The holiday box office saw a mix of strong performances from established franchises and intriguing debuts from new films, particularly on Christmas Eve. James Cameron’s latest sci-fi epic, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” led the pack by earning $10.7 million on Wednesday from 3,800 North American theaters. While this figure was lower than its predecessor, "Avatar: The Way of Water's" $14.8 million on Christmas Eve in 2022, it's important to note that the previous Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday, a more popular moviegoing day. "Avatar 3" is projected to collect between $75 million and $80 million from Thursday to Sunday, bringing its global total to $483.3 million after just one week.

Meanwhile, Disney’s animated hit “Zootopia 2” continued its impressive run, securing second place on Wednesday charts with $3.2 million from 3,540 cinemas. Since its Thanksgiving debut, the PG film has amassed $296 million domestically and a staggering $1.3 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year.

Three new films entered the preview circuit ahead of their Christmas Day debuts, each targeting different segments of the audience. Sony’s disaster comedy “Anaconda,” a $45 million-budgeted meta-reboot, brought in $2.1 million from 2,808 theaters during Wednesday’s previews and is expected to earn around $20 million between Thursday and Sunday. The PG-13 adventure follows best friends remaking the 1997 classic, only for life to imitate art as a real anaconda hunts them.

A24’s Timothée Chalamet-led sports dramedy “Marty Supreme” was close behind, taking in $2.01 million from 2,668 venues during Wednesday’s previews. After a limited release weekend, the R-rated film has generated $3.15 million and is targeting a launch above $20 million through the four-day holiday frame. This is a strong start for the arthouse film, despite its hefty $70 million budget, significantly aided by Chalamet’s robust marketing efforts as he plays fictional table tennis champion Marty Mauser. Focus Features' musical drama “Song Sung Blue,” featuring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in a true story about a Neil Diamond tribute band, did not report Wednesday previews but is projected to earn $10 million to $14 million in its opening weekend.

“Marty Supreme” has garnered significant attention, driven by an invigorating performance from Timothée Chalamet as the cocky young table tennis champion Marty Mauser. Directed by Josh Safdie, known for “Uncut Gems,” the film meticulously recreates the world of 1950s ping pong players across New York, Tokyo, and other locations. Safdie, who is deeply familiar with this milieu, having featured a table tennis sequence in his 2008 film “The Pleasure of Being Robbed,” consulted experts like Steve Grant, publisher of Table Tennis History magazine, to ensure historical accuracy.

The character of Marty Mauser is loosely based on the real-life 1950s table tennis champion Marty Reisman, who passed away in 2012. Reisman was famously dubbed “the game’s most celebrated hustler” by Sports Illustrated. While the film takes creative liberties, Mauser shares Reisman's knack for self-promotion and a tendency to exaggerate his stories, as detailed in Reisman’s book, “The Money Player.” Safdie’s inspiration for the film stemmed from discovering an old copy of this book, realizing the plausible ambition of a young man in 1952 to achieve fame through the sport, which then filled stadiums in Europe.

Reisman, nicknamed “the needle” for his slender build and fast swing, was indeed known for his showmanship and daring stunts. He could famously split a cigarette with a ping pong ball from across the net and would play blindfolded or sitting down for high stakes. As depicted in the film, he and a partner toured globally with the Harlem Globetrotters, performing a comedic ping pong routine using frying pans and sneakers. His real-life escapades extended beyond the table, involving smuggling goods internationally and challenging heads of state to high-stakes games. He even flew on a military transport and briefly worked in a shoe store, mirroring elements in the film. Although Reisman's book was optioned for a movie after its publication, the project, for which he suggested Robert De Niro, never materialized.

While the film captures the spirit of Reisman’s life, it does take creative liberties with historical details. For instance, Reisman’s significant loss to Hiroji Satoh, who used an innovative sponge rubber-coated paddle, occurred in India, not Japan, and was in round 64 of the tournament, not the final as dramatized. Historical context also reveals that Jewish New Yorker Dick Miles won many championships before Reisman, and Jewish Europeans, especially Hungarians, dominated the sport in the 1920s and 1930s, preceding the rise of Asian players in the 1950s. Most characters in the film are fictional, with notable exceptions including Koto Endo, played by real-life champion Koto Kawaguchi and based on Satoh, and a character based on Herwald Lawrence, owner of the first Black-owned business in Times Square, played by basketball star George “The Ice Man” Gervin.

The casting of “Marty Supreme” has been particularly lauded, earning a shortlist spot for a new casting Oscar nomination. Director Josh Safdie and casting director Jennifer Venditti assembled an exceptional ensemble. Timothée Chalamet, dedicating six years to practicing table tennis, delivers a nuanced performance as Marty Mauser, blending comedy, action, and romance. He has already secured a Golden Globe nomination for his role.

Gwyneth Paltrow makes a welcome return to the screen as Kay Stone, a faded but glamorous 1930s movie star. Her character's seduction by Marty is presented as his ultimate conquest. Kevin O’Leary, best known as "Mr. Wonderful" from "Shark Tank," makes his acting debut as Milton Rockwell, Kay Stone's manipulative businessman husband, who initially feigns interest in Marty’s career before turning against him. Odessa A’zion portrays Rachel Mizler, a spirited young woman from the Lower East Side who becomes Marty’s accomplice in a caper, a stark contrast to her role in “I Love L.A.” Fran Drescher, the former "Nanny" star and SAG-AFTRA president, plays Rebecca Mauser, Marty’s long-suffering mother who wishes he would choose a more stable career. Hip-hop artist Tyler, the Creator takes on his first major film role as Wally, Marty’s loyal taxi driver friend and accomplice. Koto Kawaguchi, a real-life Japanese deaf ping pong champion, makes his film debut as Marty’s formidable opponent, Koto Endo, a character based on the trailblazing Hiroji Satoh.

The film is also rich with intriguing cameos. Veteran New York indie filmmaker Abel Ferrara appears as Ezra Mishkin, a violent criminal. Comic actress Sandra Bernhard plays Judy, a yenta neighbor. Playwright David Mamet, himself a former ping pong hustler who frequented Marty Reisman’s gym, plays Glen Nordmann, the director of Kay Stone’s play. Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, an old friend of the Safdies, takes on a rare fictional role as Merle, a cheeky press agent. Further notable appearances include magician Penn Jillette as Hoff, music writer Larry “Ratso” Sloman as Marty’s uncle Murray Mauser, French highwire artist Philippe Petit as an MC, grocery store magnate John Catsimatidis as Christopher Galanis, and former NBA players Tracy McGrady and Kemba Walker as members of the Harlem Globetrotters. Author Pico Iyer also makes an appearance as Ram Sethi, head of the International Table Tennis Association. These diverse cast members and cameos contribute significantly to the authentic texture of this sprawling sports saga.