After writing the script for Hunting for good will With his long-time friend Matt Damon, actor Ben Affleck has added more well-known titles to his career and catalog. In addition to Hunting for good willAffleck won an Oscar for directing Argo (2012), in which he also played the leading role.
The actor’s directing skills have been expanded to projects such as the recent film Air (2023), in which he plays former Nike CEO Phil Knight. We’ve compiled the best Ben Affleck films, many of which also feature Matt Damon.
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GOOD WILL – THE HUNT (1997)
Photo credit: Miramax/Courtesy of Everett Collection
This poignant drama, directed by Gus Van Sant, marked a major turning point in Affleck’s career and established his reputation as a rare talent who works at the highest level on both sides of the camera. At age 25, he accepted his first Oscar for Best Screenplay alongside lifelong friend Matt Damon. Damon played Will Hunting, a young MIT janitor with a genius intellect who struggles with his difficult past and emotional barriers. Affleck also played dual roles in the film as Will’s best friend Chuckie Sullivan. Co-starring Robin Williams and Minnie Driver, the low-budget Miramax film was a huge box office success, grossing over $225 million worldwide. Hunting for good will is streamed on Max. – Matt Grobar
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REINDEER GAMES (2000)
Photo credit: Everett
This is one of those weird non-Christmas movies set at Christmas that I always watch. Young Affleck and Charlize Theron have great chemistry, Gary Sinise plays a great villain, and with that Christmas theme comes a pretty great climax. It’s a movie that you can rewatch any time of year. Reindeer Games is streaming on Paramount+. – Justin Kroll
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ARGO-2012
Photo credit: Claire Folger/©Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Affleck’s other Oscar-winning film is Argo (2012), based on the true story of how the CIA enlisted Canada’s help to rescue a group of American hostages from Iran. Affleck’s CIA agent Tony Mendez proposes to rescue the hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 by going there disguised as a Hollywood producer to find a location for the fake “Argo” movie. Affleck also directed the thrilling story, which stars Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Scoot McNairy, Alan Arkin, Clea DuVall and others. Argo is not currently streaming but is available to rent on Apple TV+ and Prime Video. – Dessi Gomez
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HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (2009)
Photo credit: New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection
Affleck stars as Neil in one of the great ensemble romantic comedies that also features some more famous faces like Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Kevin Connolly, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore and even Busy Philipps in a cameo. His character saves the day at the end of the film when the father of Neil’s lover Beth (Jennifer Aniston) suffers a heart attack at her sister’s wedding and he quietly supports her through it, proving that he is husband material. He just doesn’t like you is not currently streaming anywhere, but can be rented on Apple TV+. – Dessi Gomez
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The Lost Girl (2014)
Photo credit: Everett Collection
Based on Gillian Flynn’s best-selling novel and directed by David Fincher, Affleck plays Nick Dunne, a man suspected of killing his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) when she mysteriously disappears. His performance walks the line between innocence and guilt as clues emerge about what really happened. GoneGirl will be streamed on Fubo TV and MGM+. – Dessi Gomez
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THE WAY BACK (2020)
Photo credit: Everett Collection
Affleck is at his most emotional in this inspirational sports drama from Warner Bros., drawing on his experiences with alcoholism to shape his role as Jack Cunningham, a former high school basketball star turned alcoholic who is given a chance at redemption when he is asked to coach his alma mater’s struggling team. Although the film’s release was hampered by the Covid pandemic and it hit theaters just before the U.S. went into lockdown, critics praised Affleck’s performance as one of the best of his career. It was directed by Gavin O’Connor from a screenplay by Mare by Easttownis Brad Ingelsby, and Affleck is one of the producers. The way back is not currently streaming but can be rented on Apple TV+ and Prime Video. – Matt Grobar
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AIR (2023)
Photo credit: Prime Video
Maybe not as popular as The city or Argo but I’ve always thought it was Affleck’s best film as a director, and his performance as Nike founder Phil Knight is pretty great. Add to that an uplifting story about how Nike managed to get Michael Jordan as a customer, and a great performance from Matt Damon, and you have the ideal uplifting drama. Air is streaming on Prime Video. – Justin Kroll
