Ben Affleck Movies And TV Shows

As a wee lad, Ben Affleck found himself under the klieg lights, squinting into a career that began with an eclectic mix of TV gigs, even scoring a gig on the PBS brain booster, The Voyage of the Mimi. It was a schoolyard bully gig in the sports flick, School Ties, and some Ben Affleck movies and tv dramas like Against the Grain started turning heads his way.

However, it was his stint as a high-school know-it-all in Linklater’s groovy hit, Dazed and Confused, and the lead role in Glory Daze, that really got the Affleck train rolling. By ’97, Affleck was the cat’s pajamas, playing a comic geek in Smith’s indie darling, Chasing Amy.

But it was the Damon-Affleck Oscar-winning buddy script for Good Will Hunting that sent Ben rocketing skyward and other Ben Affleck movies and tv shows like Nevada, The Company, Project Greenlight, State of Play, and Saturday Night Live. He then blew up big time in Michael Bay’s sci-fi blockbuster Armageddon, affirming his spot as a Hollywood A-lister.

Amid the stardom, Affleck donned the producer’s hat, co-founding Live Planet and churning out Project Greenlight, an on-screen fairy godmother to budding filmmakers. Despite wearing a critical bullseye in Bay‘s Pearl Harbor, Affleck laughed all the way to the bank as the flick cleaned up at the box office.

The golden boy’s luster dimmed a touch with a string of cinematic faceplants, Gigli being the most notorious among them. But our boy Ben dusted himself off and made a triumphant return in Hollywoodland, earning a Golden Globe nod for his portrayal of George Reeves. And just like that, Affleck was back in the game.

Best Ben Affleck Movies And TV Shows

Good Will Hunting

‘Good Will Hunting‘ is a 1997 cinematic jewel, directed by the savvy Gus Van Sant and scripted by the dynamic duo, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The cast included big names like Robin Williams, Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, and Minnie Driver.

The flick charmed the pants off critics and cinemagoers alike, raking in a cool $225 million box office, and making quite a handsome profit from its modest $10 million budget. Picture this – at the 70th Academy Awards, it was like ‘Good Will Hunting’ went to the candy store, grabbing nominations in nine categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.

And boy, they hit the jackpot, bagging not one, but two shiny Oscar statues: Best Supporting Ben Affleck movies Actor for our beloved genie, Williams, and Best Original Screenplay for the best buds, Affleck and Damon.

Flash forward to 2014, ‘Good Will Hunting‘ was still getting the love, snatching the 53rd spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of “100 Favorite Films“. Now, that’s what you call a timeless classic!

Argo

Argo, the 2012 Hollywood roller-coaster ride, is one of the most hit Ben Affleck movies. The actor wore many hats in this movie – he directed it, produced it, and even played the lead! The script, a Chris Terrio masterpiece, was conjured from two sources: Tony Mendez‘s memoir, The Master of Disguise, and a Wired article by Joshuah Bearman, spinning a tale that’s stranger than fiction.

We’re talking about the real-life “Canadian Caper“, where Mendez, a crafty CIA operative, pulled off a daring rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran by masquerading as a sci-fi film crew during the Iran hostage crisis.

The movie was showered with accolades, earning props for the stellar performances (Arkin and Goodman, we’re looking at you), Affleck’s sharp direction, Terrio’s engrossing script, crisp editing, and Alexandre Desplat’s gripping score.

Sure, there were some history buffs and those involved in the actual operation who nitpicked about historical accuracy, but when the dust settled, Argo emerged triumphant at the 85th Academy Awards, snagging seven nominations and walking away with three gold statuettes: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Talk about a Hollywood ending!

Gone Girl

In 2014, David Fincher took the wheel of ‘Gone Girl‘, a psychological thriller that had audiences gripping their popcorn. And also made it a part of some of the amazing Ben Affleck movies out there.

Gillian Flynn, the clever mind behind the story, adapted her own novel for the screen, making sure the twists and turns stayed intact.

The cast was a political thriller stunner, and Carrie Coon brought the drama to life. Nick Dunne, played by Affleck, finds himself in hot water when his wife, Amy (Pike), mysteriously vanishes in Missouri. Cue the suspenseful music!

This Ben Affleck movie strutted its stuff as the opening act at the 52nd New York Historical Film Festival on September 26, 2014, before hitting theaters across the States on October 3rd, courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Fincher must have been popping champagne bottles when he saw those numbers, as it became his biggest moneymaker yet.

The Town

In 2010, ‘The Town‘ dropped, turning the crime drama genre on its head. This was another Ben Affleck extravaganza – he wrote, directed, and even starred in the movie, all while adapting Chuck Hogan’s nail-biter, ‘Prince of Thieves‘. The cast was no less remarkable, boasting Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, and a list of others.

The plot had a delicious twist, involving a Boston bank robber (Affleck) who falls for a victim of his past heists while plotting one last job at Fenway Park. Talk about love in unexpected places! ‘The Town’ made its big debut at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2010, before hitting U.S. screens on September 17.

Some Ben Affleck movies such as Tale of Love and Loot, inspired by actual events, got critics and audiences buzzing, with praise going to Affleck’s direction, the gripping screenplay, the snappy editing, and the cast’s performances. Renner, in particular, received a lot of back pats. With a worldwide gross of $154 million, the movie laughed all the way to the bank.

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice

The two biggies of the DC Comics world, Batman and Superman, lock horns on the big screen Vigilante justice. Served up by Warner Bros. Boston crime pictures, this superhero showdown was the sequel to 2013’s ‘Man of Steel‘ and the second film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Our antagonist, Lex Luthor, however, creates a devious trap by tricking Batman into a confrontation with Superman, whose demise is Luthor’s main concern. Talk about a superhero grudge match! The film’s announcement was like Christmas coming early for comic book fans, happening at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con right after ‘Man of Steel‘ dropped.

Snyder revealed the film would take a leaf from Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ but with an original twist. This Batman was a total revamp from Christian Bale’s portrayal in ‘The Dark Knight Trilogy,’ while also drawing from the plotline “The Death of Superman“.

Pearl Harbor

Back in 2001, ‘Pearl Harbor‘ hit the screens, a romantic war drama that made viewers swoon and cringe in equal measures. This Michael Bay spectacle was cooked up by Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer, and penned by Randall Wallace. The film showcased a starry lineup, including Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, and Alec Baldwin, among others.

This Ben Affleck movie spun a Hollywood-ized tale of the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, blending it with a whirlwind love triangle story and the Doolittle Raid.

While it wasn’t exactly a textbook retelling of history, it sure was a visual treat. Despite the critics rolling their eyes at the over-the-top drama, bloated runtime, sleepy pacing, cheesy dialogues, and the general butchering of historical facts, the movie became a box office juggernaut.

Armageddon

‘Armageddon‘, the 1998 sci-fi disaster flick, was a classic Michael Bay thrill ride, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and delivered to us by Touchstone Pictures. The plot was like a rollercoaster on steroids, featuring a gang of rough-and-tumble deep-core drillers, recruited by NASA of all people, to play superhero and save Earth from a huge, grumpy asteroid.

Now that’s a job description! This Ben Affleck movie cast was as star-studded as the night sky, with Bruce Willis leading the pack, and Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, and others joining the asteroid-busting mission.

Now, did the film have critics rolling their eyes? Absolutely. But did it rake in the big bucks? You betcha! ‘Armageddon‘ bulldozed its way to becoming the highest-grossing film of 1998, pulling in a staggering $553 million worldwide against a $140 million budget. Talk about a smashing success! And it is among some of the best Ben Affleck movies out there.

The Accountant

Cue 2016’s ‘The Accountant‘, an action-thriller where number-crunching meets bone-crunching. Under Gavin O’Connor’s direction, and penned by Bill Dubuque, this flick had Ben Affleck leading a star-studded cast that included Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and others. Affleck’s Christian Wolff is no ordinary bean counter.

He’s a certified public accountant with high-functioning autism who specializes in cleaning up financial messes for not-so-nice clients, ranging from CIA operative criminal enterprises to terrorist outfits. Imagine a math whiz version of Jason Bourne.

While it might not have been everyone’s cup of tea, Affleck’s performance got a thumbs-up, as did the film’s heart-pounding action sequences, featuring pencak silat, a martial art from Indonesia. So if you’re in the mood for a little arithmetic acrobatics, ‘The Accountant’ just might add up to a good time!

Daredevil

In 2003, ‘Daredevil‘ leaped onto the silver screen, giving comic book nerds and action junkies their superhero fix. Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, the film was inspired by Stan Lee and Bill Everett’s Marvel Comics creation.

Who wore the mask of Daredevil, you ask? None other than Ben Affleck, playing Matt Murdock by day, a blind lawyer with a passion for justice, and a masked vigilante by night. Throw in a love interest played by Jennifer Garner, a ruthless assassin portrayed by Colin Farrell, and a crime lord brought to life by Michael Clarke Duncan, and you’ve got a recipe for comic book chaos.

Born in the labs of 20th Century Fox in 1997, ‘Daredevil‘ passed through Columbia Pictures in 1999 before landing at New Regency in 2000. Despite the film’s setting being Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, the magic was made primarily in Downtown Los Angeles.

This Ben Affleck movie’s visual effects were whipped up by Rhythm and Hues Studios, while the score was cooked up by Graeme Revell. And let’s not forget the sizzling soundtrack, featuring various artists, which set eardrums on fire in February 2003.

Released by 20th Century Fox on Valentine’s Day, ‘Daredevil‘ swooped into American theaters, met with mixed reviews. Critics praised the action sequences, performances, soundtrack, storyline, visual style, and stunts, but took a swipe at its lack of ambition. And it is on our list of some of the best Ben Affleck movies.

The Voyage of the Mimi

A band of intrepid explorers aboard the ship Mimi, charting the ocean deep and counting humpback whales, all for your educational entertainment. ‘The Voyage of the Mimi‘ surely served as one of the best Ben Affleck movies.

This 13-episode TV gem was created by the Bank Street College of Education in 1984 and beamed into living rooms across America via PBS. The goal? To make science and math cool for middle-schoolers by showing how these subjects work in the real world. Each episode was like a thrilling, interactive lesson that made textbooks seem downright boring.

For those who missed out on the televised adventures or just wanted a repeat viewing, the series was released on VHS and LaserDisc. And for the digital-savvy crowd, ‘The Voyage of the Mimi’ set sail on iTunes U in August 2014.

So, whether you’re a science geek, a math enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys an excellent whale-watching voyage, ‘The Voyage of the Mimi‘ is a cruise worth taking. All aboard! Moreover, it also garnered a lot of love from the fans making it one of the best Ben Affleck movies.

Push

In the TV world of whodunits, ‘Push, Nevada‘ hit the scene in 2002, spinning tales of mystery in the, you guessed it, fictitious town of Push, Nevada. This ABC series kickstarted on September 17, promising viewers a thrilling ride filled with intrigue and suspense. But hold onto your remote, because this ride was shorter than expected.

After just seven episodes, ‘Push, Nevada‘ found itself on the chopping block, becoming one of the inaugural members of the Fall 2002’s “Axed Shows Club“. So, if you’re in the mood for a lightning-fast binge-watch full of riddles and enigmas, take a quick pit stop in ‘Push, Nevada‘. Just don’t get too attached—it’s a short visit!