Ben Affleck has had a successful career in Hollywood, starring in numerous hit films and receiving critical acclaim for his acting abilities. However, his personal life has also been the subject of much interest, particularly his high-profile relationships and Ben Affleck's struggles with addiction, especially during the filming of Justice League.
Nevertheless, Affleck remains a beloved figure in the entertainment industry and continues to captivate audiences with his performances in the roughly 70 films he has acted in so far. Out of all of Ben Affleck's movie roles, 37 of them saw him as the lead actor and most went on to gross over $100 million worldwide at the box office, according to The Numbers.
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Updated October 2023: Ben Affleck has had a successful career with a number of films making well over $100 million at the box office. His latest film to reach the $100 million mark, 'The Flash', was one that he was not even credited in, despite being on the big screen for 10 minutes. This has led to rumors of Affleck's legal team taking action against the studio and put a question mark out there as far as what the future holds for Affleck portraying Batman in any future films for Warner Bros.
15 Good Will Hunting
Budget: $10 Million
- Role: Chuckie (Supporting Role)
- Year: 1997
Ben Affleck stars in Good Will Hunting as Chuckie Sullivan, the loyal best friend of the main character, Will Hunting (played by Matt Damon). Chuckie is a South Boston native who works as a janitor with Will at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Throughout the film, Chuckie serves as a grounding force for Will, often reminding him of his potential and encouraging him to pursue a better life outside their tough neighborhood. Good Will Hunting was written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Affleck's performance in the role earned him critical acclaim and helped launch his career as a leading man in Hollywood as well as establishing the on screen bromance that is Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
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This surprise hit not only made a quarter of a billion dollars at the box office, but it also did so on a paltry budget of just $10 million.
| Domestic Box Office | $138,433,43 |
| International Box Office | $87,492,554 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $225,925,989 |
14 Armageddon
Budget: $140 Million
- Role: A.J. Frost (Starring Role)
- Year: 1998
Armageddon stars Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck as two members of a team of oil drillers sent into space to save the world from a massive asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Affleck plays A.J. Frost, the cocky and confident second-in-command who has a tumultuous relationship with the team leader, Harry Stamper (played by Bruce Willis). Despite their differences, A.J. and Harry must work together to complete their mission and save humanity from certain doom.
At the time of its release, Armageddon was a bit of a gamble with its $140 million budget, a high price to pay for a movie at the time. The gamble paid off and Armageddon became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
| Domestic Box Office | $201,578,182 |
| International Box Office | $353,021,818 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $554,600,000 |
13 Shakespeare In Love
Budget: $25 Million
- Role: Ned Alleyn (Supporting Role)
- Year: 1998
In the movie Shakespeare in Love, Affleck plays Ned Alleyn, a famous Elizabethan actor who becomes involved with the production of William Shakespeare's new play.
Though his screen time is limited, Ben Affleck delivers a memorable performance as the charismatic and flamboyant Alleyn. The film went on to win multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Who would have thought that a little Shakespeare love story produced for $25 million would become an Oscar award-winning movie.
| Domestic Box Office | $100,317,794 |
| International Box Office | $179,182,206 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $279,500,000 |
12 Pearl Harbor
Budget: $140 Million
- Role: Rafe McCawley
- Year: 2001
In the movie Pearl Harbor, Ben Affleck portrayed the character of Rafe McCawley, a US Army Air Corps pilot who falls in love with a nurse named Evelyn. Their romance is interrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which ultimately leads to Rafe being presumed dead.
However, he later returns and discovers that Evelyn has moved on with his best friend, Danny. The love triangle between Rafe, Evelyn, and Danny adds an emotional layer to the film, making it more than just a typical war movie.
Pearl Harbor cost a reported $140 million to produce, however Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer had initially asked Disney for a $208 million budget.
| Domestic Box Office | $198,539,855 |
| International Box Office | $250,699,998 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $449,239,853 |
11 The Sum Of All Fears
Budget: $68 Million
- Role: Jack Ryan (Starring Role)
- Year: 2002
In the movie The Sum of All Fears, Ben Affleck plays the character Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who uncovers a plot to detonate a nuclear bomb in the United States. As the story unfolds, Ryan must race against time to prevent the attack and identify the perpetrators behind it. Throughout the film, Affleck delivers a convincing performance as the intelligent and resourceful Ryan, bringing a sense of urgency and tension to the role.
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His chemistry with co-star Morgan Freeman, who plays Ryan's mentor, William Cabot, adds depth and complexity to the characters and their relationship. Overall, The Sum of All Fears is a thrilling and suspenseful film that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The Sum of All Fears once again proved that Ben Affleck movies don't require huge budgets to hit it big at the box office. With just $68 million to spend on its production, the film ended up earning almost $200 million.
| Domestic Box Office | $118,471,320 |
| International Box Office | $75,028,680 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $193,500,000 |
10 Daredevil
Budget: $78 Million
- Role: Matt Murdock/Daredevil
- Year: 2003
Ben Affleck stars in Daredevil, a 2003 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The film follows the story of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights crime as the vigilante Daredevil in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Daredevil has since gained a cult following among comic book fans. Ben Affleck's portrayal of Daredevil was praised for his physicality and dedication to the role, but the film's writing and direction received criticism for being too dark and chaotic.
It's a bit crazy to think that Daredevil cost just $10 million more to produce than A Sum of All Fears. It also made less money, taking in a rather paltry (by superhero movie standards) $182 million.
| Domestic Box Office | $102,543,518 |
| International Box Office | $80,239,000 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $182,782,518 |
9 He’s Just Not That Into You
Budget: $40 Million
- Role: Neil (Starring Role)
- Year: 2009
In the movie He’s Just Not That Into You, Ben Affleck plays Neil, who is in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend Beth. Despite being together for several years, Neil is hesitant to propose to Beth, which causes tension in their relationship. However, Neil's reluctance to commit is not entirely unfounded.
He has seen many of his friends rush into marriage only to end up divorced a few years later. Neil is wary of making the same mistake and wants to be sure that he and Beth are truly compatible before taking the next step.
He's Just Not That Into You cost just $40 million to produce while bringing in $181 million, proving again that Ben Affleck is the king of low-cost, high-returns production.
| Domestic Box Office | $93,953,653 |
| International Box Office | $87,100,004 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $181,053,657 |
8 The Town
Budget: $37 Million
- Role: Doug MacRay (Starring Role)
- Year: 2010
Ben Affleck stars in the movie The Town as Doug MacRay, a professional thief from Charlestown, Boston. The movie, which was released in 2010, was not only a critical success but also a box office hit, grossing over $150 million worldwide.
Ben Affleck not only starred in the film but also directed it, marking his second directorial effort after Gone Baby Gone. The Town also features a talented ensemble cast, including Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and Blake Lively, all of whom deliver strong performances.
Affleck's low-budget, high-returns streak continued with The Town which cost just $40 million to make while bringing in $152 million in theaters. The movie also earned another $55 million in Blu-ray and DVD sales after leaving theaters.
| Domestic Box Office | $92,186,262 |
| International Box Office | $60,380,619 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $152,566,881 |
7 Argo
Budget: $44.5 Million
- Role: Tony Mendez (Starring Role)
- Year: 2012
Ben Affleck stars in Argo as Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who leads a daring rescue mission during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. The film is based on true events and received critical acclaim for its suspenseful storytelling and powerful performances.
Ben Affleck not only starred in Argo, but also directed it, showcasing his talent as a filmmaker. Argo went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Argo brought in almost $250 million on a budget of $44.5 million. In fact, it earned back its entire budget after it left theaters thanks to $44.9 million in DVD and Blu-ray sales.
| Domestic Box Office | $136,025,503 |
| International Box Office | $91,115,254 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $227,140,757 |
6 Gone Girl
Budget: $61 Million
- Role: Nick Dunne (Starring Role)
- Year: (2014)
In Gone Girl, Ben Affleck portrays the character of Nick Dunne, a man who becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of his wife Amy. Throughout the film, Affleck delivers a powerful performance that captures the complex emotions and inner turmoil of Nick as he navigates through the investigation and media scrutiny.
Ben Affleck's portrayal of a man struggling to maintain his innocence while also dealing with the reality of his failing marriage is both gripping and haunting. There was also some controversy regrading Affleck refusing to wear a certain baseball cap....
Gone Girl was produced for just $61 million and its favorable reviews among critics and moviegoers helped it earn nearly 600% over its budgeted cost.
| Domestic Box Office | $167,767,189 |
| International Box Office | $199,393,592 |
| Worldwide Box Office | $367,160,781 |
