Ben Affleck Talks About the Director He Looks up To
After making his mark on the public stage with roles in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused and Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy, Ben Affleck quickly established himself as a versatile creative force.
Alongside his lifelong friend Matt Damon, he co-wrote the screenplay for Good Will Hunting, a project that would ultimately secure them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. This early triumph served as a springboard for a career that has spanned several decades and evolved in unexpected directions.
Before the transition into the new millennium, Affleck was primarily recognized as a leading man, but he soon expanded his repertoire to include directing. His directorial debut, the 2007 crime drama Gone Baby Gone, was met with critical praise and set the stage for subsequent successes like The Town and the Oscar-winning Argo.
Through these projects, he demonstrated a keen eye for tension and character, solidifying his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct and confident voice. In a recent conversation regarding his influences, Affleck revealed that he holds one particular director above all others: the acclaimed Paul Thomas Anderson.
During a discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, he admitted that Anderson is his favorite director of all time. Affleck shared that he frequently looks to the There Will Be Blood creator for inspiration and even felt a sense of nervous anticipation when showing him his own work.
The interaction occurred when Affleck decided to screen his film Air for Anderson, whom he considers a true genius. He confessed that Anderson’s reaction—describing the movie as just a fun movie—left him wondering if he had missed the mark of creating a masterpiece.
Affleck noted that he sometimes feels an Antonio Salieri sensation around the director, suggesting he is talented enough to recognize true greatness while feeling he may never quite reach that same level.
As of this year, Affleck is continuing to balance his directorial ambitions with high-profile acting roles. He recently starred in the Netflix crime thriller The Rip, which premiered on January 16 and reunited him once again with Matt Damon.
The film follows a team of Miami narcotics officers whose loyalties are tested after discovering a massive cash seizure, marking another successful collaboration for the duo under their Artists Equity production banner.
Looking forward, Affleck is set to release the kidnapping thriller Animals on Netflix later this year, a project he both directed and stars in alongside Gillian Anderson and Kerry Washington.
He is also expected to reprise his role as Christian Wolff in The Accountant 2, which is currently in the final stages of post-production. Between these projects and his ongoing work with the Eastern Congo Initiative, Affleck remains one of the most productive figures in the industry.
Personally, the actor has been focusing on his sobriety and family life following his high-profile divorce from Jennifer Lopez in late 2025. Sources close to the star indicate he is prioritizing his children and surrounding himself with a supportive community while navigating this new chapter of his life.
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