot of these players: very high IQ. It's peculiar the sport attracted a very eccentric type of person: smart, but got bad grades, couldn't hold a job. But they could dispose of bombs [as Ehrlich did and Röhrig's character does] and be at a hotel like this [Claridge's] because they were international, and thought bigger. I learned more about the Holocaust in that little story than from some movies that are only about the Holocaust.”

— Josh Safdie, Director (The Guardian)

What’s next

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony, where "Marty Supreme" is nominated for 9 Oscars, will take place on Sunday.

The takeaway

"Marty Supreme" has demonstrated that a film centered around the niche sport of table tennis can captivate audiences and earn critical acclaim, highlighting the enduring appeal of underdog sports stories and the ability of filmmakers to breathe new life into lesser-known athletic pursuits through creative storytelling.