Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’ Ties with ‘Anaconda’ at Christmas Box Office

Timothée Chalamet’s ping-pong drama ‘Marty Supreme’ nearly matched the reboot ‘Anaconda’ in box office earnings on Christmas Eve. The A24 film, directed by Josh Safdie, opened strongly in limited release before expanding. Industry trackers reported the two titles in a virtual dead heat for the top spot during the holiday period.

‘Marty Supreme’ follows the life of professional table tennis player Marty Reisman. Chalamet portrays Reisman across decades, capturing his rise in the sport during the mid-20th century. The cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A’zion in supporting roles.

The film achieved a record per-screen average of $145,913 across six locations in New York and Los Angeles the previous weekend. This marked the highest such figure for A24 and the best overall since ‘La La Land’ in 2016. Expansion to wider release positioned it for direct competition with major studio titles.

‘Anaconda’, a reimagining of the 1997 creature feature, features a new ensemble facing the giant snake threat. Both films benefited from holiday moviegoing patterns, drawing audiences on Christmas Day and Eve. ‘Avatar 3’ continued its global run, surpassing $500 million worldwide.

Box office performance for ‘Marty Supreme’ surprised analysts given its specialty positioning. The strong opening indicated potential crossover appeal beyond arthouse crowds. Safdie’s direction emphasized period authenticity and intense competition sequences.

Chalamet prepared extensively for the role, training in table tennis techniques specific to Reisman’s style. Reisman himself won multiple championships and maintained a career into later years. The screenplay draws from his real experiences in the underground gambling scene tied to the sport.

Holiday releases often see boosted attendance from families and groups. ‘Marty Supreme’ held appeal for adult viewers seeking dramatic biopics. Critics praised Chalamet’s transformative performance and the film’s kinetic energy.

The near-tie highlighted shifting dynamics in year-end releases. Independent distributors like A24 competed directly with blockbuster remakes. Tracking services noted final figures pending official weekend tallies.

Gwyneth Paltrow plays a key figure in Reisman’s personal life. Production involved recreating vintage tournament settings. The project marks another collaboration in the Safdie brothers’ extended universe of high-stakes stories.

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