Variety Ranks Matt Damon’s 12 Best Film Performances
10 reported
Variety has published a ranking of Matt Damon's 12 best theatrical film performances, celebrating the actor's career from his breakthrough in "Good Will Hunting" to his recent role in "The Odyssey." The list, based solely on Damon's film work, excludes his Emmy-nominated television performance in "Behind the Candelabra." Damon has earned five Academy Award nominations across four categories over nearly three decades. The ranking includes performances in films such as "Invictus," "Oppenheimer," "Saving Private Ryan," "The Martian," "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Dogma," "True Grit," "The Departed," "Stillwater," "The Odyssey," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," and "Good Will Hunting." The article notes that Damon co-wrote the screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" with childhood friend Ben Affleck, which won the Academy Award for original screenplay. Damon's recent collaborations include working with director Christopher Nolan on "Interstellar," "Oppenheimer," and "The Odyssey."
What’s reported
Variety ranks Matt Damon's 12 best film performances, excluding his TV work.
Damon has earned five Academy Award nominations across four categories.
"Good Will Hunting" grossed more than $225 million worldwide against a reported $10 million budget.
Damon co-wrote "Good Will Hunting" with Ben Affleck; the film won Oscars for supporting actor (Robin Williams) and original screenplay.
Ben Affleck, at 25, became the youngest person to win the original screenplay Oscar; Damon was 27.
Damon's Oscar nominations: lead actor and original screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" (1997), supporting actor for "Invictus" (2009), lead actor for "The Martian" (2015), and best picture as producer of "Manchester by the Sea" (2016).
"The Bourne Ultimatum" won three Academy Awards for film editing, sound mixing, and sound editing.
"The Departed" won the Academy Award for best picture.
"The Odyssey" (2026) is described as shot entirely on IMAX 70mm and one of the best-reviewed films of Nolan's career.
Honorable mentions include "Interstellar," "Margaret," "Ocean's Eleven," and "Thor: Ragnarok."
Key figures
Matt Damon, actor
Ben Affleck, actor and co-writer
Robin Williams, actor
Gus Van Sant, director of "Good Will Hunting"
Clint Eastwood, director of "Invictus"
Christopher Nolan, director of "Interstellar," "Oppenheimer," and "The Odyssey"
Ridley Scott, director of "The Martian" and "The Last Duel"
Kevin Smith, director of "Dogma"
Coen brothers, directors of "True Grit"
Martin Scorsese, director of "The Departed"
Anthony Minghella, director of "The Talented Mr. Ripley"
Morgan Freeman, actor
Tom Hanks, actor
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor
Mark Wahlberg, actor
Vera Farmiga, actress
Abigail Breslin, actress
Camille Cottin, actress
Jude Law, actor
Gwyneth Paltrow, actress
Cate Blanchett, actress
Philip Seymour Hoffman, actor
Minnie Driver, actress
Kenneth Lonergan, screenwriter
Casey Affleck, actor
Nicole Holofcener, co-writer
William Monahan, screenwriter
Harrison Young, actor
Sources: Variety
