Matt Damon is one of the most decorated male actors in the modern-day era of Hollywood. It’s said that all the movies Damon’s featured in have grossed a collective $3.88 billion at the box office in North America alone.
Damon has received awards from numerous prestigious film organisations and has been casted in a string of blockbusters in a glittering career spanning more than three decades. Although the blockbusters Damon starred in are naturally the most popular movies in his filmography, this list also features a string of appearances in films that have gone on to become cult favourites among certain demographics.
Below, we celebrate five movies featuring Damon which may not have delivered staggering returns at the box office but still have cult followings to this very day.
Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting was co-written by Damon with his long-time pal, Ben Affleck in what started as a college project. Released in 1997, the success of this movie helped catapult Damon – and Affleck – into a new stratosphere in Hollywood, hence why this is considered a cult classic. The film is based on a mathematics prodigy, Will Hunting. Despite his razor-sharp intelligence, Hunting is a young man that’s lost and in need of guidance. His relationship with his mental health therapist, played by the late, great Robin Williams, runs through the core of this storyline, which secured nine Academy Award nominations.
Ocean’s Eleven Trilogy
Matt Damon was involved in the modern-day take on the Rat Pack movie, Ocean’s 11, released in 1960. Ocean’s Eleven had a star-studded cast, including the likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt who were both in their prime. Pitt has remained active in recent years, including a rock-solid performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino. Damon plays the role of young pup, Linus Caldwell, the son of a Chicago crook, who acts as a runner for the likes of Danny Ocean (Clooney) and Rusty Ryan (Pitt). Some might say this doesn’t deserve to considered a cult movie given that all four Ocean’s movies combined generated over $1.4 billion at the box office. However, the 2001 Ocean’s Eleven and the third Ocean’s Thirteen in 2007 are both revered by lovers of Las Vegas and the culture of ‘Sin City’.
Rounders
If you’re looking for movies starring Matt Damon that have grown in popularity over time rather than instant hits at the box office, Rounders ticks all the right boxes. This poker-themed movie was released in 1998 with minimal fanfare, but the online poker boom in the early 2000s saw Rounders become a cult favourite among poker enthusiasts. Many poker players believe the film accurately depicts the intensity of the game, with Damon playing Mike McDermott, a college graduate with an innate skill for poker. It’s true that the rules of poker are easy to master, but the game itself can take several years to master. In Rounders, McDermott endures a roller-coaster ride at the high-stakes tables before coming out on top in his final showdown with a long-time rival, Teddy KGB.
The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity kick-started what we now know as the Bourne series of movies starring Matt Damon as the lead role of Jason Bourne. Bourne is battling psychogenic amnesia and is desperate to uncover his real identity despite plenty of roadblocks put in the way by the CIA. The Bourne Identity remains a cult classic as the original entry to the Bourne series. On the uber-critical Rotten Tomatoes website, this movie gets an 84% rating which is exceptionally high by their standards.
Invictus
The 2009 rugby-themed movie, Invictus, is inspired by South Africa’s tilt at winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup. In the post-apartheid era, the film shadows former President, Nelson Mandela, who attempts to throw his weight behind the South African team to unite the nation. Directed by Hollywood icon, Clint Eastwood, Damon plays the role of long-serving South African captain, Francois Pienaar. It’s an inspirational story that captures the imagination of rugby union fans and those with an awareness of South Africa’s history.
If you haven’t watched any of the five movies featured above, you’re missing out. Grab some popcorn and give them a look to discover Matt Damon in his pomp.