Ben Affleck and Matt Damon: A Look Back at the Awards History of a Dynamic Duo
For nearly three decades,Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have captivated audiences as friends,costars,and filmmakers. Their collaborative journey began in 1997 with Good Will Hunting, a film that earned them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and launched their careers. Despite only sporadically appearing on screen together since, their bond has remained strong, culminating in the co-founding of the production company Artists Equity in 2022.
This week, Affleck and damon reunite on screen in the Rip, a Netflix crime drama directed by Joe Carnahan and produced by Artists Equity. The film has garnered positive reviews, currently holding an 83 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 64 on Metacritic. As they embark on this new chapter together, let’s take a look back at the awards history of this celebrated duo, both individually and as a team.
Academy Awards
At 25 and 27 years old respectively, Affleck and Damon where among the youngest to ever win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. That same year, Damon also received a Best Actor nomination for the film, though he did not win. He would later receive a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Invictus in 2010, followed by a second Best Actor nomination for The Martian in 2015.
Affleck, while a triumphant director and producer, has yet to receive an acting Oscar nomination. Despite directing critically acclaimed films, a Best Director nomination has also eluded him.However, in 2013, he won Best Picture for Argo, a testament to his producing prowess. Damon also received a Best Picture nomination as a producer for Manchester by the sea in 2017.
Emmy Awards
Affleck and Damon shared four nominations for Outstanding Reality Program for their work producing the cinematic competition series,Project Greenlight. Affleck has not received any acting nominations for television. Damon, however, was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for a 2011 appearance on 30 Rock and for outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for the 2013 HBO film Behind the Candelabra.
Golden Globes
Their success with Good Will Hunting extended to the Golden Globes, where Damon and Affleck won Best Screenplay. As then, Damon has been nominated for Best Actor six times and Best Supporting Actor once, winning Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for The Martian.
Affleck has received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor for Hollywoodland and The Tender bar, as well as a win for Best Motion Picture for Argo. He and Damon also shared a nomination in the same category for Air.
British Academy Film Awards
The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) have recognized Affleck’s directorial talent, awarding him Best Director for Argo in addition to Best Film. He also received a Best Actor nomination for the same film.
damon has been nominated for his roles in Behind the Candelabra and the Martian,and also for his producing work on Manchester by the Sea.
SAG Awards
Affleck shares two SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Shakespeare in love and Argo. Damon joined the winners’ circle in this category as part of the Oppenheimer cast.
Both Affleck and Damon were nominated in the same category for Good Will Hunting, but did not win.
Critics Choice Awards
Good Will Hunting also brought Damon the Best Breakout Artist award at the 1997 Critics Choice Awards, alongside the Best Screenplay award shared with Affleck. Damon has as received six additional nominations, winning Best Acting Ensemble for oppenheimer.
Affleck has been nominated for Best Acting Ensemble for The Town and Best Adapted Screenplay for the same film. he also received a Best Supporting Actor nod for Hollywoodland and won Best Director for Argo. His most recent nomination was for Best Actor for The Way Back in 2020.
The Razzies
While celebrated by many awards bodies, Affleck has also been recognized by the Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies). He has received 12 nominations across all categories and won Worst Actor for Daredevil, Gigli, and Paycheck, as well as Worst Screen couple with Jennifer Lopez for Gigli and Worst Screen Combo Shared with Henry Cavill for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Though, Affleck also received a Razzie Redeemer Award for earning critical acclaim with Argo and Gone Girl, acknowledging his career resurgence. Damon, notably, has yet to receive a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor.
As Affleck and Damon continue to collaborate and push creative boundaries, their enduring partnership and impressive awards history serve as a testament to their talent and dedication to the art of filmmaking. whether The Rip adds to their accolades remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: their impact on the industry is undeniable.