{"id":2513120,"date":"2026-07-22T20:27:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T20:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2513120"},"modified":"2026-07-22T20:27:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T20:27:52","slug":"matt-damons-10-best-roles-ranked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/matt-damons-10-best-roles-ranked\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Damon\u2019s 10 best roles, ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Matt Damon<\/a> has been acting for over 30 years, but the 55-year-old star is only just getting started.<\/p>\n

This summer, Damon leads Christopher Nolan\u2019<\/a>s\u00a0acclaimed adaptation of Homer\u2019s Odyssey<\/em>, playing the hero Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. Speaking about getting the opportunity to be a middle-aged blockbuster lead, Damon told Time<\/em><\/a> magazine<\/a>, \u201cThere aren\u2019t a lot of people in their mid-50s as protagonists in these epics. I looked at this like the last movie I\u2019d ever do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Damon\u2019s career took off with 1997\u2019s Good Will Hunting<\/em>, the screenplay of which he cowrote alongside his lifelong pal and costar, Ben Affleck<\/a>. Since then, he has continued to work behind-the-scenes, teaming with Affleck and Nicole Holofcener on the script for Ridley Scott\u2019s The Last Duel <\/em>(2021)and producing Manchester by the Sea<\/em> (2016) and this year\u2019s The Rip.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

But Damon is most acclaimed for his naturalistic approach to acting, often taking on roles in which he portrays a grounded and understated \u201ceveryman.\u201d Still, he can go for broke \u2014 he\u2019s got solid comedic chops, like in the role of Carol, the bumbling pilot, on 30 Rock,<\/em> and he can do a disarming villain, like in The Talented Mr. Ripley<\/em> (1999).<\/em> He can also turn a brief cameo into an unforgettable piece of pop culture history<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ahead, we celebrate \u2014 and rank \u2014 the 10 best roles of Matt Damon\u2019s career so far.<\/p>\n

01 of 10<\/p>\n

Stuck on You (2003)<\/h2>\n
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Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear in \u2018Stuck on You\u2019Credit: 20th Century\u00a0studios\/everett<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

What would a list of the Best Matt Damon Performances be without the Farrelly brothers\u2019 Stuck on You<\/em>? The 2003 comedy stars Damon and Greg Kinnear<\/a> as brothers Bob and Walt Tenor, who are literally<\/em> attached at the hip. The Tenors are conjoined twins and hometown heroes, known as the best and fastest grillers on Martha\u2019s Vineyard.<\/p>\n

Walt has aspirations to be a big Hollywood actor, while his brother would much prefer to stay out of the spotlight. But when Walt\u2019s local one-man show becomes a surprise success, he takes the two of them on a trip to Hollywood to follow his dreams of being a star. However, the brothers\u2019 desires for differing lives threaten to tear them apart \u2014 for real.<\/p>\n

Relying heavily on physical comedy, Stuck on You<\/em> proves Damon\u2019s underrated comedic prowess while still showcasing his strengths in being an emotionally grounded screen presence, even when the movie he\u2019s in is patently absurd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

02 of 10<\/p>\n

Oppenheimer (2023)<\/h2>\n
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\"Matt<\/div>
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Matt Damon in \u2018Oppenheimer\u2019Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon\/Universal Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Damon\u2019s role in Christopher Nolan\u2019s <\/a>Oppenheimer<\/em><\/a> is at once ferocious and a bit funny: Gen. Leslie Groves, a U.S. Army officer who taps J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy<\/a>) to lead the Manhattan Project. Gruff and determined, Groves also comes across as a bit removed from the complicated, world-ending science that he needs to understand.<\/p>\n

Here, Damon is firmly within his grounded, everyman persona, as his Groves provides the perfect foil to Oppenheimer\u2019s high-minded genius. Despite being a character with far less screen time than that of the Oscar-winning lead, Leslie Groves still leaves an unmistakable impression.<\/p>\n

03 of 10<\/p>\n

The Last Duel (2021)<\/h2>\n
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\"Adam<\/div>
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Adam Driver and Matt Damon in \u2018The Last Duel\u2019Credit: Patrick Redmond\/20th Century Studios<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Damon takes on the facade of an arrogant and unlikable character in his portrayal of French knight Jean de Carrouges. Based on real events, Ridley Scott\u2019s film was penned by Damon, Affleck, and Nicole Holofcener<\/a> to track three narratives in the story of the last trial by combat in France.<\/p>\n

These three dueling (no pun intended) perspectives belong to Jean, Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver<\/a>), and Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer<\/a>). After years spent as both friends and enemies, Jean and Jacques end up in a fight to the death after Marquerite, Jean\u2019s wife, accuses Jacques of raping her.<\/p>\n

Though the film has often been overshadowed by its questionable accents and hairstyles, it is ultimately a skillful representation of how men literally see the world differently than women. And while Affleck does seem like he\u2019s having the most fun as the indulgent Count Pierre d\u2019Alen\u00e7on, Damon nevertheless shines in his annoyingly honor-bound and self-centered de Carrouges: \u201cDamon happily forfeits his likability for the sour, spluttering Jean,\u201d wrote EW<\/em><\/a>\u2019s Leah Greenblatt.<\/p>\n

04 of 10<\/p>\n

The Departed (2006)<\/h2>\n
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\"Matt<\/div>
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Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio in \u2018The Departed\u2019Credit: Warner Bros.\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Massachusetts native Damon returned home for Martin Scorsese<\/a>\u2019s Irish-Americanized take on the Hong Kong flick Infernal Affairs. <\/em>Damon stars as Colin Sullivan, a plant embedded within the Massachusetts State Police by mafia boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Meanwhile, the mob has a rat within their own ranks: undercover state trooper Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio<\/a>). When both groups realize they have a spy among them, it becomes a deadly race to uncover the moles.<\/p>\n

Here, Damon plays against type, a villain nestled within the false persona of a good guy \u2014 his typical bread and butter. However, Colin is deeply unlikable, a sleazy mole who is nevertheless magnetic. His performance is perfectly matched against DiCaprio\u2019s Costigan, a contrast that only serves to make Damon\u2019s work resonate harder.<\/p>\n

05 of 10<\/p>\n

True Grit (2010)<\/h2>\n
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\"Hailee<\/div>
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Hailee Steinfeld and Matt Damon in \u2018True Grit\u2019Credit: Wilson Webb\/Paramount<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

In the Coen brothers\u2019 reimagining of Charles Portis\u2019 1968 novel \u2014 which was first adapted into a 1969 film starring John Wayne and Glen Campbell \u2014 Jeff Bridges<\/a> stars as aging, alcoholic lawman Rooster Cogburn, who is hired by plucky teen Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld<\/a>) to help her get revenge on the man who murdered her father.<\/p>\n

Accompanying this unlikely duo is Damon\u2019s Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who is seeking the same man, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), for the murder of a state senator. Together, the bickering trio sets forth into dangerous territory to track down Chaney and dispense their own type of justice.<\/p>\n

It is in True Grit<\/em> that Damon shows just how chameleonic he can be while still utilizing familiar traits. In EW<\/a>\u2019s review, Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote, \u201cThis isn\u2019t the first time recently that I\u2019ve delighted at how Damon has become one of Hollywood\u2019s most enjoyable, versatile actors. I\u2019m happy every time I see him, and he\u2019s a great costar here, flavoring his LaBoeuf \u2014 pronounced La Beef, if you please \u2014 with a piquant seasoning of Ranger vanity, bounty-hunting avarice, and Dudley Do-Right earnestness.\u201d<\/p>\n

06 of 10<\/p>\n

The Martian (2015)<\/h2>\n
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\"Matt<\/div>
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Matt Damon in \u2018The Martian\u2019Credit: Everett<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Adapted from Andy Weir\u2019s novel of the same name, The Martian<\/em> centers on Damon\u2019s Dr. Mark Watney, a botanist on a mission to Mars who becomes stranded after things go awry. Alone and with limited resources<\/a>, Watney does his best to make the most of his unprecedented situation while his comrades on Earth plan to get him back home. Using ingenuity, humor, and resourcefulness, he fights to survive on the hostile planet.<\/p>\n

Damon\u2019s performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and at the time many critics agreed that it was the best performance he had delivered in years. Indeed, Watney gives Damon the perfect mix of humor and heart, as the actor pivots skillfully between comedic and dramatic moments.<\/p>\n

07 of 10<\/p>\n

Good Will Hunting (1997)<\/h2>\n
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\"Robin<\/div>
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Robin Williams and Matt Damon in \u2018Good Will Hunting\u2019Credit: Everett Collection<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Damon\u2019s breakout role in Good Will Hunting<\/em> had him taking on a boyish powder keg of repressed emotion. He stars as Bostonite Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT born on the wrong side of the tracks who finds himself facing prison time following a street fight. But after mathematics professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a>) discovers that Will is a self-taught genius, he lobbies to have Will avoid jail time if he studies math while attending therapy sessions.<\/p>\n

Resistant at first, Will finds himself slowly opening up to his troubled but patient therapist, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams<\/a>), who understands how to get through to the volatile young man. While Williams has been rightly praised for giving <\/a>the<\/em><\/a> performance of his career<\/a> \u2014 and winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the process \u2014 Damon is handily on par. The young actor deftly oscillates between vulnerability and rage in a difficult character who is constantly wrestling with his trauma.<\/p>\n

Damon\u2019s grounded performance plays off against Williams\u2019 wit, grace, and humor effortlessly, and it proved that he could carry the weight of a complex lead performance.<\/p>\n

08 of 10<\/p>\n

The Odyssey (2026)<\/h2>\n
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\"Matt<\/div>
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Matt Damon as Odysseus in \u2018The Odyssey\u2019Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon\/Universal Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

It\u2019s very likely that you read Homer\u2019s Odyssey<\/em> in high school English class and don\u2019t remember a thing about it, so here\u2019s a quick recap: The plot centers on Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who leaves his home to fight in the Trojan War for 10 years. However, his journey back is not just difficult \u2014 it takes him an additional 10 years. Along the way, Odysseus is faced with a series of trials that test his mental and emotional stamina, such as encountering the Cyclopes Polyphemus and the cunning witch Circe.<\/p>\n

Reviews of Christopher Nolan\u2019s newest film are overall stellar<\/a>, and Damon in particular has received a fair bit of praise. His character shoulders the weight of the world on his shoulders, making him endlessly compelling. Odysseus isn\u2019t some faultless champion: He is human<\/em>, and Damon brilliantly plays him as such.<\/p>\n

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

09 of 10<\/p>\n

The Informant! (2009)<\/h2>\n
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\"Matt<\/div>
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Matt Damon in \u2018The Informant!\u2019Credit: Everett Collection<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Informant!<\/em> adapts the real-life story of Archer Daniels Midland whistleblower Mark Whitacre, who became an informant for the FBI over his company\u2019s price-fixing tactics during the mid-1990s. However, a simple undercover job eventually spirals out of control, as Whitacre\u2019s increasing mental instability and the coverup of his own crimes jeopardizes both his life and the entire operation.<\/p>\n

Some critics were wary of the way the film seems to trivialize a very serious series of events with an ironic and satirical tone; at the time, EW<\/a> wrote that \u201c[Steven] Soderbergh ultimately made the choice to abandon interesting, dispassionate empathy for the more quick-fix payoff of amusement.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, we couldn\u2019t knock Damon\u2019s manic everyman performance, another role in which he takes his strengths and creates something entirely new. \u201cDamon, fattened up to fit his boxy suits, wears Whitacre\u2019s slack demeanor beautifully. The star \u2014 who has quietly and steadily turned into a great Everyman actor \u2014 is in nimble control as he reveals his character\u2019s deep crazies.\u201d<\/p>\n

10 of 10<\/p>\n

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)<\/h2>\n
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\"Jude<\/div>
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Jude Law and Matt Damon in \u2018The Talented Mr. Ripley\u2019Credit: Everett Collection<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Some might say that The Talented Mr. Ripley <\/em>ran so that Saltburn<\/em> could walk. Adapted from Patricia Highsmith\u2019s novel of the same name, the film stars Damon as Tom Ripley, an American con artist who, while pretending to be a Princeton graduate, is hired by a man who believes Ripley went to school with his son, Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Ripley is given $1,000 and sent to Italy in order to persuade the man\u2019s spoiled playboy son to come home, but instead, Ripley becomes increasingly obsessed with Dickie and his lifestyle\u2014 ultimately, to dangerous ends.<\/p>\n

Damon astutely weaponizes his persona of \u201caw shucks\u201d affability for the role of Tom Ripley, which EW<\/a> once admitted might have been \u201ca hard sell\u201d to \u201caudiences soothed by his amiable boyishness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the end, however, critic Lisa Schwarzbaum admitted that Damon was a perfect fit: \u201cThe facade works surprisingly well when Damon holds that gleaming smile just a few seconds too long, his Eagle Scout eyes fixed just a blink more than the calm gaze of any non-murdering young man. And in that opacity we see horror.\u201d It\u2019s this disarming villainy, only just concealed by Damon\u2019s apparent good nature, that makes The Talented Mr. Ripley<\/em> a masterful tightrope walk and arguably his best performance.<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.aol.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matt Damon has been acting for over 30 years, but the 55-year-old star is only just getting started. This summer, Damon leads Christopher Nolan\u2019s\u00a0acclaimed adaptation of Homer\u2019s Odyssey, playing the hero Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. Speaking about getting the opportunity to be a middle-aged blockbuster lead, Damon told Time magazine, \u201cThere aren\u2019t a lot […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2513121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2513120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Matt-Damons-10-best-roles-ranked.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2513120"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2513122,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2513120\/revisions\/2513122"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2513121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2513120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2513120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2513120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}