From Childhood Friends to Oscar Winners: A Look Back at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Hollywood Bromance

Mar. 15, 2025

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck at the 1998 Oscars.Photo:Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Matt DamonandBen Affleckhave one of Hollywood’s greatest bromances.

As Damon turns 54 on Oct. 8, 2024, look back at his friendship with Ben Affleck over the years.

01of 20Too Cool for SchoolFilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via GettyDamon and Affleck met as young boys growing up in Boston. They graduated from the same high school — Affleck in 1994 and Damon in 1992. Damon’s brother, Kyle, told PEOPLE that the pair “weren’t considered cool kids.” In fact, “They were drama geeks.“The pair started auditioning together and eventually appeared in their first film,School Ties, in 1992. Can you spot them in this photo?

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Too Cool for School

FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty

Damon and Affleck met as young boys growing up in Boston. They graduated from the same high school — Affleck in 1994 and Damon in 1992. Damon’s brother, Kyle, told PEOPLE that the pair “weren’t considered cool kids.” In fact, “They were drama geeks.”

The pair started auditioning together and eventually appeared in their first film,School Ties, in 1992. Can you spot them in this photo?

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Fast Friends

Affleck said, “All of a sudden, I had this friend, Matt, and he gets it and wants to do it and thinks it’s interesting and wants to talk about it. Soon both of us are doing it.”

03of 20Big BreakMatt Damon and Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting.Miramax/Kobal/ShutterstockIn 1996, the pair wrote the their breakout hitGood Will Huntingtogether, and naturally played best friends in the film.

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Big Break

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting.Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

In 1996, the pair wrote the their breakout hitGood Will Huntingtogether, and naturally played best friends in the film.

04of 20Golden GuysMatt Damon and Ben Affleck.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via GettyThe pair dominated the awards circuit in 1998, winning the Golden Globe for their original screenplay.

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Golden Guys

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

The pair dominated the awards circuit in 1998, winning the Golden Globe for their original screenplay.

05of 20And the Academy Award Goes to…Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Evan Agostini/ImageDirectThey became Oscar winners, too, when they won Best Original Screenplay in 1998.Theiradorable joint speechstarted with Affleck saying, “Ha! I just said to Matt that losing would suck and winning would be really scary, and it’sreally,really scary,” and included the pair reminding each other who to thank and shouting them out.

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And the Academy Award Goes to…

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Evan Agostini/ImageDirect

They became Oscar winners, too, when they won Best Original Screenplay in 1998.

Theiradorable joint speechstarted with Affleck saying, “Ha! I just said to Matt that losing would suck and winning would be really scary, and it’sreally,really scary,” and included the pair reminding each other who to thank and shouting them out.

06of 20Sharing the Screen (Again)Miramax/Kobal/ShutterstockThe following year, the pair appeared alongside each other in the 1999 comedyDogma.

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Sharing the Screen (Again)

Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

The following year, the pair appeared alongside each other in the 1999 comedyDogma.

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Red Carpet Ready

Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty

08of 20Give Them the GreenlightChris Polk/FilmMagicProject Greenlight, that is. The pair teamed up again, this time to produce the HBO documentary seriesProject Greenlight, which focused on first-time filmmakers. The docuseries ran from 2001 to 2005, and then again in 2015.

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Give Them the Greenlight

Chris Polk/FilmMagic

Project Greenlight, that is. The pair teamed up again, this time to produce the HBO documentary seriesProject Greenlight, which focused on first-time filmmakers. The docuseries ran from 2001 to 2005, and then again in 2015.

09of 20Know When to Hold ‘EmDenise Truscello/WireImageSometimes you just need your good luck charm — like, oh, Matt Damon — while you’re betting big at a charity poker tournament, as Affleck did here in 2012.

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Know When to Hold ‘Em

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Sometimes you just need your good luck charm — like, oh, Matt Damon — while you’re betting big at a charity poker tournament, as Affleck did here in 2012.

10of 20Hollywood’s Greatest BromanceAdam Larkey/Walt Disney Television via GettyIn 2010, Damon received the 24th American Cinematheque Award, and Affleck and his then-wifeJennifer Garnerwere there to support him,with Garner calling them"the actual prototype for the great Hollywood bromance.”

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Hollywood’s Greatest Bromance

Adam Larkey/Walt Disney Television via Getty

In 2010, Damon received the 24th American Cinematheque Award, and Affleck and his then-wifeJennifer Garnerwere there to support him,with Garner calling them"the actual prototype for the great Hollywood bromance.”

11of 20Bonded For LifeAngela Weiss/GettyDamon toldEntertainment Tonightof their friendship, “I’ve known him for 35 years, and we grew up together. We were both in love with the same thing — acting and filmmaking. I think we fed on each other’s obsession during really formative, important years and that bonded us for life.”

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Bonded For Life

Angela Weiss/Getty

Damon toldEntertainment Tonightof their friendship, “I’ve known him for 35 years, and we grew up together. We were both in love with the same thing — acting and filmmaking. I think we fed on each other’s obsession during really formative, important years and that bonded us for life.”

12of 20Producing PartnersMichael Kovac/WireImageTogether, the pair started their own production company, Pearl Street productions, and continue to produce films together.

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Producing Partners

Michael Kovac/WireImage

Together, the pair started their own production company, Pearl Street productions, and continue to produce films together.

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Guys of the Decade

Kevin Winter/Getty

14of 20Back Where It All BeganKevin Winter/GettyThe duo presented the award for Best Adapted Screenplay together at the 2017 Oscars.

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Back Where It All Began

The duo presented the award for Best Adapted Screenplay together at the 2017 Oscars.

15of 20Boston BudsBen Affleck and Matt Damon in 2018.Jerritt Clark/GettyAnd of course, there’s little more important to the pair than their love of the Boston Red Sox.

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Boston Buds

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in 2018.Jerritt Clark/Getty

And of course, there’s little more important to the pair than their love of the Boston Red Sox.

16of 20What’s Next?Todd Williamson/GettyAt the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, DamontoldExtrathat the pair are linking up again forThe Last Duel.Damon told the outlet,“We wrote for the first time in 25 years with Nicole Holofcener, who is a hero of ours — amazing writer, she’s great. The three of us wrote this thing, so hopefully we will shoot it next year.”

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What’s Next?

Todd Williamson/Getty

At the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, DamontoldExtrathat the pair are linking up again forThe Last Duel.

Damon told the outlet,“We wrote for the first time in 25 years with Nicole Holofcener, who is a hero of ours — amazing writer, she’s great. The three of us wrote this thing, so hopefully we will shoot it next year.”

17of 20All LoveBen Affleck, Matt Damon and Luciana Damon in 2021.Arturo Holmes/GettyWith a friendship as longstanding as theirs, its no surprise that their families have meshed as well. When it was time to attend the premiere ofThe Last Duelin New York City, Affleck, Damon and his wife Luciana had a laugh on the red carpet.

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All Love

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Luciana Damon in 2021.Arturo Holmes/Getty

Arturo Holmes/Getty

With a friendship as longstanding as theirs, its no surprise that their families have meshed as well. When it was time to attend the premiere ofThe Last Duelin New York City, Affleck, Damon and his wife Luciana had a laugh on the red carpet.

18of 20Reunited and It Feels So GoodGary Miller/WireImageIn 2023, the two teamed up once again for the filmAirwhich premiered at the SXSW festival. Affleck directed and starred in the film as Phil Knight alongside Damon as Sonny Vaccaro.

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Reunited and It Feels So Good

Gary Miller/WireImage

In 2023, the two teamed up once again for the filmAirwhich premiered at the SXSW festival. Affleck directed and starred in the film as Phil Knight alongside Damon as Sonny Vaccaro.

19of 20Dapper DudesRich Polk/GettyAffleck and Damon were dressed to the nines as they presented together at the 2024 Golden Globes.

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Dapper Dudes

Rich Polk/Getty

Affleck and Damon were dressed to the nines as they presented together at the 2024 Golden Globes.

20of 20Suited UpDunkin’In an ode to their Boston roots, Affleck and Damon joined Patriots legend Tom Brady to create a trio of DunKings foran epic Super Bowl commercialin 2024.

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Suited Up

Dunkin’

In an ode to their Boston roots, Affleck and Damon joined Patriots legend Tom Brady to create a trio of DunKings foran epic Super Bowl commercialin 2024.

source: people.com