The One Film That Made Ben Affleck Rethink His Career

Ben Affleck first made a name for himself in the early 1990s, popping up in cult favorites like Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused and Kevin Smith’s Mallrats. However, it was his work on Good Will Hunting that truly put him on the map.

Proving to the world that he was much more than just a leading man, he was a serious writer and dramatic talent. Following that success, high-profile projects like Armageddon and Shakespeare in Love solidified his status as a major Hollywood player.

Unfortunately, the early 2000s brought a series of career choices that nearly derailed his momentum. Titles like the poorly received Pearl Harbor, The Sum of All Fears, and the widely mocked Daredevil made him a frequent target for critics. During this time, his personal life also became a tabloid obsession thanks to his relationship with Jennifer Lopez, creating a perfect storm of negative publicity.

The lowest point came in 2003 with the release of the romantic comedy Gigli, where he starred alongside Lopez as a mobster named Larry Gigli. Despite the massive fame of its lead stars, the movie was a disaster at the box office, earning only about $7 million against a staggering $75 million budget. Today, it is frequently cited as one of the most significant flops in cinematic history.

Affleck eventually found his footing again in 2006 with a powerful performance as George Reeves in Hollywoodland. This sparked a major career resurgence, leading to his successful directorial debut with Gone Baby Gone in 2007. He followed this with a string of hits like The Town and the Oscar-winning Argo, along with memorable acting roles in Gone Girl and his stint as Batman.

Interestingly, Affleck later reflected on the failure of Gigli as a crucial turning point. He mentioned that he might never have tried directing if that movie hadn’t pushed him to find a new path.

He even credited the film’s director, Martin Brest, for being really gifted and teaching him a great deal about the craft, despite the movie’s poor reception. He ultimately viewed the experience as a gift because it led him to find the real love of his professional life.

Looking back on his early efforts, Affleck has been quite critical of his own work. He once described his very first short film about a man with a three-picture deal at Disney as horrible and atrocious. It seems that his years spent under the microscope of harsh criticism have made him his own toughest critic.

As of February, Ben Affleck is enjoying another major peak in his career, particularly through his collaboration with long-time friend Matt Damon. The duo recently released their high-octane action thriller The Rip on Netflix in January, where they star as narcotics officers in Miami. The film has been a massive hit for the streamer, with critics praising the classic chemistry that only two lifelong friends can bring to the screen.

Affleck is also staying busy behind the camera with his upcoming directorial project Animals, which is slated for release later this year. He recently delighted fans by appearing in a new star-studded Super Bowl commercial for Dunkin’, reuniting with television legends Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc.

Do you think Ben Affleck’s evolution into a celebrated director has permanently overshadowed the tabloid-heavy “Bennifer” era of his early career? Share your thoughts in the comments.