When it comes to big-screen romances and blockbuster gifts, not many imagine a private IMAX screening as a birthday surprise. Yet that’s exactly what Timothée Chalamet revealed about his 30th birthday, and the story says a lot about his career, his relationship with Kylie Jenner, and how two very different stars are blending their worlds in 2026.
At a joint CNN & Variety Town Hall event on February 21, Chalamet shared how Jenner, the beauty mogul and founder of Kylie Cosmetics, orchestrated a private screening of Interstellar in IMAX for his milestone birthday on December 27, 2025. It may sound simple, but for Chalamet, who has watched the film upward of 20 times, it was a deeply personal and unforgettable gesture.
A Birthday Gift That Hits Interstellar Levels
Before the reveal, Chalamet admitted he was grumpy on the short drive outside Los Angeles, wondering where Jenner was taking him. But his mood flipped as soon as he walked into the theatre. Jenner had booked a private IMAX screening of Interstellar, a film he has repeatedly described as one of his favorites and a major influence in his early career.
“I have legitimately maybe seen it 22 times or something,” he said, noting that he even saw it twelve times in theaters when it was first released in 2014. That level of devotion is rare for a star with an expansive filmography, and it shows just how meaningful the film is to him.
Interestingly, Chalamet’s role in Interstellar was relatively small; he played Tom Cooper, the son of Matthew McConaughey’s character, yet it came at a formative moment in his nascent career. He later told Filmthusiast that Interstellar was his favorite project and a film he loved returning to, even as his career skyrocketed afterwards.
From Teenage Star to A-List Heartthrob
Timothée Chalamet. Screenshot from tchalamet via Instagram. Used under fair use for commentary.
Chalamet’s rise in Hollywood has been meteoric. Born in 1995 in New York City, he made his breakthrough with a critically acclaimed role in Call Me by Your Name (2017). Since then, he’s become one of the most respected actors of his generation, earning multiple Best Actor Oscar nominations, most recently for A Complete Unknown (2024) and Marty Supreme (2025), and even tying records for being the youngest to achieve such acclaim.
His range is remarkable, including indie darlings and blockbuster tentpoles like Dune and Wonka. Yet despite his success, Chalamet has always struck people as grounded and thoughtful, someone who genuinely appreciates the craft and the stories that shaped him. That Interstellar holds such a special place says a lot about how he relates to narrative and father-son dynamics on screen, themes he’s explored deeply in other roles, too.
Kylie Jenner
Meanwhile, Kylie Jenner’s life trajectory couldn’t be more different in style, though no less impactful. Born in 1997, Jenner first gained fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but quickly built a reputation as a business innovator.
Screenshot from kylie jenner’s official instagram page, via Instagram. Used under fair use for commentary.
Her company, Kylie Cosmetics, became a formidable player in the beauty industry, helping her achieve billionaire status by her early twenties. Her success is rooted not just in branding but in tapping cultural moments and trends with precision, a skill that clearly translates into her personal life as well.
Jenner and Chalamet were first linked in early 2023, and they’ve been together for about three years as of 2026. They made more public appearances as a couple in 2025, including red carpet moments at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, where Chalamet openly thanked Jenner during his Best Actor speech, a rare public declaration from a notoriously private star.
Their dynamic is interesting: he’s a critically acclaimed actor known for introspection and genre-defying roles; she’s a beauty mogul and media personality with a massive cultural footprint. Together, they bridge worlds, cinema and celebrity branding, in a way that keeps fans both intrigued and talking.
A Relationship That Defies Easy Labels
It’s worth noting that Chalamet has historically been private about his personal life. In late 2025, during an interview with Vogue, he declined to discuss his relationship with Jenner, not out of fear, he said, but simply because he didn’t have anything to say publicly at that time.
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet. Image Credit: Kards Katch Up/Instagram. Used under fair use for commentary.
Yet lately, the couple has appeared more often together on red carpets and at high-profile events. That shift suggests a relationship evolving from low-key to comfortable visibility, but still with its own pace and rhythm. Some moments, like this Interstellar surprise, hint at emotional depth and intentional thoughtfulness beneath the surface.
Why This Surprise Matters More Than You Think
At first glance, the story of a private screening might seem like a sweet celebrity anecdote, a cute social-media-friendly moment. But peel back a layer, and it reveals something deeper about Chalamet’s identity and his values.
First, it shows how a film from early in his career still resonates with him, not as a nostalgic oddity, but as a touchstone for his creative journey. Seeing Interstellar on IMAX, the way audiences first saw it, serves as a reminder of where he came from and how far he’s traveled.
Second, it shows an emotional maturity in his relationship with Jenner. Instead of exchanging flashy gifts or staging a lavish party, she chose something personal, a reminder of shared memories, artistic appreciation, and familiarity.
Timothée Chalamet. Screenshot from tchalamet via Instagram. Used under fair use for commentary.
And third, it reframes how we think about celebrity relationships in 2026. Gone are the days of purely spectacle-driven romances tailored for tabloids. Moments like this reveal a side of celebrity life that’s relational, heartfelt, and rooted in narrative meaning rather than performance.
So What Should Fans Take Away?
Timothée Chalamet’s Interstellar IMAX birthday surprise isn’t just a cute story. It’s a window into how deeply films can shape an artist’s heart, how contemporary celebrity relationships can blend authenticity and privacy, and how affectionate gestures sometimes speak louder than public displays.
At its core, this story reminds us that even in impossible-to-ignore fame, love and thoughtfulness can still find room to be personal. And knowing Chalamet’s career and Jenner’s multifaceted empire, it’s fascinating to see how their worlds intersect in such a human, heartfelt moment.
Because at the end of the day, even Hollywood icons deserve birthday surprises that remind them who they are, where they came from, and what truly matters.