In the electric bustle of 1950s New York City, a fast-talking hustler named Marty Mauser is determined to escape his mundane destiny at a shoe store and become the greatest table tennis player the world has ever seen. Fuelled by an unchecked ego and a desperate need for respect, Marty navigates a chaotic underworld of high-stakes betting, eccentric mentors, and dangerous mobsters to turn a parlor game into a supreme American spectacle.
Information |
|
|---|---|
Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
December 25, 2025 |
Running time |
149 minutes |
Genre |
Drama Sport Comedy Biography |
Budget |
$70,000,000 |
Box Office |
$116,800,000 |
Crew |
|
Directed by |
Josh Safdie |
Produced by |
Eli Bush Timothée Chalamet Josh Safdie Ronald Bronstein Anthony Katagas |
Written by |
Josh Safdie Ronald Bronstein |
Music by |
Daniel Lopatin |
Cinematography |
Darius Khondji |
Edited by |
Josh Safdie Ronald Bronstein |
Production Co. |
A24 Central Pictures |
Distributed by |
A24 |
Official Trailer
The Plot
Ambitious Beginnings and a Bold Heist
In the bustling streets of 1952 New York City, Marty Mauser spends his days working as a salesman at a shoe store owned by his uncle, Murray. Despite the mundane nature of his job, Marty is a man possessed by a singular, burning ambition: to become the greatest table tennis player in the world. He isn't content with the sport's niche status in America; he wants to bring it to the forefront of the national consciousness, even going so far as to produce orange novelty ping-pong balls branded with his own name, the "Marty Supreme" balls, with the help of his friend Dion Galanis.
Marty’s personal life is as chaotic as his professional dreams. He maintains a clandestine affair with his childhood friend and neighbor, Rachel Mizner, right under the nose of her husband, Ira. When Marty’s uncle offers him a promotion to manager, Marty scorns the security of the position, viewing it as a trap that would stifle his destiny. Desperate for the $700 required to fund a trip to London for the British Open, Marty discovers Murray is on vacation. In a fit of desperate entitlement, he corners his coworker Lloyd after hours, brandishing a loaded firearm and forcing the man to help him rob the store's vault. He instructs Lloyd to claim he was a victim of an armed robbery, ensuring Marty has the capital to chase his glory across the Atlantic.
The Grand Stage of London
Upon arriving in London, Marty’s arrogance is on full display. Disgusted by the meager accommodations provided for the athletes, he checks himself into the prestigious Ritz Hotel. It is here that he crosses paths with Kay Stone, a legendary but fading screen actress from the 1930s, and her formidable husband, the wealthy pen magnate Milton Rockwell. Marty, ever the opportunist, attempts to weave himself into their high-society circle, hoping Rockwell’s influence can accelerate his career. During a tense dinner, Marty brazenly puts Rockwell’s meal on his own tab, using the gesture to invite the businessman to watch him compete against the Japanese champion, Koto Endo.
On the court, Marty’s skill is undeniable. He successfully defeats the reigning champion, Béla Kletzki, in the semi-finals, solidifying his status as a world-class threat. Off the court, his charm wins over Kay, leading to a passionate encounter in his hotel room. However, his momentum hits a wall when he faces Endo, a deaf player who utilizes a revolutionary sponge racket. Marty suffers a crushing defeat, a blow to his ego that he refuses to accept gracefully. When Rockwell offers him a rematch in Tokyo on the condition that Marty "throws" the match to satisfy Japanese audiences, Marty explodes in anger. He hurls a cruel insult at Rockwell regarding the man’s son who died in WWII, effectively burning a bridge with his potential benefactor.
Descent into Chaos and the Mishkin Incident
Marty returns to New York a defeated man, only to find the law waiting for him. Murray, having seen through the staged robbery, has called the police. Marty narrowly escapes arrest, fleeing his mother Rebecca’s apartment and rushing to Rachel, who reveals she is eight months pregnant and claims the child is his. Skeptical and on the run, Marty hides out in a dilapidated hotel with his friend Wally, a taxi driver. His situation worsens when he learns he has been banned from the World Championships by the International Table Tennis Association (ITTA) for fraudulently charging his Ritz stay to them; he must pay a $1,500 fine to be reinstated.
Disaster strikes literally when Marty’s bathtub collapses through the floor, falling into the room below and crushing the arm of a mobster named Ezra Mishkin. In the aftermath, Ezra agrees to pay Marty a sum of money if he cares for his dog, Moses, and takes him to a veterinarian. Seizing the opportunity to make fast cash, Marty and Wally begin hustling players at local bowling alleys and tournaments. However, a confrontation at a gas station with a group of disgruntled losers turns violent. Marty douses the men in gasoline, and in the ensuing chaos, the station explodes. During the panic, the dog Moses leaps from the car and vanishes into the night.
The Facade of Love and Jewelry
Marty’s life continues to unravel as he attempts to juggle his fading prospects and his volatile relationships. Rachel approaches him with a black eye, claiming Ira has beaten her. In a protective rage, Marty assaults Ira with a sports trophy, only to later discover that Rachel had faked the injury with makeup to manipulate him into staying with her. Meanwhile, Marty reconnects with Kay Stone, who is attempting a career comeback in a new play financed by Rockwell. After another sexual encounter, Marty steals a necklace from Kay, hoping to pawn it for his ITTA fine, only to be humiliated when the pawnbroker informs him it is merely costume jewelry.
Despite his betrayal, Kay offers Marty a genuine, expensive necklace during the opening night of her play, hoping to help him. However, their attempt at a romantic moment in Central Park ends in disaster when they are caught by the police. To avoid arrest and a public scandal that would ruin Kay’s comeback, Marty is forced to use the precious necklace as a bribe for the officers. Kay, realizing Marty is a vacuum of self-interest, finally cuts all ties with him. Left with no other options, Marty crawls back to Milton Rockwell, begging for a flight to Tokyo. Rockwell agrees, but only after subjecting Marty to the ultimate humiliation: a public, bare-bottomed paddling.
A Bloody Reckoning and the Tokyo Rematch
Before Marty can depart for Japan, Ezra Mishkin resurfaces. Having discovered Rachel tried to con him with a decoy dog, Ezra kidnaps her and threatens to kill her and the baby unless Marty finds the real Moses. Marty leads Ezra’s gang to a farmhouse near the old gas station where the dog was spotted. The situation dissolves into a horrific shootout between Ezra’s goons and the armed homeowner. By the time the smoke clears, the farmer and Ezra are dead. Rachel is caught in the crossfire and wounded. Marty finds Ezra’s stash of money, but it turns out to be worthless paper clippings. He rushes a bleeding, laboring Rachel to the hospital but abandons her there to catch his flight to Tokyo, choosing his career over his child’s birth.
In Tokyo, Marty is told he is too late to officially enter the Championships. He is forced to participate in the exhibition match Rockwell organized, which is designed to humiliate him. As part of the scripted loss, Marty is told he must kiss a pig on stage to apologize for his "American arrogance." Instead, Marty breaks character and appeals to the Japanese audience and Endo himself for a legitimate rematch. Endo agrees, and the two engage in a grueling, high-speed battle of wills. Marty pours every ounce of his obsession into the game, narrowly defeating Endo. As he realizes he has finally achieved the validation he craved, he collapses to the floor in a flood of tears.
The Final Return
Abandoned by Rockwell in Japan, Marty manages to secure a flight home with a group of U.S. Army soldiers. He arrives back in New York and heads straight to the hospital where Rachel is recovering. The bravado and selfishness that defined his journey seem to fracture as he stands in the maternity ward. Looking through the glass at his newborn son, the weight of his actions and the cost of his ambition finally crash down upon him. Marty Mauser, the man who wanted to be "Supreme" above all others, breaks down into uncontrollable sobs, finally confronted by a reality he cannot manipulate or outplay.
Top Cast
- Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser
- Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone
- Odessa A'zion as Rachel Mizler
- Kevin O'Leary as Milton Rockwell
- Tyler, the Creator as Wally
- Abel Ferrara as Ezra Mishkin
- Fran Drescher as Rebecca Mauser
- Penn Jillette as Hoff
- Sandra Bernhard as Judy
- Larry "Ratso" Sloman as Murray Norkin
