How a Festive Flop Haunted Amanda Seyfried’s Career

Timothée Chalamet’s name is everywhere at the moment, thanks to his leading turn in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, which recently earned him a Critics’ Choice Award. Yet, not so long ago, he was just another hopeful in Hollywood, taking whatever roles came his way. Back in 2015, he appeared in a Christmas film that’s largely faded from memory: Love the Coopers.

What’s perhaps more surprising is Amanda Seyfried’s involvement. Having made her mark with Mean Girls in 2004 and gone on to star in the likes of Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, and Mank, Seyfried’s decision to join the ensemble cast of a film that would end up with a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes raised a few eyebrows. Alongside Diane Keaton, Marisa Tomei, and Alan Arkin, she found herself in a project that didn’t quite live up to its billing.

From Star-Studded Cast to Razzie Recognition

Love the Coopers was pitched as a heartwarming festive tale, but it never quite found its footing. Despite a cast brimming with talent—Diane Keaton, Olivia Wilde, John Goodman, and more—the film quickly slipped into obscurity, remembered mostly for its missed opportunities rather than any seasonal cheer.

Seyfried played Ruby, a waitress with a troubled past, working in a diner and sharing scenes with Alan Arkin’s Bucky. There’s a brief romantic subplot with Ed Helms’ Hank, but the role was hardly a highlight in her career. Nevertheless, it was enough to land her a Razzie nomination in 2016, a nod reserved for the year’s most underwhelming performances. She found herself in the company of Kaley Cuoco, Rooney Mara, Michelle Monaghan, and Julianne Moore—hardly the sort of list anyone aspires to join.

Chalamet’s Ascent and Awards Season Uncertainty

Fast forward to 2026, and both Seyfried and Chalamet have left those awkward years behind. Seyfried recently picked up a Critics’ Choice nomination for her work in The Testament of Ann Lee, while Chalamet took home the Best Actor prize for Marty Supreme. His performance in the A24 production has been widely praised, with many calling it the finest of his career to date.

With the Oscars looming, speculation is rife: will Chalamet finally secure his first Academy Award? The Critics’ Choice often hints at Oscar success—Adrien Brody managed the double in 2025 for The Brutalist, as did Brendan Fraser in 2023 for The Whale. Yet, the pattern is far from certain. Paul Giamatti won the Critics’ Choice in 2024, but Cillian Murphy walked away with the Oscar for Oppenheimer. In 2021, Chadwick Boseman was the critics’ favourite, but Anthony Hopkins ultimately triumphed at the Academy Awards.

Competition and the Road Ahead

Chalamet’s path to Oscar glory is anything but straightforward. He faces stiff competition from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan, both of whom are also in the running this year. While the momentum is certainly in his favour, nothing is guaranteed until the envelopes are opened on the night.

“Love the Coopers is streaming on Hulu and AMC+.”