The Rip: Official trailer
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon stand as two of Hollywood’s most legendary partnerships, having starred in and penned everything from sweeping historical dramas to side-splitting comedies.
The duo are poised to join forces once more for the forthcoming thriller The Rip, helmed by The Grey director Joe Carnahan and chronicling a police operation that descends into mayhem when millions of dollars are discovered at a drugs den.
Boasting an impressive ensemble cast including Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler, it ranks among Netflix’s most eagerly awaited new releases and will debut on the streaming service this January.
Affleck and Damon have worked together on no fewer than 15 projects throughout their careers, both as leading men and behind-the-scenes producers.
From their earliest Tinseltown appearances to their most recent blockbuster successes, here are five of their finest films ranked, reports the Mirror.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s most iconic team-ups including one you didn’t see (Image: GETTY)
The two stars made an uncredited appearance in this beloved baseball drama (Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
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Field of Dreams
Whilst the pair don’t feature prominently in this cherished baseball masterpiece, this touching fantasy-drama starring Kevin Costner is simply too legendary to overlook.
It also represents their first on-screen partnership. Though countless fans remain unaware, Affleck and Damon actually feature amongst a throng of 3,000 background performers during sequences shot at Fenway Park.
One five-star Google review dubbed it “one of the most inspirational movies of all time, and it tells an incredible story for those who all dare to dream.”
And another penned: “This movie is so poignant it’s almost heartbreaking. Beautiful story of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams and this chance to make it right. Everyone is great.”
Affleck and Damon got their big break by co-writing this inspiring drama (Image: MIRAMAX FILMS)
Good Will Hunting
A labour of love that took years to bring to fruition, Good Will Hunting originally started life as a thriller whilst Damon was penning it during a playwriting course at Harvard University.
He subsequently transformed it into a screenplay with assistance from his dear mate Affleck, morphing the narrative into an uplifting tale of a brilliant student forming a bond with his MIT lecturer, Dr. Sean Maguire, portrayed magnificently by Robin Williams.
One glowing critique described it as “a thought-provoking emotional film on so many levels”.
And another declared: “Good Will Hunting is an absolute masterpiece.”
Good Will Hunting is available to stream on Netflix.
They starred as fallen angels in this riotous religious satire (Image: LIONSGATE)
Dogma
Throughout their early Hollywood days, Affleck and Damon were regular collaborators with Clerks filmmaker Kevin Smith, featuring in numerous of his most significant productions.
Perhaps the most unforgettable of these quirky independent comedies is Dogma, an amusing religious parody concerning two banished angels attempting to get back to Heaven that sparked enormous outrage for mocking the Catholic church.
The furore persists to this very day, with one critique from this year fuming: “It wasn’t a comedy, it’s purely vile aggression to all things Holy.
“Anyone with half a brain in their head would do well to avoid this garbage at all costs.”
Affleck directed and starred as Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Image: AMAZON STUDIOS)
Air
Following their breakthrough in the 2000s, Damon and Affleck reduced their joint ventures as they pursued individual projects including the Bourne series and the gripping thriller Gone Girl.
Fortunately for admirers, they’ve already joined forces several times during the 2020s leading up to The Rip, notably in the biographical sports drama Air, chronicling the genesis of Nike’s Air Jordan trainer range that rescued the corporation.
Affleck helmed the production whilst also portraying Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Damon taking on the role of marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro.
Numerous admirers have commended the nostalgic atmosphere of the 1980s-set drama, with one enthusiast declaring it “really captured the sports and cultural atmosphere of America in 1984.
“It’s a clever, laid back, enjoyable dramedy that had me laughing and smiling the whole way through,” they continued. “This is one you should definitely check out.”
Air can be watched on Prime Video.
One of their most underrated films could secretly be their best (Image: 20TH CENTURY FOX)
The Last Duel
Arguably Affleck and Damon’s darkest collaboration, The Last Duel might also represent their finest work.
Launched in 2021, this Ridley Scott-helmed historical saga stars Damon as a knight in medieval France who confronts his former companion Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver) in a savage duel to the death after his spouse Marguerite (Jodie Comer) alleges that Jacques assaulted her.
Affleck and Damon penned the screenplay alongside Nicole Holofcener, with Affleck assuming the part of the ruthless Count Pierre d’Alençon. One five-star review heaped praise upon The Last Duel: “This is wonderful! Best historical/action film for a decade. A must see.”
Another review declared it superior to Scott’s historical masterpiece Gladiator, stating “The Last Duel is a thrilling cinematic spectacle.
“A gripping exercise in perspective/POV’s, and fascinating story which is based on a true medieval epic. Can’t believe Ridley Scott directed this ambitious project at the age of 83.”
The Last Duel is available to stream on Disney+. The Rip will be released 16th January on Netflix.