In just 10 short years,Timothée Chalamethas built an impressive resume of diverse roles, a feat some actors do not accomplish throughout their entire careers. Inspired into acting by Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker inThe Dark Knight, the American and French actor cut his teeth early on in Hollywood by doing commercials and small television roles before making his feature film debut in Jason Reitman’sMen, Women & Childrenat the young age of nineteen. From there, the former cultural anthropology major at Columbia University would then board a rocket to superstardom.
At just 28 years old at the time of this retrospective, Chalamet has only scratched the surface of what he can accomplish, and this list is sure to change as the actor progresses in his career. From comedy to drama to romance, he has done it all in a short period of time. With a couple dozen roles under his belt, here are Timothée Chalamet’s 10 best performances… so far.
10Yule - Don’t Look Up (2021)
Adam McKay has become a filmmaker known for lambasting societal, economic, and political events and established norms. His 2021 dark comedyDon’t Look Uptakes aim at misinformation in an age where it runs rampant as people sometimes struggle to believe even what their own eyes are telling them. The Netflix-released film itself received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, even with a top-tier cast that featured the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Lawrence, and Timothée Chalamet.
The Pious Gamer
Chalamet plays the part of Yule, an ultra-religious Twitch streamer who becomes infatuated with Lawrence’s character, Kate. The part of Yule on paper is not a very outstanding one and feels almost shoehorned into the film to check a box. It is the acting prowess of Chalamet that fleshes out and gives air to what could have otherwise been a forgettable addition to the film.
Don’t Look Up
Stream on Netflix
9Zeffirelli B. - The French Dispatch (2021)
The French Dispatchis one of Wes Anderson’s more recent yet still underappreciated films. Boasting an impressive cast of Anderson’s usual suspects, such as Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, and Edward Norton. The film also features some newcomers to the colorful aesthetic world of the director, including Timothée Chalamet, a young revolutionary named Zeffirelli B who has a brief affair with the much older journalist Lucinda Krementz, played by the incomparable Frances McDormand.
For the Revolution!
Like most of Anderson’s films, the world of the story is inhabited by oddball characters, and Zeffirelli is one in which Chalamet is clearly having a lot of fun with as an actor. Playing one of the filmmaker’s creations gives actors a chance to flex their acting muscles in a way that other filmmakers can not provide.
The French Dispatch
Stream on Fubo
8Nic Sheff - Beautiful Boy (2018)
After acquiring the film rights to the booksBeautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s AddictionandTweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines,the former was written by David Sheff and the latter by Nic Sheff. Paramount Pictures began production onBeautiful Boy, a film directed by Felix van Groeningen and starring Steve Carell as David and Timothée Chalamet as Nic. The story follows a family coping with the addiction suffered by Nic.
Raw & Emotional
Both Carell and Chalamet deliver performances that rise above any flaws that the overarching story may have. At the young age of 23, Chalamet in particular delivers a powerful and emotion-filled performance that stayed true to the obstacles overcome by Nic Sheff throughout his life. Chalamet would earn a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the film.
Beautiful Boy
Stream on Prime Video
7King Henry V - The King (2019)
The Kingis a film adaptation based on several works included in William Shakespeare’sHenriad, a group of plays about the rise of English kinds, including the subject of this film, King Henry V. Joined by a stellar ensemble cast, this Netflix-produced film released on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2019.
All Hail the King
This historical epic allowed the young Chalamet to take center stage in what could have been an early career-defining role. WhileThe Kingwas released in a select number of theaters, it did not receive exposure, getting lost in the black hole of Netflix programming. Nevertheless, Chalamet’s performance as the late King stands out in a film occupied by top-tier co-stars.
6Paul Atreides - Dune (2021)
Modern master of science fiction, Denis Villeneuve, set out in 2016 to make a modern-day version of the classic Frank Herbert novel,Dune. Villeneuve’s version differs from both the original filmand the novel. While developing the film and seeking out what he described as “an old soul in the body of a teenager”, Villeneuve found his Paul Atreides in Timothée Chalamet, a description that, upon further review, fits the actor perfectly.
Blockbuster Bound
Prior to a little film about a chocolatier,Dunemarked Chalamet’s first real blockbuster and epic feature film, and the actor felt right at home in the role. Possessing all the charisma that someone in his position should have in a film likeDune. The film truly marked Chalamet’s rise from not just an actor but a movie star.
Stream on MAX
Related:10 Best Movies Like Dune to Watch Next
5Lee - Bones and All (2022)
To sayBones and Allis an unorthodox love story would be an understatement. This unique romantic drama follows young lovers Maren and Lee, two cannibals who flee on a cross-country road trip. Directed by renowned Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagino, the film also features Timothée Chalamet in the producer’s chair, as well as playing one of the leads, Lee. Premiering at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, critics praised the unusual story as well as its thought-provoking performances.
No Bones About It
By 2022, Chalamet had established himself as one of the best young actors working in Hollywood. This earned him the opportunity to take a big swing on a project likeBones and All, and he arguably knocked it out of the park as the twisted and tortured young cannibal. Playing incredibly well off of his costar, Taylor Russell, Lee remains one of the best performances of Chalamet’s career so far.
Bones and All
4Willy Wonka - Wonka (2023)
A legacy prequel based on one of the most popular children’s films of all time can come across as a major attempt at a cash grab by a production company, andWonkais certainly no different. What Warner Brothers helped produce, though, whether by accident or on purpose, ended up being a delightfully written, directed, acted, and worthy addition to the property of Willy Wonka. While it was rumored that Tom Holland was one of the finalists for the role of Willy Wonka in the film, director Paul King has publicly stated that it was always his desire to have Chalamet play the role.
A World of Pure Imagination
Chalamet faced an uphill battle when setting out to take on the iconic character of Willy Wonka, one played masterfully by the late Gene Wilder. It is a feat that could easily go sideways,just ask Johnny Depp. The performance that Chalamet turns in, however, is full of charisma, charm, and, most importantly, heart. Showcasing his singing and dancing skills alongside his superb acting ability, and audiences were treated to a timeless performance.
Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) gains friends and powerful enemies while trying to achieve his chocolatier dreams.
Wonkais now playing in theaters.
3Theodore “Laurie” Laurence - Little Women (2019)
The classic Louisa May Alcott novelLittle Womenis no stranger to the big screen treatment, as it has been adapted seven separate times, with the most recent beingthe Greta Gerwig-directed2019 version starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Timothée Chalamet as Laurie, a love interest to Ronan’s character of Jo.Little Womenwould mark the second project worked on by Ronan, Chalamet, and Gerwig. The film would receive rave reviews from critics upon its release, with most praise being heaped upon the all-star cast.
Little Laurie
While the character of Laurie plays second fiddle to the little women of the film, his presence is profoundly felt nevertheless. The compassion and heart poured into Laurie by Chalamet are admirable, and the actor has great chemistry with his co-star Ronan and director Greta Gerwig. With two collaborations under the belts of this trio, it is a group we would love to see work together on future projects.
Little Women
Stream on Starz
2Kyle Scheible - Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Birdmarks the solo directorial debut of Greta Gerwig, a film that would earn her an Academy Award nomination for directing. Now famous for bringing the world one half of Barbenheimer, Gerwig helped usher along a young cast, including Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet,en route to the critical success ofLady Bird. Praised for its authenticity in both writing and acting, it firmlynails what it’s like to be a teenager. The film would propel Gerwig into the top tier of directors working in Hollywood.
A Tortured Soul
Kyle is not your typical high school love interest, as he sports a “modern-day cool” personality. With a love for culture, reading, and cigarettes, he acts as a tortured soul type and the actor fits the role to perfection. Kyle comes across as a big-screen version of Chalamet himself, adding to the authenticity that the film is lauded for.
Related:Best Coming-of-Age Films of the 2010s, Ranked
1Elio Perlman - Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Prior to their collaboration onBones and All, director Luca Guadagnino cast Chalamet as Elio inCall Me by Your Name, his big screen adaptation of the coming-of-age novel of the same name written by André Aciman. The subject of the novel and the film centers around a blossoming romance between a 17-year-old American-Italian boy and a 24-year-old visiting American student. The romance depicted in the film and the age gap between the two drew sharp criticism from some in the United States. Five years later, Chalamet’s co-star, Armie Hammer would face serious abuse allegations from various women. While no charges have been filed to this date, the incident continues to follow the actor.
An Academy Award-Nominated Performance
Despite the allegations leveled against Hammer, Chalamet’s award-nominated performance can not be overlooked. Handling delicate subject matter with ease, the actor was truly thrown into the deep end of a smart and complex story. The movie would receive praise from critics, with an emphasis on the young actor’s performance. Described by The Hollywood Reporter as “the true breakout of the film”, Chalamet would firmly cement himself as an acting force.
Call Me By Your Name
