By Jessica Wedemeyer
8:22am PDT, Aug 13, 2019
Ben Affleck has appeared in nearly 50 films — from serious dramas and period pieces to romantic comedies and action flicks — over the course of his 35 years in Hollywood. In celebration of his 47th birthday on Aug. 15, 2019, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at Ben's all-time best movies. Keep reading as we count down the best of Ben!
RELATED: Ben's highs and lows
No. 22: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"
According to Rotten Tomatoes, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" landed with just 27 percent of critics. (Ouch!) But the grim 2016 superhero showdown is still Ben Affleck's highest grossing film — and even though we can recognize that the effects-heavy blockbuster had its problems, we have to admit that we still enjoyed the experience of watching it. It's got Batman and Superman, after all!
RELATED: A timeline of the stars who've played Batman and Superman
No. 21: "Glory Daze"
Ben Affleck starred as slacker Jack Freeman — a listless art major facing his impending graduation from the University of California, Santa Cruz — in the sometimes-funny 1996 indie comedy "Glory Daze."
RELATED: Stars in their first big movie roles
No. 20: "Daredevil"
Superhero movies had yet to enter the golden age of comic book adaptations when "Daredevil" debuted in 2003, so we give the origin story, in which Ben Affleck starred as the titular blind hero, a pass for being more than a little cheesy. It frequently ranks along with "Green Lantern" and "Fantastic Four" as one of the worst superhero flicks ever made, but be honest: You liked it the first time you saw it in theaters!
No. 19: "Justice League"
Expectations were high when DC's "Justice League" premiered in 2017, but unfortunately, the film just couldn't live up to the hype. The superhero flick was a box office bomb, losing the studio an estimated $60 million, plus it received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. We did enjoy Ben Affleck's performance as Batman, however!
No. 18: "Smokin' Aces"
Ben Affleck portrayed bail bondsman Jack Dupree in the uber-violent 2007 ensemble action flick "Smokin' Aces." Though the film received mixed reviews from critics, it's noteworthy for its all-star cast, which includes Ryan Reynolds, Chris Pine, Jason Bateman, Taraji P. Henson, Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotta, Common, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Matthew Fox and Joel Edgerton.
No. 17: "Forces of Nature"
Ben Affleck starred as the straight-laced Ben — who has a series of misadventures with Sandra Bullock's free-spirited Sarah while traveling from New York City to Savannah, Georgia, where he's set to wed another woman — in the touching (yet frustrating) 1999 romantic comedy "Forces of Nature."
No. 16: "Boiler Room"
Ben Affleck portrayed Jim Young, the co-founder of a shady brokerage firm where Giovanni Ribisi's college dropout Seth Davis works, in the underrated 2000 crime drama "Boiler Room."
No. 15: "The Sum of All Fears"
Ben Affleck starred as the beloved CIA hero Jack Ryan — who's also been portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Chris Pine in various films over the years — alongside Morgan Freeman as CIA Director William Cabot in the 2002 spy thriller and box office hit "The Sum of All Fears."
No. 14: "Jersey Girl"
Ben Affleck has appeared in several of writer-director Kevin Smith's films over the years, including the 2004 rom-com "Jersey Girl," in which he starred as a New York City publicist who relocates to the suburbs of New Jersey to raise his daughter after his wife (played by Ben's then-real-life love Jenner Lopez) dies in childbirth. While the movie is just fine, it often ranks among Kevin Smith's worst films for being the least Kevin-Smith-y of his projects.
No. 13: "Triple Frontier"
Ben Affleck starred as a former Delta Ops officer and real estate agent in 2019's "Triple Frontier," which follows a group of former Special Operations soldiers who reunite for a heist job in South America. His character was complicated and passionate, and Ben pulled it off. The Netflix film received tepid reviews from critics but was viewed by more than 63 million member households in its first four months of release on the streaming platform.
No. 12: "School Ties"
Ben Affleck portrayed Chesty Smith, one of the anti-semitic bullies who targets Brendan Fraser's Jewish student David Greene at an elitist Massachusetts prep school, in the '50s-set "School Ties." The 1992 drama — in which Matt Damon, Chris O'Donnell and Anthony Rapp also starred — was well-received by critics.
No. 11: "Dogma"
Ben Affleck starred as fallen angel Bartleby in the irreverent — and hilarious! — 1999 comedy "Dogma." Writer-director Kevin Smith earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Screenplay for the film.
No. 10: "Pearl Harbor"
Swoon! Ben Affleck starred as pilot Rafe McCawley in the 2001 war film and love story "Pearl Harbor." Despite abysmal reviews from critics, the movie was a major hit at the box office — and with us! It also scored four Oscar nominations.
No. 9: "The Town"
Ben Affleck wrote, directed and starred in 2010's "The Town," in which he portrayed career criminal Doug MacRay, who robs a bank with his childhood friends and then falls for the only witness to their crime. The film was a hit with critics and at the box office.
No. 8: "Chasing Amy"
Ben Affleck starred as comic book artist Holden McNeil, who romances lesbian Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams) in the 1997 romantic comedy "Chasing Amy." The film, which won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay and earned a nomination for Best Feature, frequently ranks among writer-director Kevin Smith's best movies and has achieved cult status over the years. It even performed relatively well at the box office considering its extremely modest budget.
No. 7: "Shakespeare in Love"
Ben Affleck portrayed English actor Ned Alleyn in the 1998 romantic drama "Shakespeare in Love." The film earned 13 Academy Award nominations and ultimately won seven Oscars, including the awards for best picture and best screenplay.
No. 6: "Mallrats"
In our favorite Kevin Smith movie, 1995's "Mallrats," Ben Affleck starred as Shannon Hamilton, the sleazy manager of a clothing store at the titular mall. Though the comedy received poor reviews from critics, it's achieved cult status over the years.
No. 5: "Argo"
Ben Affleck directed and starred in 2012's "Argo," a historical drama recounting CIA operative Tony Mendez's mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis. The film earned seven Academy Award nominations and ultimately won three: best editing, best adapted screenplay and best picture.
No. 4: "Armageddon"
Ben Affleck starred as A.J. Frost opposite Liv Tyler in the 1998 Sci-Fi disaster flick "Armageddon." Despite poor reviews from critics, the movie was a major hit at the box office and earned four Oscar nominations. (It's been nearly two decades, but even now, when "Armageddon" is on TV, we still don't wanna miss a thing!)
No. 3: "Gone Girl"
Ben Affleck earned raves for his performance as a man suspected of murdering his wife in the 2014 psychological thriller "Gone Girl." Critics loved the adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel, which was a major hit at the box office.
No. 2: "Dazed and Confused"
The 1993 coming-of-age comedy "Dazed and Confused," in which Ben Affleck portrayed bully O'Bannion, is one of our all-time favorite movies. The extremely low-budget independent film has a 94 percent fresh rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
No. 1: "Good Will Hunting"
Ben Affleck and childhood pal Matt Damon co-wrote the 1997 drama "Good Will Hunting," in which they also starred: Matt as the titular mathematics whiz and Ben as his best friend Chuckie. The duo took home the Oscar for best original screenplay during the 1998 Academy Awards — and sealed their fates as two of Hollywood's biggest stars.
