Ben Affleck's 10 Best Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Audiences' Score

Ben Affleck is an American actor, director, producer, and writer who began his career as a child, appearing in television shows including The Voyage of the Mimi and Against the Grain. Affleck later gained attention for his supporting role in the film Dazed and Confused, landing him his first leading role in the comedy, Glory Daze. The Film, Good Will Hunting, which was co-written and stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. In 1998, Affleck starred in the science fiction film, Armageddon, grossing $553 million worldwide and making it the highest-grossing film of the year.

Following his feature film directorial debut with Gone Baby Gone, the role led him to later star and direct in the Warner Bros films, The Town and Argo. In 2016, Ben Affleck starred as Batman in the superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, grossing $873 million and ranking it as his highest-grossing release. Here are a few of Ben Affleck's greatest films, as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Audiences' Score.

10 The Way Back - 84%

The Way Back

Release Date

March 5, 2020

Director

Gavin O'Connor

Cast

Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins, Hayes MacArthur, Da'Vinchi, Rachael Carpani

Rating

R

Runtime

108

Genres

Drama

The Way Back is a sports drama film, directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Brad Ingelsby. The film stars Ben Affleck with supporting roles including Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, and Janina Gavankar. The film centers around an alcoholic construction worker, Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck), who is recruited to become the head coach of the basketball team at a high school, where he used to be the star before he suddenly walked away from the game.

What Makes It Great

The film grossed a total of 15.5 million worldwide and critics praised Affleck's performance. Following his own struggles with alcoholism and rehab, Ben Affleck spoke about how the film acted as a form of therapy for him.

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9 Dogma - 85%

Dogma

Release Date

November 12, 1999

Director

Kevin Smith

Cast

Bud Cort, Barret Hackney, Jared Pfennigwerth, Kitao Sakurai, George Carlin, Brian O'Halloran

Rating

R

Runtime

130

Genres

Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Dogma is a fantasy comedy film that was written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the fourth film in Smith's View Askewniverse series, with an ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, George Carlin, Linda Fiorentino, Janeane Garofalo, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Salma Hayek, Bud Cort, Alan Rickman, Alanis Morissette and Jason Mewest. The story follows two fallen angels, Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon), who were ejected from Heaven by God and find themselves in Wisconsin. The duo later heads to New Jersey, where they find a loophole that will get them back into Heaven, however, there is a dangerous catch.

What Makes It Great

Grossing $44 million against a $10 million budget, Dogma was well received by critics and became the highest-grossing film in the View Askewniverse series. Kevin Smith received nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards, the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, and the Nebula Award for Best Script.

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8 The Town - 85%

The Town

Release Date

September 15, 2010

Director

Ben Affleck

Cast

Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Slaine

Rating

R

Runtime

123

Genres

Crime, Documentary, Drama, Thriller

The Town is a crime drama film that was co-written and directed by star Ben Affleck. The ensemble cast includes Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper, and Slaine. Based on actual events, Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) leads a group of ruthless bank robbers. After he is forced to take bank employee Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) hostage, Doug falls in love with Claire and decides he wants out of his criminal life.

What Makes It Great

The Town received praise from critics for its direction, screenplay, editing, and performances, especially Jeremy Renner's performance as James "Jem" Coughlin. Ben Affleck was nominated for Best Director of the Satellite Award and the film won the National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films and Best Acting by an Ensemble Cast.

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7 Gone Girl - 87%

Gone Girl

Release Date

October 1, 2014

Director

David Fincher

Cast

Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens

Rating

R

Runtime

145

Genres

Drama, Documentary, Mystery, Thriller

Gone Girl is a psychological thriller directed by David Fincher and written by Gillian Flynn, based on her 2012 novel of the same name. The film stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon. Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is a former New York-based writer who becomes the prime suspect in the sudden disappearance of his glamorous wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike). However, things aren't quite what they seem.

What Makes It Great

Gone Girl garnered awards and nominations in a variety of categories with praise for its direction. At the 72nd Golden Globe Awards, the film received four nominations for Best Director for David Fincher, Best Actress in a Drama for Rosamund Pike, Best Screenplay for Gillian Flynn, and Best Original Score.

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6 Dazed and Confused - 90%

Dazed and Confused

Release Date

September 24, 1993

Director

Richard Linklater

Cast

Jason London, Joey Lauren Adams, Milla Jovovich, Shawn Andrews, Rory Cochrane, Adam Goldberg

Rating

R

Runtime

103

Genres

Comedy, Documentary, Drama

Dazed and Confused is a coming-of-age comedy film that was written and directed by Richard Linklater. The film follows a large ensemble cast that includes Jason London, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Cole Hauser, Adam Goldberg, Parker Posey, Nicky Katt, Joey Lauren Adams, and Rory Cochrane as a group of rowdy teenagers who are celebrating the last day of high school in 1976. The incoming freshman attempts to avoid being hazed by the seniors, most importantly by the sadistic bully, Fred O'Bannion (Ben Affleck).

What Makes It Great

Ben Affleck drew on memories of his alcoholic father to portray his role as the bully O'Bannioin while director Linklater stated that he cast Affleck because he was smart and full of life. Entertainment Weekly magazine ranked the film third on a list of the 50 Best High School Movies while also ranking it 10th on its Funniest Movies of the Past 25 Years list.

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5 Argo - 90%

Argo

Release Date

March 22, 2012

Director

Ben Affleck

Cast

Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan

Rating

R

Runtime

120

Genres

Biography, Documentary, Drama, History, Thriller

Argo is a historical drama thriller directed, produced, and stars Ben Affleck. The screenplay was written by Chris Terrio and features supporting roles from Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman. Setting in 1979, the film follows CIA Agent extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), who is called in by the U.S. government to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran. Mendez plans to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and trains the refugees to act as his "film" crew, to help them escape.

What Makes It Great

At the 85th Academy Awards, Argo received seven nominations and won three for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film also earned five Golden Globe Award nominations and won Best Motion Picture Drama and Best Director. At the 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards, Argo won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and Alan Arkin was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.

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4 Jay and Silent Bob Reboot - 93%

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot

Release Date

October 15, 2019

Director

Kevin Smith

Cast

Melissa Benoist, Matt Damon, Chris Hemsworth, Ben Affleck, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Smith

Rating

R

Runtime

95

Genres

Comedy

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is a satirical stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith with co-star Jason Mewes. The film is the eighth film in the View Askewniverse and features cameos from Brian O'Halloran, Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Justin Long, Shannon Elizabeth, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer, Melissa Benoist, Craig Robinson, Tommy Chong, Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon. Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) embark on a cross-country mission to stop Hollywood from filming a reboot that is based on them. Upon their journey, the pair meet Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck), who tells Jay that fatherhood gave him a new purpose, inspiring Jay to abort the mission and be a father to Milly (Harley Quinn Smith).

What Makes It Great

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is the first film to have per-screen averages over $60,000 four different times in its domestic run. Initially, Ben Affleck was not involved in the film and when asked in an interview if he got the call for the reboot, Affleck said "Your guess is as good as mine." Following Ben's interview, Kevin reached out to Affleck and wrote a scene for Ben's character, Holden McNeil, from the 1997 film, Chasing Amy.

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3 Zack Snyder's Justice League - 95%

HBO Max

Zack Snyder's Justice League, often referred to as the "Snyder Cut," is the 2021 director's cut of the 2017 superhero film, Justice League. This version of the film was Zack Snyder's original vision before he departed from the production and subsequent studio interference. The film follows Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller, and Superman (Henry Cavill) as they form an alliance to stop the extradimensional New God Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and his army of Parademons who are attempting to conquer Earth.

What Makes It Great

In Canada, the film became the most streamed content of all time on Crave, with 1.1 million viewers in one week, leading to the service growing in subscribers by 12%. According to The Hollywood Reporter, critics praised Snyder's direction and characterization and Variety magazine later noted that most critics felt the film was superior to the 2017 version.

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2 Good Will Hunting - 94%

Good Will Hunting

Release Date

December 5, 1997

Director

Gus Van Sant

Cast

Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, Minnie Driver, Casey Affleck

Rating

R

Runtime

126

Genres

Drama, Documentary

Good Will Hunting is a psychological drama film directed by Gus Van Sant. The story follows Will Hunting (Matt Damon), who is a self-taught genius recently paroled from jail, who works as a janitor at MIT and spends most of his free time drinking with his friends Chuckie (Ben Affleck), Billy (Cole Hauser), and Morgan (Casey Affleck). Professor Gerald Lambeau discovers Will's talents and decides to help Will reach his potential. However, when Will is arrested for attacking a police officer, Professor Lambeau arranges for Will to avoid jail time if he agrees to study mathematics under Lambeau's supervision and receive treatment from therapist, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams).

What Makes It Great

Good Will Hunting received positive reviews from critics, grossing over $225 million worldwide. At the 70th Academy Awards, the film received nominations in nine categories, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won Robin Williams an award for Best Supporting Actor, and Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won the award for Best Original Screenplay.

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1 Air - 98%

Air (2023)

Release Date

April 5, 2023

Director

Ben Affleck

Cast

Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina, Viola Davis, Chris Tucker, Jay Mohr

Rating

R

Runtime

1hr 52min

Genres

Drama

Air is a biographical sports drama film that was directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. The film is based on true events about the origin of the basketball shoe line, Air Jordan, and which a Nike employee seeks to strike a business deal with rookie player, Michael Jordan. The film is set in 1984 when Nike is on the verge of shutting down its basketball shoe division due to low sales. Marketing VP Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), along with co-founder and CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck), tasked Nike's basketball talent scout, Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), to come up with a new spokesperson for Nike basketball shoes.

What Makes It Great

The film grossed $90 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics, particularly for Ben Affleck's direction, Alex Convery's screenplay, and the performances of the cast. Michael Jordan also met with Affleck before the beginning of production and gave the project his blessing. Jordan asked Ben for four changes to the script, one of them being a request that Viola Davis portray his mother, Deloris Jordan.

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