The Definitive Ranking of Every Timothée Chalamet Movie
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HOLLYWOOD IS ALWAYS looking for the next big thing. And while that search for the next big thing is, essentially, always going, the funny thing about such a search is that while there are many candidates to become the next big thing, not many of those candidates turn out to actually be up to the task. That’s why Timothée Chalamet, only turning 28 this month, has been such a remarkable case: he’s been tested by the industry, and, so far, he’s lived up to the billing.
It’s not particularly fair to compare one actor to another; it can serve to create unrealistic and unfair expectations that sometimes can be hard for anyone to live up to. But, screw it—Timothée Chalamet has frequently been compared to Leonardo DiCaprio, and so far he’s building a resume that can make that an apt comparison.
That’s not a comparison that can be made for anyone; being that kind of leading man means the ability to both carry a movie or pull up in supporting when called on, it means a raw charisma, and it means the ability to jump genres. While Chalamet’s early TV turn on Showtime’s Homeland didn’t particularly stand out or inspire confidence, his 2017 leading role in Call Me By Your Name—arriving just at the same time as his supporting role in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird—quickly established him as a both a buzzy figure in the world of independent film, and a potential Oscar contender. At the time, he was only 21 years old.
By 2021, Chalamet was leading Denis Villeneuve’s much-hyped adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, proving that he could handle major-scale blockbusters—of the most artistic and stunning variety—as well. DiCaprio is notable for almost exclusively working with directors of the highest regard (think of his numerous collaborations with Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino), and with his major franchise debut coming in a film directed by the Academy Award-nominated Villeneuve, Chalamet was certainly following in those shoes.
The New York City native has since (successfully) tried his hand in another genre—musicals—with Wonka, a story of the young days of famed chocolatier Willy Wonka (previously played by both Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp), and is now tearing up the box office once again with the masterful sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two. Up next? The actor is filming James Mangold's A Complete Unknwon, where he'll play the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (Mangold has said it's "not really a biopic"). That's one to keep an eye on moving forward.
As with any actor, though, some films are stronger than others. That’s why we decided to go through the archives and rank every movie that Chalamet has appeared in, from early bit parts to meaty Oscar nominees.
Love The Coopers (2015)
In this ensemble holiday film, Chalamet plays a high schooler amongst a group of better-known (at the time) actors including Diane Keaton, John Goodman, and Amanda Seyfried. Besides the film being disappointing overall, Chalamet is wallpaper in such a packed cast. He’s barely memorable. You’ll be far too distracted by the poor quality script and overall Hallmark-quality attempt at an endearing family farce. If you want to see the best the actor has to offer, Love the Coopers is an obvious skip. —Milan Polk
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Worst Friends (2014)
Worst Friends is one of Chalamet’s first films–the third, in fact–so it’s hard to put his performance as “Young Sam” up against, say, his role in Little Women. This indie film is a perfectly fine directorial debut, and Chalamet barely makes an appearance. It’s low-ranked not for Chalamet’s performance, but for his forgettable role. —MP
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A Rainy Day In New York (2019)
The less said about A Rainy Day In New York the better! This movie—which was filmed in 2017—was written and directed by Woody Allen, and eventually shelved in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, given the disturbing allegations in Allen’s past. When it was eventually released (in a limited fashion, and not with original producer/distributor Amazon) in 2019, it became clear that this was not “Major” Allen, but rather just another cookie cutter version of the movie he made so many times over the course of his long career. That said, the few positive notes critics had on the film went to Chalamet, who more than held his own as the film’s nebbish romantic lead (Chalamet donated his salary for the movie to Time’s Up, the LGBT Center in New York and RAINN). —Evan Romano
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Men, Women, and Children (2014)
Chalamet's role is particularly small here, considering it was his film debut. The film follows teens and their parents as they navigate the Internet and social media. The film overall is overbearing in its attempt to critique the modern “chronically online” world we live in, and ultimately feels like an after school special. No one likes a movie where the director is trying to lecture you. But all that aside, Chalamet has little impact. —MP
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The Adderall Diaries (2015)
Based on Stephen Elliott’s memoir of the same name, The Adderall Diaries is unfortunately a mediocre film that Elliott himself did not particularly approve of. Chalamet, in one of his first screen roles, played a young version of James Franco’s Elliott during his troubled youth. And while Chalamet holds his own, the movie is not particularly memorable. —ER
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One & Two (2015)
This one’s a weird one. This indie fantasy thriller stars Chalamet alongside Kiernan Shipka as siblings with the ability to teleport, which aggravates their ill religious mother. As they continue to use their powers, they only further anger their parents. As one of his first starring roles, Chalamet does a decent job, with both he and Shipka exhibiting the acting chops that inevitably shot them both to stardom. The film wavers when it comes to the overall plot, but its leads manage to shine. —MP
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Hostiles (2017)
Chalamet plays a small role in the western/war film Hostiles as Private Philippe Dejardin, the youngest member of a war company escorting the dying Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) home. While Chalamet’s role in this film is small, it without question provided him with the valuable early-career experience of acting alongside heavy hitters like Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Studi, and Jesse Plemons. —ER
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Interstellar (2014)
Chalamet is barely in Christopher Nolan’s mind-blowing sci-fi film Interstellar (he plays the young version of Tom Cooper, Matthew McConaughey's son who is played by Casey Affleck as an adult), but we wanted to give him as much credit as possible for this one. Because if we were in Interstellar, we’d want it to be ranked as high as possible too. For a movie he’s barely in, this feels fair. —ER
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Hot Summer Nights (2017)
Hot Summer Nights is a little bit all over the place—mixing teen comedy, ‘90s nostalgia, and crime drama all in one—but it’s one of Chalamet’s earliest true leading roles. And while it doesn’t come anywhere near the quality of his other 2017 roles, well, as the saying goes, you’ve got to start somewhere. —ER
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Don’t Look Up (2021)
Don’t Look Up is a star-studded and extremely-on-the-nose satire from director Adam McKay. The movie is not particularly satisfying, but Chalamet’s character—a slacker who hangs out in supermarket parking lots, loves fingerling potatoes, and hits on Jennifer Lawrence’s Kate—is electric from the moment he enters, providing laughs and charisma in bunches. If only the whole movie was on his wavelength! —ER
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Miss Stevens (2016)
Starring alongside Lily Rabe and Lili Reinhart, Chalamet is clearly a star on the rise in the underrated Miss Stevens. The film follows a teacher who chaperones a group of high school students on the way to a state drama competition. Chalamet plays Billy, a high schooler with a behavioral disorder and an unhealthy attachment to his teacher. The character is sympathetic but volatile, and Chalamet does a great job turning the role of “troubled teen” into something more memorable. If you’re looking for a Chalamet deep cut, Miss Stevens is a solid entry. —MP
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The French Dispatch (2021)
Starring in one of four vignettes in this Wes Anderson anthology, Chalamet plays a rebellious French student who gets involved with a journalist covering the story (Frances McDormand). While the film isn’t Anderson’s best, it’s still solid overall, with Anderson’s notably sharp dialogue and fast-paced plot. Chalamet doesn’t have much time to stand out amongst the ensemble cast, but he ends up finding a way. It’s a brief, but solid performance, and one that shows Chalamet’s range as more than a dramatic actor, but a comedic one as well. —MP
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The King (2019)
In this gritty historical drama, Chalamet plays King Henry V, a young, newly appointed English monarch determined to prove his strength against his adversaries. To make a show of force, he declares war against France. Chalamet has a strong and focused performance as King Henry. He knows how to play coming-of-age characters well, even if they’re monarchs in the 15th century. It’s arguably Chalamet’s claim to fame, and it’ll be fascinating to see how he transforms into playing more fully adult roles moving forward. His stellar acting is only bolstered by Robert Pattinson’s memorable role as the Dauphin of France, Henry’s main antagonist, which deserves an honorable mention. —MP
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Beautiful Boy (2018)
Beautiful Boy stars Steve Carrell and Timothée Chalamet as a father and son whose relationship becomes strained due to the son’s drug addiction. While the film can feel melodramatic at times, critics praised both Carrell and Chalamet’s performances. If there’s one thing Chalamet knows how to do, it’s to play a young adult in crisis. —MP
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Wonka (2023)
There were lots of doubts about Wonka. Let’s be real: that trailer doesn’t do much. But Chalamet proves his star power here, commanding the screen, showing off his wonderful comedic timing, and holding his own during the film’s numerous musical numbers. The Leonardo DiCaprio comparisons will probably continue for decades to come, but can Leo sing? Your move, DiCaprio. —ER
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Bones and All (2022)
Imagine Bones and All as a sort of quasi-Romeo and Juliet, where Chalamet’s version of Romeo is, in fact, a cannibalistic drifter with dyed red hair. This is a grim, creepy, movie—but one that really pays off in a slow burn way for those willing to give it their time. This marks Chalamet’s second effort with Luca Guadagnino (more on him in a bit), and it’s a team-up that we will almost certainly see again in the future. —ER
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Little Women (2019)
Writer/director Greta Gerwig did a masterful job creating yet another version of Little Women, a story that has been told more than just about any throughout the years. And part of that mastery must be credited to her choice of Chalamet as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, the most prominent male character in Little Women’s cast of, well, women. Chalamet works well with just about anyone he’s matched with, whether it’s Saoirse Ronan or Florence Pugh, and it’s clear that these are people who bring out the very best in one another. —ER
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Lady Bird (2017)
Nothing captures the 2002 vibe of Lady Bird quite like Chalamet’s Kyle telling Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) “That’s Hella Tight.” It’s the fact that he delivers the line with such a youthful, teenage confidence—we've all met someone like this before—that makes it so perfect. And, honestly, in this moment, a star was born. Kyle only plays a supporting role in Lady Bird, but it made a huge impact—Chalamet was cast by Gerwig again afterwards for Little Women, and it feels likely that they will collaborate many more times as the years go by. —ER
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Dune (2021)
Dune not only feels like a natural progression for Chalamet’s career, but a necessary addition to his filmography. For years, he’s played young adult and teen characters of all sorts, and Dune feels like his foray into something truly grand. As the lead in this sci-fi epic, Chalamet shines. And flanked by other notable actors (Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista), Chalamet’s performance feels on par with the rest of them. When his character, Paul Atreides, shows doubt, fear, or trepidation, you see it in Chalamet’s face, and you hear it when he speaks. Great acting means falling into a character so well the audience suspends disbelief; when Chalamet is on screen, it's clear that there's no one better suited to play Paul Atreides. —MP
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Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Chalamet’s breakout role, in 2017’s Call Me By Your Name, remains his very best. There are a lot of coming-of-age films out there, and also a lot that depict the very concept of ‘first love.’ But as Elio, here, Chalamet hits both of those genres directly where they need to be hit, and instantly became the breakout star that the industry had been looking for. His talent showed not only when delivering lines or dialogues, but also when simply gazing or reacting; think when he watched Oliver (Armie Hammer) energetically dance to the Psychodelic Furs, or when his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) delivered his own devastating monologue about love. Perhaps the most notable, though, is the film’s very closing shot—there may not be a more heartbreaking, iconic set of tears in the last 20 years of movies. —ER
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