Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are American actors, screenwriters, and producers from Cambridge, Massachusetts who have frequently collaborated throughout their careers. The duo first gained recognition in 1997 after they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting, which they wrote and starred in together. Since then, they have kept a close public relationship, often working on projects and establishing businesses with one another.[1]
The pair met in their native Cambridge when Affleck was 8 and Damon age 10. By the late 1980s, the two decided on pursuing a career in cinema and opened a shared bank account in order to save money for auditions, depositing money either of them earned from early roles into the account.[2] In 1989, the duo worked on their first film together, Field of Dreams, in which they were cast as extras.
See main article: Good Will Hunting. While studying at Harvard University, Damon was tasked with writing a script, in which he asked Affleck to assist in presenting to his class. After dropping out, Damon moved into Affleck's apartment in Los Angeles and the two expanded on the assignment, writing what would become Good Will Hunting.[3] The film was met with widespread critical acclaim, with critics praising both Affleck and Damon's performances and writing. It went on to win the pair their first Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay and, in 2014, was featured on The Hollywood Reporter
As of 2023, the pair has collaborated on a total of 9 films, many of which received overwhelmingly positive reviews. In alignment with their work with Miramax and Kevin Smith, they have occasionally parodied their past roles.
| Field of Dreams | May 5, 1989 | Gordon Company | 88% | First professional collaboration, both uncredited | |
| School Ties | September 18, 1992 | Jaffe/Lansing Production | 60% | ||
| Good Will Hunting | December 5, 1997 | Be Gentleman | 97% | Written by Affleck and Damon | |
| Chasing Amy | April 4, 1997 | View Askew Productions | 87% | ||
| Dogma | November 12, 1999 | View Askew Productions and STKstudio | 67% | ||
| Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | August 24, 2001 | Dimension Films, Miramax, and View Askew Productions | 52% | Both play a satirical version of themselves, parodying a scene from Good Will Hunting. | |
| Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | October 15, 2019 | View Askew Productions, Miramax, Destro Films, Mewesings, SMODCO, Hideout Pictures, Intercut Capital, and Skit Bags Entertainment | 64% | Affleck satirically reprises his role as Holden McNeil, while Damon makes references to his role as Jason Bourne | |
| The Last Duel | October 15, 2021 | 20th Century Studios, Scott Free Productions, Pearl Street Films, and TSG Entertainment | 85% | Screenplay by Affleck, Damon, and Nicole Holofcener. Only Pearl Street Films production featuring both company founders. | |
| Air | April 5, 2023 | Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Artists Equity, and Mandalay Pictures | 93% | Directed by Affleck. Co-produced by the duo's new independent venture Artists Equity |
See also: Pearl Street Films and Artists Equity. In 2012, Affleck and Damon established Pearl Street Films, a film and production company based at Warner Bros. Studios.[5] After 10 years, the company was dissolved in 2022 with the final production being The Last Duel, a film starring the two founders. The duo instead shifted their focus onto their own independent film company, Artists Equity, which was founded in 2022. In 2023, the new studio released its first film, Air, which was directed by Affleck and starring them both, with Damon playing the lead role.
As a result of their shared upbringing and frequent collaboration, Affleck and Damon's friendship has garnered a lot of public attention, with Us Weekly dubbing it "a bromance worth celebrating."[6] The two frequently mention one another in interviews and other public forums, including hosting political fundraisers together.[7] On his relationship with Damon, Affleck said: "This friendship has been essential and defining and so important to me in my life. There were a few critical times, which are private and I don’t want to share, but where [Damon's] support was so profoundly meaningful to me that I don’t think I would’ve been able to be successful without it.”[8] Referencing his experience working with Affleck again on The Last Duel, Damon said "Why aren't we doing this more often? And getting into your 50s you just go: if we don't make it a priority, it just isn't going to happen.",[9] seemingly alluding to more collaborations between the two coming in the future.
The Damon–Affleck relationship is referenced in one of the 2023 Dunkin' Donuts commercials featuring Affleck.[10]