Top 7 Timothée Chalamet movies you should watch, ranked

Among the array of superstars Hollywood has had the pleasure of hosting in recent years, Timothée Chalamet is definitely one of the top of the list. Known for his unconventional roles, boyish charm, and innate acting skills, the actor has surely had his share of success in the industry.

When it comes to blending genres, Chalamet knows no boundaries. From a coming-of-age Achillean love story to a science-fiction franchise, multiple novel adaptations, and classic remakes. With an extensive career that spans over close to thirty films, here are seven films Timothée Chalamet has starred in that you should definitely give a watch.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinion.

---

7. Hot Summer Nights

An underrated performance on Timothée Chalamet's side, Hot Summer Nights was a coming-of-age crime drama film that was also Elijah Bynum's directorial debut. It stars Chalamet as a teenage boy, Daniel, who becomes a part of a drug chain and gets involved in selling marijuana. It's also partly a romantic movie with a steamy plot between him and Maika Monroe.

The film didn't perform that well commercially, but Chalamet's acting was praised in the film as he took on action scenes. Although underrated, it remains one of his best performances that established his career

---

6. Wonka

After legends like Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp wore the shoes of the chocolate factory owner, the baton was passed on to Timothée Chalamet, who played the role of Willy Wonka in the film. Wonka was different from its predecessors in the sense that it was an origin story and did not revolve around Charlie and the others' tour of the chocolate factory. Chalamet sang his own songs for the film, a first where he exercised his musical prowess and received quite the acclaim for his performance.

The film was a huge success, grossing $600 million at the box office and earning several words of praise for Chalamet and director Paul King. Although many reviews initially were skeptical of his performance, he did the role justice and was a wonderful choice to cast as a younger, more eccentric Willy Wonka.

---

5. Little Women

Collaborating with Saoirse Ronan and Greta Gerwig for the second time, Timothée Chalamet played the role of Theodore Laurie Lawrence in the film based on Louisa May Alcott's much-loved classic novel. Laurie initially strikes a friendship with Jo March and falls in love with her, but ends up marrying her sister Amy after facing rejection from Jo.

Chalamet's performance is fresh and charming as he charms his way through the March family. Although a secondary character, he does manage to steal the show in all the scenes he's in, particularly one famous scene where he professes his love for Ronan's Jo and walks away heartbroken at her rejection.

Many drew parallels to his performance and Christian Bale's performance as Laurie in the 1994 film. In contrast to Bale's portrayal, Chalamet takes a more endearing and playful angle at the character, which is definitely one of the best things about the highly acclaimed film.

---

4. Beautiful Boy

Timothée Chalamet's first biographical drama saw him portraying Nic Sheff, who suffered from a substance abuse disorder and later recovered. The film is told from the perspective of Nic's father, David Sheff, portrayed by Steve Carrell, who desperately looks for his son and attempts to help him recover.

The film is based on David Sheff's novel Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction, which is a heartfelt and emotional recount of the struggles he went through while dealing with Nic's addiction. The film was digitally released as a Prime Video original and was a success despite not being released theatrically.

Chalamet's performance is particularly stellar as he recovers from his drug problems and heals his relationship with his father. He lost 20 pounds to prepare for the role and studied the books that inspired the film. The film is undoubtedly one of the actor's most raw performances and one that deserves a place among his best.

---

3. The Dune franchise

Perhaps his most commercially successful projects to date, Dune and its sequel Dune: Part Two have been widely considered to be Timothée Chalamet's best performances to date as Paul Atreides, and the films have received multiple nominations for Oscars.

Atreides' character is immensely layered, and Chalamet's casting fits like a glove. The actor is set to reprise his role in the third film in the trilogy: Dune: Messiah.

---

2. Call Me By Your Name

Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of Andre Aciman's novel pushed Timothée Chalamet into the spotlight. It gave him his career's first Oscar nomination, making him the youngest actor nominated for the award in the last decade. He played the role of Elio Perlman, a young Italian boy who falls for an older American man, Oliver, who visited the Perlmans for academic paperwork. What follows is a passionate and steamy romance between the two as they explore the streets of Italy and fall in love over the short time they spend together.

The film was Chalamet's big break and established him as a notable actor of the generation. His effortless portrayal that stayed true to the novel earned him immense praise, and Elio Perlman continues to be a career highlight for the actor.

---

1. A Complete Unknown

Undoubtedly the most stellar performance Timothée Chalamet has delivered in his career, A Complete Unknown saw the actor as he portrayed legendary singer Bob Dylan in the James Mangold biopic. Chalamet sang his own songs in the film, adding another important skill to his resume as he garnered critical acclaim for his vocal training and learning to play the instruments to cover Dylan's songs. As one of the biggest, most successful films of 2024, the actor also received his second nomination for an Academy Award, being one of the top contenders for the coveted award.

His performance in the film was noted for its originality and realism and the efforts he put into stepping into Dylan's shoes, earning him some of the biggest nominations of the year.