Timothée Chalamet had a heartfelt moment at the 31st Critics Choice Awards, and it quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about highlights. After winning Best Actor for Marty Supreme, the actor used his acceptance speech to thank his longtime partner Kylie Jenner, making the win feel deeply personal as well as career-defining.
“I couldn’t do this without you”
Accepting the trophy for his performance as ambitious ping-pong prodigy Marty Mauser, Chalamet paused to acknowledge Jenner, whom he has been dating for three years.
“Thank you to my partner for three years. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you,” he said, visibly emotional. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
When the camera cut to Jenner in the audience, she was seen mouthing “I love you” back at him, drawing warm reactions from the crowd.
Beating a strong field of nominees
Chalamet admitted he was more nervous than expected as he stepped on stage, especially given the competitive category. He was nominated alongside Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Despite the stiff competition, Chalamet’s nuanced performance — balancing vulnerability, ambition, and quiet desperation — clearly struck a chord with critics.
A special thank-you to Josh Safdie
The actor also reserved praise for filmmaker Josh Safdie, who co-wrote and directed Marty Supreme. Chalamet highlighted the film’s grounded storytelling, noting how it avoided moral grandstanding.
“You made a story about a flawed man with a relatable dream, and you didn’t preach to the audience about what’s right and wrong,” he said. “I think we should all be telling stories like that. Thank you for this dream.”
A playful red-carpet callback
Earlier in the evening, Hacks stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs turned heads on the red carpet by wearing matching bright orange vinyl outfits — a playful nod to the looks Jenner and Chalamet wore at the Marty Supreme premiere.
Box office context
Marty Supreme opened in theatres on Christmas Day and debuted at No. 3 at the North American box office, earning around $17 million over its opening weekend. The film opened behind juggernauts Avatar: Fire and Ash and Zootopia 2, but has steadily gained attention through strong word-of-mouth and awards buzz.
Final words
Chalamet’s Critics Choice win wasn’t just about trophies — it was a reminder of how personal milestones and professional achievements often intersect. With awards momentum building and Marty Supreme continuing to find its audience, this moment may end up being one of the defining chapters of his career so far.
