Since the 90s, Matt Damon has been considered one of the most successful and sought-after actors in Hollywood. The Harvard graduate rose to critical acclaim after the release of his 1997 romance/drama Good Will Hunting which he not only starred in but wrote the screenplay for alongside fellow actor, Ben Affleck. The success of Good Will Hunting was huge, and the film made Damon an Academy Award winner at the young age of 27.
Since then, Damon has gone on to work with some of the most celebrated actors and directors in the business from Steven Spielberg, who just celebrated his 75th birthday, to Martin Scorsese and most recently Ridley Scott. His films have collectively earned almost $4 billion at the North American box office, making Damon one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. In 2021, two films were released starring Damon, the first being Tom McCarthy’s Stillwater, which was released in July, and the second is Ridley Scott’s divisive The Last Duel, released in October. Here are eight of the best Matt Damon’s movies, ranked.
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8 Ocean’s Eleven
When you have a film starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy García, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts, it’s bound to be great. Ocean’s Eleven is the 2001 crime/comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh, who has collaborated with Damon several times throughout the course of his career. The actor and director teamed up on several films together including The Informant!, No Sudden Move, Behind The Candelabra, and Contagion. Ocean’s Eleven ended up grossing over $450 million at the box office and quickly became a fan favorite as well as a classic in terms of heist movies.
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7 Ford v Ferrari
Ford v Ferrari, released in 2019 is not only one of Matt Damon’s more recent films, but one of his most critically acclaimed as we,,. This entertaining sports drama reached great success at the Academy Awards in 2020, receiving four nominations including one for Best Picture. The film ended up winning Oscars for Best Sound Editing and Best Film Editing. Christian Bale and Matt Damon who play Ken Miles and Caroll Shelby, respectively, are great together on screen, and the two actors’ performances are a big part of what makes Ford v Ferrari so good.
6 The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity is an action/thriller that had a huge impact on Damon’s career. His portrayal of Jason Bourne became one of the actor’s most iconic roles, and the movie ended up evolving into a major film franchise. Paul Greengrass, Tony Gilroy, and Doug Liman were all directors throughout the making of the epic and adventurous franchise. The Bourne films may not be a part of Damon’s most acclaimed work, but they have been leaving impacts on audiences everywhere since their initial release and are still loved by many.
5 The Martian
Matt Damon gives a brilliant performance in Ridley Scott’s The Martian. With ninety-one percent critics score on rotten tomatoes, a box office earning of over six hundred million dollars and seven Oscar nominations it’s safe to say this film was a huge success. Matt Damon plays Mark Watney an astronaut stranded on the planet Mars, who must fight for his life with the little resources he has in hopes of being rescued. The Martian is a must-watch and one of a few collaborations between Ridley Scott and Matt Damon.
4 The Last Duel
The Last Duel is a story of bravery, strength, and survival. When Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) brutally attacks Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer), the wife of highly respected knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), she comes forward and accuses her attacker. While this decision is extremely brave of her, it puts all three characters lives at risk during a duel from which none of them may make it out alive. The film was released in October 2021 and has divided critics and general audiences alike.
3 The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is an incredible film about crime, family, and loyalty that stars the brilliant Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon. The film was a huge success at the 2007 Academy Awards, earning five Oscar nominations and winning four of those categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Thelma Schoonmaker edited The Departed and is one of Martin Scorsese’s long time collaborators. She worked with him on some of his biggest films including Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Gangs of New York.
2 Saving Private Ryan
DreamWorks Pictures
This epic war film tells the story of solders in combat fighting each day for their lives and honoring their country by fulfilling their duties of finding Private Ryan and discovering their own personal strengths. In addition to Matt Damon’s incredible performance as Private Ryan, Tom Hanks carries the film as Captain Miller who is in charge of the mission to find Ryan. Steven Spielberg is a master at his craft and his work as director of Saving Private Ryan is a perfect example of that—it even won him the Academy Award for Best Director.
1 Good Will Hunting
Coming in at number one on the list of the best Matt Damon movies is the timeless romance/drama Good Will Hunting. Not only did Matt Damon star in the film as Will Hunting, he and Ben Affleck wrote the screenplay for the film together and took home the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Robin Williams is by far one of the best aspects of Good Will Hunting. He gave one of the greatest performances of his career as Sean Maguire, the kindhearted and down to earth therapist who seems to be the only person who can get through to Will. Robin Williams also won his first Academy Award for his role in the movie in the category of Best Supporting Actor. With a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and the fact that it is still reaching audiences twenty-five years after its release, this film is a must-watch and one of the best movies of the 90s, period.
