The Evolution of Timothée Chalamet: A Spotlight on His Defining Roles
Timothée Chalamet is not just a heartthrob or a red carpet darling—he’s a true artist. With a résumé filled with emotionally rich performances, daring choices, and blockbuster breakthroughs, Chalamet has cemented himself as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. From indie heartbreaks to sci-fi epics, here’s a look at the movies that define his career so far.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Let’s start with the film. This was the moment the world collectively gasped and said, “Who is that?”
Set in 1980s Northern Italy, Chalamet plays Elio, a 17-year-old falling in love with Oliver (Armie Hammer), a visiting grad student. The scenery is stunning, the chemistry electric, and Timmy? Breathtaking. He doesn’t just act—he feels. The piano scenes? The bike rides? The final fireplace shot that destroys your soul in silence? This film is a masterpiece, and Chalamet’s performance is emotionally surgical.
Beautiful Boy (2018)
A complete shift from dreamy romance, this film shattered me. Based on the memoirs of father and son David and Nic Sheff, it explores drug addiction from both sides.
Timothée plays Nic, a young man struggling with meth addiction, and his portrayal is deeply haunting and honest. He captures that push and pull between recovery and relapse with aching vulnerability. His physicality—frail, restless, twitchy—is matched by emotional depth. This is not a pretty movie, but it’s a necessary one, and he is the beating heart of it.
Hot Summer Nights (2017)
If Call Me by Your Name is wine and cigarettes, Hot Summer Nights is Red Bull and sticky lip gloss.
Timmy stars as Daniel, a socially awkward teen who falls into the world of drug dealing and danger during a wild summer in Cape Cod. It’s messy, neon-lit, and chaotic—in the best way. He’s sweaty, reckless, and in way over his head. Not his most polished film, but it’s a vibe. Plus, the soundtrack slaps.
Dune (2021) & 5. Dune: Part Two (2024)
Enter: Space Timmy. Dune is an epic sci-fi adaptation of Frank Herbert’s dense novel, and Chalamet leads as Paul Atreides, a noble heir navigating political betrayal and sandworm trauma on the desert planet Arrakis.
In the first film, he’s quiet, calculating, and caught between duty and fear. In Part Two, though? He fully transforms into the messianic Muad’Dib, riding a sandworm like it’s a skateboard and starting a revolution. It’s bold, cerebral, and mythic—and somehow Timmy makes spice politics sexy.
Little Women (2019)
Laurie. Sweet, complicated, hopelessly romantic Laurie. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is a masterclass in adaptation, and Timmy brings pure sunshine to this role—mixed with just the right amount of storm clouds.
He dances, he flirts, he breaks hearts. His chemistry with Saoirse Ronan (Jo) is everything. And his scenes with Florence Pugh (Amy)? Chef’s kiss. He perfectly captures the golden boy who doesn’t quite know what he wants until it’s too late. Ugh, my heart.
Bones and All (2022)
This film is weirdly beautiful. It’s about two young cannibals on a cross-country journey, and somehow it becomes a tender love story. Only Timothée could make flesh-eating look poetic.
He plays Lee, a drifter with a tragic past, who falls for Maren (Taylor Russell). The chemistry is intense, and the tone is hauntingly romantic. It’s Bonnie and Clyde meets Twilight, but way more indie. It’s not for everyone—but if you like sad boys, Americana, and morally ambiguous romance, welcome to the club.
Lady Bird (2017)
Kyle is the absolute worst—and I love him for it.
He’s the moody bass-playing anarchist who claims to “never use the internet” and reads Howard Zinn. He ghosts Lady Bird, lies about being a virgin, and still somehow has us all swooning. Chalamet only has a small role here, but it’s iconic. It’s proof of how well he plays those frustratingly irresistible guys we all regret dating.
A Complete Unknown (TBA)
Timmy is set to play Bob Dylan in this biopic directed by James Mangold—and I’m already obsessed. He’s reportedly doing his own singing (bless us), and early behind-the-scenes shots of him in classic ‘60s Dylan drip are giving.
We haven’t seen the full film yet, but if anyone can capture Dylan’s enigmatic, poetic energy, it’s Chalamet. This should have been Oscar moment.
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Another small but surprisingly wholesome role—he plays Yule, a skater boy who ends up bonding with Jennifer Lawrence’s character as the world ends.
In a film full of chaos and celebrity satire, Chalamet brings an odd little slice of sincerity. His final dinner table prayer is quietly beautiful. Bonus points for that mullet.
Interstellar (2014)
Ah, baby Timmy.
He plays young Tom Cooper, the son of Matthew McConaughey’s character. It’s a minor role, but Interstellar was his first major Hollywood film. Even then, his emotional expressiveness stood out—especially in scenes where he’s trying to process his father leaving Earth forever. It was our first real glimpse of the emotional depth he would go on to master.
Final Thoughts
Timothée Chalamet isn’t just an actor. He’s an aesthetic, a genre, a state of mind. Whether he’s falling in love under peach trees, starting intergalactic rebellions, or just chain-smoking in a leather jacket, he brings an emotional truth to every role that lingers long after the credits roll.
So if you’re ever in the mood to cry, overanalyze a stare, or be ruined by a boy with floppy hair and a fragile heart—hit play on a Chalamet movie. I promise you, it’s worth the emotional damage.
