Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt or simply Ben Affleck as the world knows him is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. He began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educational series “The Voyage of the Mimi”.
Ben Affleck is a renowned actor in his field and with his many accolades and his vast fan following, its not a mystery why his movies are such a hit! In this article, we bring to you 20 of the Best Ben Affleck movies that are a must-watch. So sit tight as we go through the list and you can be sure to see some unforgettable characters as Batman included! So, in no particular order, let’s begin!
1. Argo (2012)
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Storyline: An ex-filtration specialist masquerades as a Hollywood producer in order to rescue six Americans who are held captive in Tehran during the US hostage crisis in Iran. Ben Affleck plays the role of Tony Mendez in the movie.
Ben Affleck in Argo
Mendez led the rescue of six US diplomats from Tehran, Iran, under the guise of filming a science fiction film during 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis. The movie received seven nominations at the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The film also earned 5 Golden Globe Award nominations! As far as ratings go, “Argo” is rated a 7.7/10 on IMDb and a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Ben Affleck
Runtime:2 hours 10 minutes
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2. The Town (2010)
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Storyline: A proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold Claire, the manager, hostage. Things begin to get complicated when one of the crew members falls in love with Claire. Ben Affleck stars in the role of Doug MacRay in the movie. The movie is rated a 7.5/10 on IMDb and a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ben Affleck in “The Town”
The movie is adapted from Chuck Hogan’s novel “Prince of Thieves”. It also stars Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chris Cooper. The film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2010!
Director: Ben Affleck
Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes
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3. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Genre: Drama/Indie Film
Storyline: Will Hunting, a genius in mathematics, solves all the difficult mathematical problems. When he faces an emotional crisis, he takes help from psychiatrist Dr. Sean Maguireto, who helps him recover. Ben Affleck can be seen in the role of Chuckie Sullivan in the movie.
Good Will Hunting
Through his therapy sessions, Will re-evaluates his relationships with his best friend, his girlfriend and himself, facing the significant task of confronting his past and thinking of his future. For the 1998 Oscars, the film was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, including the one for Best Picture and it won two for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay. The movie is rated an 8.3/10 on IMDb and a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
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4. Hollywoodland (2006)
Genre: Mystery/Crime
Storyline: When Hollywood superstar George Reeves dies in his home, private detective Louis Simo is hired to investigate his death and gets caught in a web of lies involving a big studio executive’s wife. Ben Affleck plays the role of George Reeves in the movie.
Ben Affleck in Hollywoodland
More about the characters, Louis Simo, a fictional character and private detective is investigating Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), who was involved in a long romantic relationship with Reeves and was the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Reeves ended the affair and got engaged to a younger woman, aspiring actress Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney). The movie is rated a 6.5/10 on IMDb and a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Allen Coulter
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
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5. Gone Girl (2014)
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Storyline: Nick Dunne discovers that the entire media focus has shifted on him when his wife, Amy Dunne disappears on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary. This psychological thriller shows Ben Affleck in the role of Nick Dunne. The movie is based on the novel of the same title, written by Gillian Flynn.
Ben Affleck in “Gone Girl”
The film was well-received by critiques and became a commercial success. Rosamund Pike’s performance as Amy was particularly praised and she received various nominations for the same, including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award. The movie is rated an 8.1/10 on IMDb and an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: David Fincher
Runtime: 2 hours 29 minutes
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6. Jersey Girl (2004)
Genre: Romance/Comedy-Drama
Storyline: Ollie Trinke, a music executive, loses his wife in childbirth and raises his newborn daughter, Gertie, with the help of his annoying father, Bart Trinkie, who lives in New Jersey. Ben Affleck plays the role of Ollie Trinkie in the movie.
Jersey Girl
“Jersey Girl” received mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 42% based on 173 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3/10. It was rated a 6.2/10 on IMDb.
Director: Kevin Smith
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
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7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Storyline: Bruce Wayne, a billionaire, believes that Superman is a threat to humanity after his battle in Metropolis. Thus, he decides to adopt his mantle of Batman and defeat him once and for all. The movie stars Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, also known as, Batman. It is a follow up of 2013’s Man of Steel and the second installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Caste of “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice”
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the first live-action film to feature Batman and Superman together, as well as the first live-action cinematic portrayal of Wonder Woman. In the film, criminal mastermind Lex Luthor manipulates Batman into a preemptive battle with Superman, whom Luthor is obsessed with. A sequel, Justice League was released in November 2017. The movie is rated a 6.5/10 on IMDb and a 28% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Zack Snyder
Runtime:3 hours 3 minutes
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8. Daredevil (2003)
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Storyline: Matt Murdoch, a blind lawyer, vows to fight crime in New York City and assumes a secret identity of Daredevil. However, his mission attracts the ire of Kingpin, who is determined to kill him. In yet another superhero role, Ben Affleck plays the part of Matt Murdock in the movie “Daredevil”.
Ben Affleck as Daredevil
The film began development in 1997 at 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures, before New Regency acquired the rights in 2000. Johnson shot the film primarily in Downtown Los Angeles. The movie was rated a 5.3/10 on IMDb and a 43% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes
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9. The Way Back (2020)
Genre: Sports/Drama
Storyline: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later, he’s now stuck in a meaningless job and struggling with alcoholism- the very thing that ruined his marriage and his hope for a better life. But Jack soon gets a shot at redemption when he becomes the basketball coach for his alma mater, a program that has fallen on hard times since his teenage glory days. Ben Affleck plays the lead role of Jack Cunningham in the movie.
Ben Affleck in “The Way Back”
The film received positive reviews from critics, with Ben Affleck’s performance receiving praise. The movie was rated a 6.8/10 on IMDb and an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is by far, one of the most recent movies starring Ben Affleck.
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
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10. The Accountant (2016)
Genre: Action/Thriller
Storyline: Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a mathematics savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Using a small-town CPA office as a cover, he makes his living as a freelance accountant for dangerous criminal organizations. With a treasury agent (K.K.Simmons) hot on his heels, Christian takes on a state-of-the-art robotics company as a legitimate client. As Wolff gets closer to the truth about a discrepancy that involves millions of dollars, the body count starts to rise.
Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick in “The Accountant”
The movie received praise for its action sequences that featured “Pencak silat” which is an Indonesian martial art. The movie was rated a 7.3/10 on IMDb and a 52% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
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11. Live By Night (2016)
Genre: Crime/Drama
Storyline: A group of gangsters from Boston set up a shop that proves to be a competition for the ku klux klan. They have a final face-off with their competitors to prove their dominance. Ben Affleck plays the role of Joe Coughlin in the movie. Joe is an ambitious Ybor City Bootlegger who becomes a notorious gangster.
Ben Affleck in “Live By Night”
It is produced by Warner Bros., and premiered in New York City in 2016. The film also stars Ellie Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Messina, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana and Chris Cooper. It is rated a 6.4/10 on IMDb and a 35% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Ben Affleck
Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes
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12. Chasing Amy (1997)
Genre: Romance/Rom-Com
Storyline: Holden and Banky, two pals, are authors of popular comical books. Holden is smitten with Alyssa, a lesbian. His bond with her weakens his friendship with Banky. But he cannot cope with Alyssa’s past. Ben Affleck plays the role of Holden McNeil in the film.
Ben Affleck in “Chasing Amy”
In Japan, the screenplay of Chasing Amy was adapted into a novel by Kenichi Eguchi and published by Aoyama Publishing. The unique concept of the book is that it is roughly half-novel, half-manga, with Myoko Anno providing the art for the comic book pages. The movie is rated a 7.2/10 on IMDb and an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Kevin Smith
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
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13. Dogma (1999)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Storyline: Two fallen angels who were ejected from paradise find themselves banned in Wisconsin. They are now headed for New Jersey where they find a loophole that can get them back into heaven. The only catch is that it will destroy humanity. A group comes together to stop them. Ben Affleck plays the role of Bartleby in the movie.
Ben Affleck as Bartleby
The film’s irreverent treatment of Catholicism and the Catholic Church triggered considerable controversy, even before its opening. The Catholic League denounced it as blasphemy. Organized protests delayed its release in many countries and led to at least two death threats against Smith. However, the movie was well received and is rated a 7.3/10 on IMDb and a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Kevin Smith
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
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14. Armageddon (1998)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Storyline: NASA astronauts observe that a large asteroid will hit earth in the next eighteen days and destroy life. They realize that their only hope of survival is Harry Stamper, an oil driller. Ben Affleck plays the role of A.J. Frost, one of the astronauts in the movie.
Ben Affleck in “Armageddon”
Though the film was released to mostly negative reviews, it was an international box-office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1998 worldwide, although astronomers noted that the similar disaster film Deep Impact was more scientifically accurate. The movie is rated a 6.7/10 on IMDb and a 38% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Michael Bay
Runtime: 2 hours 33 minutes
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15. State Of Play (2009)
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Storyline: When a Congressman’s assistant is murdered, a team of reporters join forces with the police to get to the bottom of the case. They delve into the politicians past to find answers. Ben Affleck plays the role of Stephen Collins, the Congressman, in the movie. The film is based on the television serial of the same name.
Ben Affleck in “State Of Play”
Macdonald said that the State of Play is influenced by the films of the 1970s and explores the subject of privatization of American Homeland Security and to a minor extent journalistic independence, along with the relationship between politicians and the press. The film received generally positive reviews and is rated a 7.1/10 on IMDb and an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
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16. Boiler Room (2000)
Genre: Drama/Crime
Storyline: A college drop-out gets a job as a broker for an investment firm, which puts him on the fast track to success. However, success clouds his judgment, drawing him into a world of corruption and greed. Ben Affleck plays the role of Jim Young in the movie.
Boiler Room
The film was conceived when screenwriter Ben Younger interviewed for a job at brokerage firm Sterling Foster. The film was nominated for several awards including, Black Reel Awards 2001, British Independent Film Awards 2000, Deauville Film Festival 2000. The movie is rated a 7/10 on IMDb and a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Ben Younger
Runtime: 2 hours
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17. Dazed And Confused (1993)
Genre: Comedy/Indie Film
Storyline: In 1976 Texas, a bunch of teenagers celebrates the last day of high school by hazing freshmen, partying at a local pool, indulging in drugs, and following it up with a keg party. Ben Affleck plays the role of Fred O’Bannion in the movie.
Scene From “Dazed And Confused”
Over the years, the movie has become quite a hit and reached a lot of success. In 2002, Quentin Tarantino listed it as the 10th best film of all time in a “Sight and Sound” poll. It ranked third on Entertainment Weekly magazine’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies. The magazine also ranked it 10th on their “Funniest Movies of the Past 25 Years” list. The movie is rated a 7.6/10 on IMDb and a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Richard Linklater
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
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18. Going All The Way (1997)
Genre: Drama/Indie film
Storyline: Korean War-era veterans and ex-classmates “Gunner” Casselman and “Sonny” Burns reunite upon their return home. Gunner, who spent the war years abroad, is trying to convince his mother that his gal Mary is good enough for him, while Sonny, who was stationed stateside, is torn between loyal buddy and tempting Gale Ann. As they commiserate, the men realize that they’re outgrowing the lives they lived before the war. Ben Affleck plays the role of Tom Casselman in the movie.
Ben Affleck in “Going All The Way”
The film was written by Dan Wakefield, based on his 1970 novel and was shot on location in Indianapolis, the setting of Wakefield’s autobiographical novel. The movie is rated a 5.6/10 on IMDb and a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director: Mark Pellington
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
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19. Daddy And Them (2001)
Genre: Dark Comedy/ Comedy
Storyline: Claude and Ruby, a jealous and insecure couple, get into a series of hilarious situations when they decide to help Claude’s uncle Hazel and travel with Ruby’s sister, Rose. Ben Affleck plays the role of Lawrence Bowmen in the movie. The movie is rated a 5.7/10 on IMDb and an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is widely known for its excellent southern humor!
Director: Billy Bob Thorton
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
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20. Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Genre: Comedy/Buddy
Storyline: Best buddies Jay and Silent Bob discover that a movie is being made based on their likenesses. When they don’t get paid for the project, they set out to sabotage the flick at all costs. The movie is rated a 6.8/10 on IMDb and a 52% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back
Director: Kevin Smith
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Trailer:
