Even for Ben Affleck, reflecting on his decades-long career means recalling several rather embarrassing moments. In fact, the Academy Award winner admitted recently that he could not stand quite a few of his old movies.
Looking back at the changing film industry, Affleck explained why he thinks audiences now have more opportunities to discover movies that may have been overlooked at the time of their original release.
Why Ben Affleck Thinks Box Office Numbers Matter Less Today
During his conversation with Theo Von, the host of the podcast This Past Weekend, the Hollywood star made some pretty surprising statements about his career. Affleck admitted that there are a relatively small number of movies he was proud of in his career.
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The actor noted that he loved about a dozen of his films, while an equally significant number of films he considers terrible and unwatchable, even though he agreed to be part of them. “I got about like 12 movies that I really love,” he said, adding, “I got 10 or 12, whatever, that are like, ‘Thatโs terrible’.“
Affleck’s admission reflects the self-critical perspective many actors develop after years in Hollywood. Now, every performance remains open for audiences to revisit. Rather than boasting about his achievements, the ‘Gone Girl‘ star openly acknowledged the parts of his career he regrets.
Despite having become one of the greatest celebrities in Hollywood, Affleck remains just as critical of his performances as he was in the early years of his career.
How Streaming Changed The Way Failed Movies Are Judged
The Hollywood veteran also reflected on how streaming has reshaped the way the modern film industry responds to commercial failures. Affleck argued that theatrical releases no longer determine a film’s success, as streaming viewership has become an equally important measure of its performance.
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Ben Affleck remembered how actors used to feel “naked” during the first weekend after release. It was because their box-office results were instantly published. Reminiscing about the old days, the actor joked that people could tell the movie “made 10 cents this weekend.”
โYouโd want them to take the f—ing billboard down. You drive past the billboard like youโre the bomb, the movieโs a bomb,โ he further said.
Now, thanks to streaming, Affleck thinks the industry has become more forgiving. Now, movies that failed in theaters have another chance. Although it cannot be denied that cinemas are an important part of filmmaking, the advent of streaming services has made box office figures less influential.
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