Timothee Chalamet is largely recognized as one of the greatest young actors, and the future of Hollywood. His career, having begun only in 2012, includes dozens of movies from dramas to horror, and even sci-fi. But for someone with so many movies, of so many genres, which of Timothee Chalamet’s movies are actually worth watching?
Though I have not seen every film of his career, this will instead be a review of his most popular movies and all those that I have seen, ranked from worst to best.
- Bones and All
IMDb rating: 6.8/10
81% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 3/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
Bones and All is a 2022 romance horror movie following a teenage girl on her journey as a “drifter” up and down the middle of America. There is an underlying horror plot, but I’d argue this movie could even be considered coming-of-age, and is certainly not like any typical horror movie. I went into Bones and All entirely blind, knowing nothing besides Timothee Chalamet’s role as the love interest in the story. And what I got out was wholly unexpected. And very disappointing. I suppose because the marketing of this movie made it seem as if it would be horror and romance, I was expecting at least a little bit of both. Unfortunately, we got neither.
The biggest grievance I have with this movie is how little actually happened, and how falsely marketed it was. The movie picks up in a somewhat out-of-context setting and is fairly suspenseful, but as the few opening scenes fade away, the next few hours are filled with very little. While this could be a preferential matter, movies with subtle plots should have strong cinematography to compensate on the other end. But this lacked the artistic flair I was expecting, and it felt like an unintentional Groundhog’s Day type loop. On top of these plot deficiencies, there is also very little to be said about the horror and romance aspects of the story. It is suspenseful and unsettling, but relies almost entirely on gore and the unknown aspects of the story. The romance is also hardly something to root for, but that can be excused for the morally gray nature of every single character in this movie.
As for Timothee Chalamet’s performance, it is serviceable. Despite having the second-largest role in this movie, it doesn’t seem like he’s in it all that often, or saying too much. His character is forgettable, but his performance delivered the right amount of discomfort and disgust as it should have.
- Lady Bird
IMDb rating: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 99%
Suggested IMDb rating: 4/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes rating: 55%
I believe that there are two types of people in this world after watching Lady Bird: those whose life is changed, and those who sit blinking and then turn off their TV with a frown. I’m the second type of person. Lady Bird made pretty big ripples in the coming-of-age movie scene within the past few years, and is arguably one of Timothee Chalamet’s most polarizing films. It once again features Chalamet as a love interest, rather than a main character, and stars Saoirse Ronan. Despite these two being some of my favorite actors, this movie just did not land. I’ve been trying to think about what could have made this movie better, what would make me like it more, and I just cannot imagine something that would change my opinion.
Without sounding too critical, it just seemed as if this movie was trying too hard. In some ways, I genuinely see how this could be relatable, how it could change someone’s life. But in others, it felt like a try-hard indie film that accidentally entered mainstream media. And it might be hard to believe but I genuinely tried to like it. I still want to. But upon my first watch, it just wasn’t something I could get behind.
Timothee Chalamet’s performance is arguably very influential in this film, and while his role as a short-term boyfriend to the main character is small, he plays it very well. He’s incredibly easy to hate, and it’s clear he’s done his job. However, the other part of me wanted his character Kyle to have a larger role in the film, and I believe if he had stuck around longer, it would be a vastly more entertaining and less-serious time than it was.
- Wonka
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 83%
Suggested IMDb rating: 4.5/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes rating: 58%
No one wanted another Willy Wonka movie, yet here we are. Timothee Chalamet’s take on Roald Dahl’s beloved Willy Wonka character and his backstory isn’t necessarily bad, but I question how this earned the budget it did. While the musical movie is surely unintentionally funny, and quite ridiculous, it’s confusing how this was funded and produced. The storyline was absolutely unnecessary for the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and it walked the line between being cringy and likable very closely.
I can give credit to this movie for its entertainment factor. There was not a moment where I wished I hadn’t gone to the theater for it, and I certainly don’t regret what I did. But I can’t say that I am jumping at the chance to rewatch it, or that I ever will. Yet truth be told, nothing is actually wrong with the movie. Instead, it felt like It is a very jarring shift in Timothee Chalamet’s career away from serious roles into the eccentric character of Willy Wonka. And while he did a good job, it would be disingenuous to say this whole film didn’t feel like a fever dream that you can’t quite wake up from.
- The French Dispatch
IMDb rating: 7.1/10
75% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 5/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 68%
I approached The French Dispatch with other-worldly expectations. Wes Anderson’s other films, like The Grand Budapest Hotel, are some of my all-time favorites. That being said, I expected nothing less of the 2021 comedy romance. This movie once again stars both Timothee Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, and more well-known actors. It is a choppy narrative, with an emphasis on style and eccentricity rather than a flowing plotline. And while that might be a stylistic choice, it is not my favorite.
Timothee’s role in The French Dispatch is not super memorable, and overall, this movie might be one of his more forgettable ones. I’d be lying if I said I remembered much about this movie, but it was certainly odd and very artistic.
- Interstellar
IMDb rating: 8.7/10
73% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 7.3/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
This Christopher Nolan movie once again aligns with the exact type of movie I like: intense and somewhat confusing plot, emotional, and action-filled. While Interstellar is no different, and would be a close match to Nolan’s other films like Inception, it ranked fifth in Timothee Chalamet’s career for the mere reason of the role he plays. This storyline is an intensely developed sci-fi plot, but in the midst of this, Chalamet only plays the main character’s son. His role probably totals less than thirty minutes of screen time, and therefore, it is not a stand out in his career. It is a notable moment in his acting development however, participating in such a large and successful project.
- Dune
IMDb rating: 8/10
83% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 8/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Dune is one of Chalamet’s more recent projects, and is the first installment of the film adaptations of Frank Herbet’s famous sci-fi book series. Receiving largely mixed feedback, this movie focuses on amazing cinematography and is not super easy to follow. However, knowing some background information for this film helps in comprehension, and with that being said, it is absolutely breathtaking to watch. The soundtrack is one I’ve listened to in daily life since the movie was released, and I’m very excited for the March release of this movie’s sequel.
Timothee Chalamet plays the main character in this film, and is an integral part of both the story and movie’s progression. His performance is respectable, though admittedly, the role doesn’t appear to require much.
- Beautiful Boy
IMDb rating: 7.4/10
68% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 8/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Beautiful Boy is easily one of the most heart-wrenching and emotional movies I’ve ever seen. I procrastinated watching it for this very reason, braced for tears and an emotional rollercoaster. The movie is based on a true story of a father and son as the son battles drug addiction from adolescence into early adulthood. Timothee Chalamet plays the son while Steve Carell plays the father. I can confidently say that acting-wise, this is Timothee’s best performance on screen. I wouldn’t loosely recommend this movie to anyone, as it is incredibly triggering, but it has extreme depth, great acting, and is likely to offer you a new perspective.
It was difficult to choose where to rank this movie, as it is the height of his career (at least in my opinion), however, it does not have a place in my heart as a comfort movie, for obvious reasons.
- Call Me By Your Name
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
94% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 8/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
I’ll be honest in that I didn’t get the hype of this movie when I first watched it. But in the months following, I’m beginning to understand exactly why this film has most of this generation in a chokehold. It is an incredibly bittersweet mix of drama and romance, set in northern Italy in the summer of 1983. Not only is Timothee Chalamet’s performance in this movie incredibly moving, but it really invokes a sense of frustration and life into the viewer. It’s a deeply human movie, and every character feels real and flawed. I understand how this film wouldn’t reach or move certain audiences, but it is worth seeing just once.
- Little Women
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
95% Rotten Tomatoes
Suggested IMDb rating: 10/10
Suggested Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
The 2019 adaptation of Luisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women, is easily one of the most comforting yet cathartic movies I’ve ever seen. I have myself a tradition where every winter and spring break, rewatch this film. And it maintains its position as one of my all time favorites each time. For those unfamiliar, it follows a group of four sisters growing up and following their dreams while facing the hardships of life. Everything from the setting to the casting and even soundtrack of this movie is done perfectly. Timothee Chalamet plays the neighbor and a lover interest in this story, and while he isn’t always easy to love, is a key character in this story. Out of all Timothee Chalamet movies, if you were to only watch one, make Little Women the one you choose. This film features Florence Pugh, Emma Watson. Saoirse Ronan (once again), Meryl Streep, and more. It is perfect for any time of year, and is just one of those movies that you can keep returning to and never be sick of.
