View source for Matt Damon

{{Short description|American actor (born 1970)}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{infobox person
| name               = Matt Damon
| image              = MKr347638 Matt Damon (Small Things Like These, Berlinale 2024) (3x4 cropped).jpg
| caption            = Damon in 2024
| alt                = Damon attending the premiere of ''[[The Martian (film)|'The Martian']]'' at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015.
| birth_name         = Matthew Paige Damon
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|10|8}}
| birth_place        = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], U.S.<!--As per WP:LINKDIRECT and Template:infobox person, birth/death place indicates city, state, then country. No need to spell out "United States; 'U.S.' is fine.-->
| education          = [[Harvard University]] (dropped out)
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|film producer|screenwriter}}
| years_active       = 1987–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Luciana Bozán Barroso|December 9, 2005}}
| children           = 3
| works              = [[Matt Damon filmography|Full list]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Matt Damon|Full list]]
| signature          = Matt Damon Signature (cropped).png
}}

'''Matthew Paige Damon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|eɪ|m|ə|n|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Matt Damon.wav}} {{respelling|DAY|mən}}; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. He was ranked among ''[[Forbes]]''{{'}}s most [[bankable star]]s in 2007, and in 2010 was one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He has received various [[List of awards and nominations received by Matt Damon|awards and nominations]], including an [[Academy Award]], two [[Golden Globe Awards]], and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]],<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=2024 SAG Awards: See the Complete Winners List|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2024-sag-awards-winners-list|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=February 24, 2024|access-date=September 19, 2025}}</ref> in addition to nominations for three [[British Academy Film Awards]] and seven [[Primetime Emmy Awards]].

Damon made his acting debut in the film ''[[Mystic Pizza]]'' (1988) before gaining prominence in 1997 when he and [[Ben Affleck]] wrote and starred in ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'', which won them the [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]]. He established himself as a [[leading man]] by starring as [[Tom Ripley]] in ''[[The Talented Mr. Ripley (film)|The Talented Mr. Ripley]]'' (1999), [[Jason Bourne]] in the [[Bourne (franchise)|''Bourne'' franchise]] (2002–2007; 2016), and [[Linus Caldwell]] in [[Ocean's (film series)|the ''Ocean's'' trilogy]] (2001–2007). He received a nomination for an [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award]] and won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Golden Globe Award for Best Actor]] for playing an [[astronaut]] stranded on [[Mars]] in ''[[The Martian (film)|The Martian]]'' (2015). He also acted in ''[[The Rainmaker (1997 film)|The Rainmaker]]'' (1997), ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' (1998), ''[[Syriana]]'' (2005), ''[[The Departed]]'' (2006), ''[[The Informant!]]'' (2009), ''[[Invictus (film)|Invictus]]'' (2009), ''[[True Grit (2010 film)|True Grit]]'' (2010), ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'' (2011), [[Interstellar (film)|''Interstellar'']] (2014), ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]'' (2019), ''[[The Last Duel (2021 film)|The Last Duel]]'' (2021), ''[[Air (2023 American film)|Air]]'' (2023), and ''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]'' (2023), the last of which is his highest-grossing feature.

On television, Damon portrayed [[Scott Thorson]] in the [[HBO]] biopic ''[[Behind the Candelabra]]'' (2013), for which he was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award]]. He was Emmy-nominated for his guest role in ''[[30 Rock]]'' in 2011 and hosting ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 2019. He also produced the reality series ''[[Project Greenlight]]'' (2001–2015) as well as the film ''[[Manchester by the Sea (film)|Manchester by the Sea]]'' (2016). Damon has performed voiceover work in both animated and documentary films and established two production companies with Affleck, [[Artists Equity]] and the former [[Pearl Street Films]]. He has been involved in charitable work with organizations including the [[One Campaign]], [[H2O Africa Foundation]], [[Feeding America]], and [[Water.org]].

== Early life and education ==
Matthew Paige Damon was born in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], on October 8, 1970,<ref>{{cite news|title=Monitor|newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=Oct 12–19, 2012|issue=1228/1229|page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2022/10/08/Famous-birthdays-for-Oct-8-Bella-Thorne-Chevy-Chase/4741665185464/ |title=Famous birthdays for Oct. 8: Bella Thorne, Chevy Chase |work=UPI |date=October 8, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008075151/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2022/10/08/Famous-birthdays-for-Oct-8-Bella-Thorne-Chevy-Chase/4741665185464/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the second son of Kent Telfer Damon, a stockbroker, and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, an early childhood education professor at [[Lesley University]].<ref name="KentReal">{{cite magazine|last=Luscombe|first=Belinda|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=Matt Damon Acts Out|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,36294,00.html|date=December 19, 1999|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235348/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,36294,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LiveCambridge">{{cite news|last=Givens |first=Ron |author2=Michele McPhee |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|title=Two Hollywood Prizefighters 'Hunting' for Stardom Pays Off for Matt Damon |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/03/22/1998-03-22_two_hollywood_prizefighters_.html |date=March 22, 1998 |access-date=April 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921162214/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/03/22/1998-03-22_two_hollywood_prizefighters_.html |archive-date=September 21, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/23/matt-damon-father-dies-age/1uTaOyDq5Bp7vLHPRncU7O/story.html|title=Matt Damon's father dies at age 74|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=January 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126182947/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/23/matt-damon-father-dies-age/1uTaOyDq5Bp7vLHPRncU7O/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His father had English and Scottish ancestry, while his mother is of Finnish and Swedish descent; her family surname had been changed from [[Pajari]] to Paige.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/largest-ethnic-groups-in-america-2013-8 |title=The Largest Ancestry Groups in the United States |author1=Liz O'Connor |author2=Gus Lubin |author3=Dina Spector |name-list-style=amp |date=August 13, 2013 |newspaper=Business Insider |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006140844/http://www.businessinsider.com/largest-ethnic-groups-in-america-2013-8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/matt-damon| title=Matt Damon| newspaper=HuffPost| access-date=March 1, 2020| archive-date=August 3, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803211416/https://www.huffpost.com/author/matt-damon| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hometownfocus.us/articles/matt-damon-makes-headlines-in-finland/|title=Matt Damon makes headlines in Finland|work=Hometown Focus|date=May 16, 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107081048/http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2014-05-16/Features/Matt_Damon_makes_headlines_in_Finland.html|archive-date=November 7, 2014}}</ref> Damon and his family moved to [[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]] for two years. His parents divorced when he was two years old, and he and his brother returned with their mother to Cambridge,<ref name="LiveCambridge"/><ref name="ParentsDivorce">{{cite news|work=[[The Independent]]|title=Matt Damon: A true Hollywood player|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/matt-damon-a-true-hollywood-player-418808.html|date=October 4, 2006|access-date=April 5, 2009|location=London|archive-date=September 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923013833/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/matt-damon-a-true-hollywood-player-418808.html|url-status=live}}</ref> where they lived in a six-family communal house.<ref name="ParadeProfile03">{{cite news|last=Raider |first=Dotson |work=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]|title="My Goals Have Changed" (Actor Matt Damon) |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2003/edition_11-30-2003/featured_0 |date=November 30, 2003 |access-date=April 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110054833/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2003/edition_11-30-2003/featured_0 |archive-date=January 10, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="NeutralNarrate">{{cite news|last=Crust |first=Kevin |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title='Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train,' 'Hair Show,' 'The Hillside Strangler,' 'The Dust Factory' and 'Stephen King's Riding the Bullet' |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-capsules15oct15,2,1749015.story |date=October 15, 2004 |access-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604162332/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-capsules15oct15%2C2%2C1749015.story |archive-date=June 4, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His brother, Kyle, is a sculptor and artist.<ref name="LiveCambridge"/><ref name="Animation">{{cite news|last=Ball|first=Ryan|work=[[Animation Magazine]]|title=Matt Damon Animated for Arthur|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/7229|date=August 15, 2007|access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009070139/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/matt-damon-animated-for-arthur/|url-status=live|archive-date=October 9, 2014}}</ref> Damon has said that, as a teenager, he felt lonely, as if he did not belong,<ref name="ParadeProfile03"/> and that his mother's by-the-book approach to child-rearing<ref name="ParadeProfile03"/> had made it hard for him to define his own identity.<ref name="ParadeProfile03"/>

Damon attended Cambridge Alternative School and [[Cambridge Rindge and Latin School]], and was a good student.<ref name="WTprofile97"/> He acted in several high-school theater productions,<ref name="LiveCambridge"/> and has credited his drama teacher, Gerry Speca, with having an important artistic influence on him, while noting wryly that Speca gave [[Ben Affleck]] (Damon's close friend and schoolmate) the "biggest roles and longest speeches".<ref name="WTprofile97">{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=Gary|work=[[The Washington Times]]|title=Boyhood friends are stars on the rise|date=December 26, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!--- staff writer, no byline ---> |url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/351 |title=Interview with Matt Damon and Minnie Driver!!! - Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news |publisher=Aintitcool.com |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006111744/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/351 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Another neighbor of Damon's was historian and author [[Howard Zinn]],<ref name="UnholyAlliance">{{cite book|last=Horowitz|first=David|title=Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam And The American Left|publisher=Regnery Publishing|year=2004|page=102|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=azE5qoXTgoAC&q=matt+damon+howard+zinn+neighbor&pg=PA102|isbn=0-89526-076-X|access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104083828/https://books.google.com/books?id=azE5qoXTgoAC&q=matt+damon+howard+zinn+neighbor&pg=PA102|url-status=live}}</ref> whose biographical film ''You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train'' and audio version of ''[[A People's History of the United States]]'' Damon later narrated.<ref name="NeutralNarrate"/>|group="nb"}} He attended [[Harvard University]] as a member of the class of 1992, residing in [[Lowell House]], but left before receiving his degree to take a lead role in the film ''[[Geronimo: An American Legend]]''. While at Harvard, as an exercise for an English class, Damon wrote an essay in the form of a [[film treatment]] that was later developed into the screenplay ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' (for which he received an Academy Award).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sege |first=Irene |date=March 25, 1998 |title=Oscar joins the family |url=http://cache.boston.com/globe/living/packages/oscars98/titanicwins.html |access-date=March 14, 2025 |website=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> At Harvard, Damon was a member of [[Delphic Club|the Delphic Club]], one of the university's [[Final Clubs]]. In 2013, he was awarded the Harvard Arts Medal.<ref>[http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/04/matt-damon-on-his-craft/ "Matt Damon on His Craft" Colleen Walsh, ''The Harvard Gazette'' April 25, 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926235908/http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/04/matt-damon-on-his-craft/ |date=September 26, 2016 }}</ref>

== Career ==
{{see also|Matt Damon filmography}}

=== 1988–1999: Early work and breakthrough ===

Damon entered [[Harvard University]] in 1988,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2013 |title=Oscar winner Matt Damon on his Harvard years |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/08/oscar-winner-matt-damon-on-his-harvard-years/ |access-date=March 14, 2025 |website=[[Harvard Gazette]] |language=en-US}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|He lived in Matthews Hall and then [[Lowell House]]<ref name="Harvard1992">{{cite news|last=McGrath|first=Charles|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=6 Degrees of Harvard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/weekinreview/01mcgrath.html?scp=1&sq=matt%20damon%20harvard%201992&st=cse|date=October 1, 2006 |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-date=May 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510060758/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/weekinreview/01mcgrath.html?scp=1&sq=matt%20damon%20harvard%201992&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}} where he appeared in student theater plays, such as ''[[Burn This]]'' and ''A... My Name is Alice''.<ref name="Chainani">{{cite web|last=Chainani|first=Soman S.|work=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|title=Matt Damon On Life, Acting and Harvard|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1997/12/12/matt-damon-on-life-acting-and/|access-date=April 21, 2010|archive-date=November 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119132343/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1997/12/12/matt-damon-on-life-acting-and/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HarvardCrimson">{{cite news|last=Siegler|first=Elijah|work=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|title=Ex Show Safe but Satisfying|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/11/2/ex-show-safe-but-satisfying-piamy/|date=November 2, 1990|access-date=October 11, 2013|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012014152/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/11/2/ex-show-safe-but-satisfying-piamy/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, he made his film debut at the age of 18, with a single line of dialogue in the [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Mystic Pizza]]''.<ref name="People - Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/matt_damon/biography|title=Matt Damon Biography|access-date=April 5, 2009|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|archive-date=February 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203011048/http://www.people.com/people/matt_damon/biography|url-status=live}}</ref> As a student at Harvard, he acted in small roles such as in the [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] original film ''Rising Son'' and the ensemble prep-school drama ''[[School Ties]]''.<ref name="actors">{{citation | url=http://www.bravotv.com/inside-the-actors-studio/season-13/videos/matt-damon | title=Matt Damon - Season 13, Episode 3 | work=[[Inside the Actors Studio]] | publisher=Bravo TV | date=January 8, 2007 | access-date=October 3, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121451/http://www.bravotv.com/inside-the-actors-studio/season-13/videos/matt-damon | url-status=live }}</ref> He left the school in 1992, a semester (12 credits) shy of completing his Bachelor of Arts in English to feature in ''Geronimo: An American Legend''<ref name="Chainani" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Oscars/matt-damon-stars/story?id=9957289|title=Matt Damon: Before They Were Stars|work=ABC News|first=Jennifer|last=Joseph|date=March 1, 2010|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803203839/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Oscars/matt-damon-stars/story?id=9957289|url-status=live}}</ref> in Los Angeles, erroneously expecting the movie to be a big success.<ref name="Chainani" />{{#tag:ref|"By the time I figured out I had made the wrong decision, it was too late. I was living out here with a bunch of actors, and we were all scrambling to make ends meet," he has said.<ref>{{cite news|last=Koltnow|first=Barry |work=The Orange County Register|title=Looking for Mr. 'Good' Guy|date=December 5, 1999}}</ref>|group="nb"}} Damon next appeared as an [[opiate]]-addicted soldier in 1996's ''[[Courage Under Fire]]'', for which he lost {{convert|40|lb|kg}} in 100 days<ref name="People - Bio"/><ref name="EW40lbs">{{cite magazine|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|title=Actorexia: A Brief History|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/10/01/who-else-emile-hirsch-wild/|date=September 21, 2007|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217162243/https://ew.com/article/2007/10/01/who-else-emile-hirsch-wild/|url-status=live}}</ref> on a self-prescribed diet and fitness regimen. ''Courage Under Fire'' gained him critical notice; ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called his performance "impressive".<ref>{{cite news|last=Kempley|first=Rita|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=Hand-to-Heart Combat|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/courageunderfirekemp.htm|date=November 8, 1998|access-date=April 21, 2010|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110122716/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/courageunderfirekemp.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Matt Damon 1999.jpg|thumb|upright|Damon during filming for ''[[The Talented Mr. Ripley (film)|The Talented Mr. Ripley]]'' in 1999]]

During the early 1990s, [[Ben Affleck and Matt Damon|Damon and Affleck]] wrote ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' (1997), a screenplay about a young mathematics genius, an extension of a screenplay Damon wrote as an assignment at Harvard, having integrated advice from director [[Rob Reiner]], screenwriter [[William Goldman]], and writer/director [[Kevin Smith]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ben-affleck-birthday_n_3750655| title=Ben Affleck's 41st Birthday Recalls Actor's Early Roles, Surprising Hobbies And Political Activism| work=HuffPost | date=August 15, 2013 |author=Matthew Jacobs | access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007055630/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/15/ben-affleck-birthday_n_3750655.html| url-status=live |archive-date=October 7, 2014}}</ref> He asked Affleck to perform the scenes with him in front of the class and, when Damon later moved into Affleck's Los Angeles apartment, they began working on the script more seriously.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sischy |first=Ingrid |title=New Again: Ben Affleck |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/new-again-ben-affleck/ |work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]] |access-date=May 10, 2018 |date=April 16, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619233859/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/new-again-ben-affleck/ |archive-date=June 19, 2017 }}</ref> The film, which they wrote mainly during improvisation sessions, was set partly in their hometown of Cambridge, and drew from their own experiences.<ref name="bostonmag-history">{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2013/01/good-will-hunting-oral-history/ |title=Good Will Hunting: An Oral History |first=Janelle |last=Nanos |work=Boston Magazine |date=January 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715034905/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2013/01/good-will-hunting-oral-history/ |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Shone|first=Tom|title=The Double Life of Matt Damon|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-double-life-of-matt-damon-9mspqql8h8j|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=May 10, 2018|date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005071754/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-double-life-of-matt-damon-9mspqql8h8j|url-status=live}}</ref> They sold the screenplay to [[Castle Rock Entertainment|Castle Rock]] in 1994, but after a conflict with the company, they convinced [[Miramax]] to purchase the script.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4720603/Good-Will-Hunting-the-truth.html |last=Goldman |first=William |title=Good Will Hunting: the Truth |work=The Telegraph |date=May 2, 2000 |access-date=May 12, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151342/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4720603/Good-Will-Hunting-the-truth.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="highbeam1">{{cite news|url=https://business.highbeam.com/137462/article-1G1-57790090/playboy-interview-ben-affleck-candid-conversation-hot|title=Playboy Interview: Ben Affleck|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|date=December 1, 1999|work=[[Playboy]]|access-date=May 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703192630/https://business.highbeam.com/137462/article-1G1-57790090/playboy-interview-ben-affleck-candid-conversation-hot|archive-date=July 3, 2017|url-status=dead|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref> The film received critical praise; Quentin Curtis of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' found "real wit and vigour, and some depth" in their writing and Emanuel Levy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote that Damon "gives a charismatic performance in a demanding role that's bound to catapult him to stardom. Perfectly cast, he makes the aching, step-by-step transformation of Will realistic and credible."<ref>{{cite news|last=Curtis|first=Quentin|title=Good Will Hunting, review: 'Robin Williams brings off sharpness and tenderness'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11035949/Good-Will-Hunting-review-Robin-Williams-brings-off-sharpness-and-tenderness.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11035949/Good-Will-Hunting-review-Robin-Williams-brings-off-sharpness-and-tenderness.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=May 12, 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=August 15, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Emanuel|title=Good Will Hunting|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/good-will-hunting-3-1200452429/|access-date=May 12, 2018|work=Variety|date=November 30, 1997|archive-date=December 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226120724/http://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/good-will-hunting-3-1200452429/|url-status=live}}</ref> It received nine [[Academy Awards]] nominations, including [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Damon; he and Affleck won the [[Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay|Oscar]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]].<ref name="Hartford9Nominations">{{cite news|author=Amy Wallace|author2=Robert W. Welkos|author3=Susan King|title='Titanic' Ties Record for Oscar Nominations|work=[[The Hartford Courant]]|url=http://www.courant.com/topic/cl-env-1998oscarnoms,0,2173092.story?page=1|date=February 11, 1998|access-date=April 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922033106/http://www.courant.com/topic/cl-env-1998oscarnoms,0,2173092.story?page=1|archive-date=September 22, 2009}}<br />{{cite news|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|author2=William Booth|title='Titanic's' 11 Oscars Ties Record; Night 'Good' for Nicholson, Hunt|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/oscars/oscars98.htm|date=March 23, 1998|access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110065806/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/oscars/oscars98.htm|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web | url=http://www.eonline.com/news/584691/ben-affleck-s-most-awkward-smiles-see-that-one-in-gone-girl-and-9-from-real-life | title=Ben Affleck's Most Awkward Smiles | publisher=E! Entertainment | author=Corrine Heller | date=October 2, 2014 | access-date=October 3, 2014 | archive-date=October 3, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003192653/http://www.eonline.com/news/584691/ben-affleck-s-most-awkward-smiles-see-that-one-in-gone-girl-and-9-from-real-life | url-status=live }}</ref> He and Affleck were each paid salaries of $600,000, while the film grossed over $225&nbsp;million at the worldwide box office.<ref name="bomojo"/><ref name="BioChannel$500K">{{cite web|publisher=[[The Biography Channel]] |title=Matt Damon |url=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/1685:2046/1/Matt_Damon.htm |access-date=April 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918010053/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/1685%3A2046/1/Matt_Damon.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2009 }}</ref> The two later parodied their roles from the film in Kevin Smith's 2001 movie ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/gallery/perfect-casting-stars-screen-themselves/ | title=Perfect Casting: Stars on Screen as Themselves | date=June 12, 2013 | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | access-date=March 1, 2020 | archive-date=August 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803183932/https://ew.com/gallery/perfect-casting-stars-screen-themselves/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Of his "overnight success" through ''Good Will Hunting'', Damon said that by that time he had been working in the cinema for 11 years but still found the change "nearly indescribable—going from total obscurity to walking down a street in New York and having everybody turn and look".<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldman|first=Steven|title=Interview: Matt Damon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/aug/10/1|access-date=May 12, 2018|work=The Guardian|date=August 9, 2007|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812040939/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/aug/10/1|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the film, Damon played the lead in the critically acclaimed drama ''[[The Rainmaker (1997 film)|The Rainmaker]]'' (1997), where he was recognized by the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' as "a talented young actor on the brink of stardom."<ref>{{cite web |first=Jack |last=Matthews |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie980106-50,0,962161.story |title=John Grisham's The Rainmaker |access-date=April 21, 2010 |date=November 21, 1997 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100628142930/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie980106-50,0,962161.story |archive-date=June 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For the role, Damon regained most of the weight he had lost for ''Courage Under Fire''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Geier|first=Thom|title=The Evolution of Matt Damon (Photos)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-evolution-of-matt-damon-from-mystic-pizza-to-jason-bourne-photos/|access-date=May 12, 2018|work=TheWrap|date=December 22, 2017|archive-date=May 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513080836/https://www.thewrap.com/the-evolution-of-matt-damon-from-mystic-pizza-to-jason-bourne-photos/|url-status=live}}</ref> After meeting Damon on the set of ''Good Will Hunting'', director [[Steven Spielberg]] cast him in the brief title role in the 1998 [[World War II]] film ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-damon-playing-private-ryan/ | title=Matt Damon: Playing Private Ryan | author=CBS News Staff | date=July 23, 1998 | work=CBS News | access-date=October 3, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104800/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-damon-playing-private-ryan/ | url-status=live }}</ref> He co-starred with [[Edward Norton]] in the 1998 poker film ''[[Rounders (film)|Rounders]]'', playing a reformed gambler in law school who must return to playing high-stakes [[poker]] to help a friend pay off [[loan shark]]s. Despite meager earnings at the box office, it is considered one of the best poker movies of all time.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rosen|first1=Christopher|title='Rounders' Turns 15: Matt Damon Poker Movie Splashed The Pot On Sept. 11, 1998|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rounders-15th-anniversary_n_3902343|access-date=March 1, 2020|work=HuffPost|date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803185134/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rounders-15th-anniversary_n_3902343|url-status=live}}</ref>

Damon then portrayed antihero [[Tom Ripley]] in ''[[The Talented Mr. Ripley (film)|The Talented Mr. Ripley]]'' (1999), a role for which he lost {{convert|25|lb|disp=flip}}. Damon said he wanted to display his character's humanity and honesty on screen despite his criminal actions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=Sheila|title=Interview: Matt Damon: The talented Mr Damon tries on the Emperor's|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/interview-matt-damon-the-talented-mr-damon-tries-on-the-emperors-new-clothes-for-size-1183460.html|access-date=May 12, 2018|work=The Independent|date=November 8, 1998|archive-date=May 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513011303/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/interview-matt-damon-the-talented-mr-damon-tries-on-the-emperors-new-clothes-for-size-1183460.html|url-status=live}}</ref> An adaptation of [[Patricia Highsmith]]'s 1955 [[The Talented Mr. Ripley|novel of same name]], the film costarred [[Jude Law]], [[Gwyneth Paltrow]], and [[Cate Blanchett]], and received praise from critics.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Talented Mr. Ripley|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/talented_mr_ripley|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=December 25, 1999 |access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127044634/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/talented_mr_ripley/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Damon outstandingly conveys his character's slide from innocent enthusiasm into cold calculation", according to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-talented-mr-ripley-2-1200460048/|title=The Talented Mr. Ripley|access-date=April 21, 2010|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|date=December 13, 1999|archive-date=January 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101012254/http://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-talented-mr-ripley-2-1200460048/|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''[[Dogma (film)|Dogma]]'' (1999), Damon plays a fallen angel who discusses pop culture as intellectual subject matter with Affleck's character.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9507E4D81E3EF937A35753C1A96F958260 | title=Dogma (1999) Movie Review | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=October 4, 1999 |first=Janet |last=Maslin | author-link=Janet Maslin |url-access=subscription | access-date=October 4, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006184448/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9507E4D81E3EF937A35753C1A96F958260 | url-status=live }}</ref> The film received generally positive reviews, but proved controversial among religious groups who deemed it blasphemous.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Caro|first1=Mark|title=A Practicing Catholic On The Religious Storm Of 'Dogma'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/11/07/a-practicing-catholic-on-the-religious-storm-of-dogma/|access-date=May 12, 2018|work=The Chicago Tribune|date=November 7, 1999|archive-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225104356/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-11-07/news/9911070455_1_jason-mewes-and-smith-dogma-catholic-league|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2000–2008: Worldwide recognition ===
In 2000, Damon, Affleck, and producers [[Chris Moore (film producer)|Chris Moore]] and [[Sean Bailey]] founded the production company [[LivePlanet]] to create the [[Emmy]]-nominated documentary series ''[[Project Greenlight]],'' which aimed to find and fund worthwhile film projects by novice filmmakers.<ref name="PPGreenlight">{{cite news |date=August 12, 2002 |title='Greenlight' gets green light |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-greenlight-get/157909731/ |access-date=October 27, 2024 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |page=D-8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/project-greenlight | title=Project Greenlight | publisher=Emmys | access-date=October 4, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006210320/http://www.emmys.com/shows/project-greenlight | url-status=live }}</ref> Among the company's projects was the short-lived mystery-hybrid series ''[[Push, Nevada]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Push, Nevada' deserves a push |newspaper=Saint Paul Pioneer Press |location=St. Paul, Minnesota | publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |via=[[HighBeam Research]] | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120209355.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323022034/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120209355.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 23, 2015 |date=August 26, 2002 | access-date=October 4, 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:Matt Damon 2001.jpg|thumb|upright|Damon in 2001]]

Damon's attempts at leading characters in romantic dramas such as 2000's ''[[All the Pretty Horses (film)|All the Pretty Horses]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Bagger Vance]]'' were commercially and critically unsuccessful.<ref name="bomojo"/> ''Variety'' said of his work in ''All the Pretty Horses'': "He just doesn't quite seem like a young man who's spent his life amidst the dust and dung of a Texas cattle ranch. Nor does he strike any sparks with [[Penélope Cruz|[Penelope] Cruz]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/all-the-pretty-horses-2-1200465856/|title=All the Pretty Horses|access-date=March 1, 2020|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|date=December 13, 2000|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235345/https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/all-the-pretty-horses-2-1200465856/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was similarly deemed "uncomfortable being the center" of [[Robert Redford]]'s ''The Legend of Bagger Vance'' by Peter Rainer of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rainer, Peter|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/4029/|title=Par for the Course|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=November 13, 2000 |access-date=August 11, 2018|archive-date=August 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811163004/http://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/4029/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During this period, Damon joined two lucrative film series—''[[Ocean's Trilogy]]'' (2001–2007) and ''[[Bourne (film series)|Bourne]]'' (2002–2016)—and produced the television series ''[[Project Greenlight]]'' (2001–2005, 2015). He co-starred as thief Linus Caldwell in the former's first installment, [[Steven Soderbergh]]'s 2001 ensemble film ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'', a remake of the [[Rat Pack]]'s ''[[Ocean's 11]]'' (1960).<ref name="People - Bio"/> The role was originally meant for [[Mark Wahlberg]], who declined it in favor of other projects.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hines|first1=Ree|title=Wahlberg disses Clooney's 'Ocean's' films|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/wahlberg-disses-clooney-s-ocean-s-films-wbna25200092|access-date=May 13, 2018|work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]|date=June 17, 2008|archive-date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065013/https://www.today.com/popculture/wahlberg-disses-clooney-s-ocean-s-films-wbna25200092|url-status=live}}</ref> The film grossed $450 million on a budget of $83 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ocean's Eleven (2001)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=oceanseleven.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=May 13, 2018|archive-date=May 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520115811/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=oceanseleven.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon, alongside Affleck and others, produced the documentary series ''Project Greenlight'', aired on [[HBO]] and later [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]], which helped newcomers develop their first film. The series was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program]] in 2002, 2004, and 2005.<ref>{{cite news|first=Louise A. |last=Barile |url=https://people.com/celebrity/ben-matt-to-give-second-greenlight/|title=Ben & Matt To Give Second 'Greenlight' |access-date=March 1, 2020|date=August 21, 2002 |work=People |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417034733/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C624578%2C00.html |archive-date=April 17, 2008 }}</ref> Damon later said that he and Affleck felt proud that the show helped launch the careers of several directors; Damon later served as the executive producer of a number of projects directed by the winners of the show.<ref name="THR">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Philiana|title=HBO Reviving 'Project Greenlight' With Ben Affleck, Matt Damon|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-reviving-project-greenlight-ben-700165|access-date=May 13, 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 30, 2014|archive-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012072006/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-reviving-project-greenlight-ben-700165|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Damon began writing and starring in ''[[Gerry (2002 film)|Gerry]]'', a drama about two friends who forget to bring water and food when they go hiking in a desert. The film's reviews were generally favorable, but it was a box-office failure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gerry (2002)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gerry/|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=February 14, 2003 |access-date=May 15, 2018|archive-date=November 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129211537/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gerry/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bourne">{{cite news|last=Hiscock|first=John|title=Matt Damon on marriage, gun control, and why Hollywood thought The Bourne Identity would flop|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/25/matt-damon-on-marriage-gun-control-and-why-hollywood-thought-the/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/25/matt-damon-on-marriage-gun-control-and-why-hollywood-thought-the/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=May 18, 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=July 25, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He then played [[amnesia]]c assassin [[Jason Bourne]] in [[Doug Liman]]'s action thriller ''[[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|The Bourne Identity]]'' (2002). Liman considered several actors for the role before he cast Damon.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hanrahan|first1=Denise|title=BBC - Films - interview - Doug Liman|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/09/05/doug_liman_the_bourne_identity_interview.shtml|access-date=May 18, 2018|work=BBC|archive-date=January 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109151909/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/09/05/doug_liman_the_bourne_identity_interview.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon insisted on performing many of the stunts himself, undergoing three months of extensive training in stunt work, the use of weapons, boxing, and [[eskrima]].<ref name="DVDDocumentary">'The Birth of the Bourne Identity' DVD Making of Documentary (2003).</ref> He said that before ''The Bourne Identity'' he was jobless for six months, and many of his films during that period underperformed at the box office. He doubted the film's financial prospects, but it proved a commercial success.<ref name="bourne"/> The film's reviews were also good;<ref>{{cite web|title=The Bourne Identity (2002)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bourne_identity|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=June 14, 2002 |access-date=May 18, 2018|archive-date=May 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521040949/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bourne_identity|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] praised it for its ability to absorb the viewer in its "spycraft" and "Damon's ability to be focused and sincere".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ebert|first1=Roger|title=The Bourne Identity Movie Review (2002)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-bourne-identity-2002|access-date=May 18, 2018|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=June 17, 2002|archive-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033039/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-bourne-identity-2002|url-status=live}}</ref> For his role, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named Damon among "the decade's best mixer of brawn and brains."<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Thom Geier |author2=Jeff Jensen |author3=Tina Jordan |display-authors=etal |date=December 11, 2009|title=The 100 Greatest Movies, TV Shows, Albums, Books, Characters, Scenes, Episodes, Songs, Dresses, Music Videos, And Trends That Entertained Us Over The Past 10 Years|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|page=(1079/1080):74–84}}</ref>

[[File:MattDamonBU.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Damon attending an event for ''[[The Bourne Ultimatum (film)|The Bourne Ultimatum]]'' in 2007]]

Damon voiced the role of Spirit in the animated film ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'' (2002) and later played a [[conjoined twin]] in ''[[Stuck on You (film)|Stuck on You]]'' (2003), which received a mixed critical reception.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stuck_on_you/|title=Stuck on You reviews|access-date=April 21, 2010|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=December 12, 2003 |archive-date=April 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407230454/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stuck_on_you/|url-status=live}}</ref> His major releases in 2004 included starring roles in the sequels ''[[The Bourne Supremacy (film)|The Bourne Supremacy]]'' and ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]''. Both films earned more than $280 million at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bourne Supremacy (2004) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bournesupremacy.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706071530/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bournesupremacy.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ocean's Twelve (2004) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Oceans-Twelve#tab=summary |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613015008/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Oceans-Twelve#tab=summary |url-status=live }}</ref> [[BBC]]'s Nev Pierce called ''The Bourne Supremacy'' "a brisk, engrossing and intelligent thriller", adding, "Damon is one hell of an action hero. He does a lot with very little, imbuing his limited dialogue with both rage and sorrow, looking harder and more haunted as the picture progresses".<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierce |first=Nev |title=BBC Gloucestershire Films - The Bourne Supremacy Review |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/films/reviews/a_f/bourne_supremacy.shtml |publisher=BBC |access-date=August 17, 2018 |date=August 12, 2004 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818100942/http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/films/reviews/a_f/bourne_supremacy.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> For the film, he earned an [[Empire Award for Best Actor]]; ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' attributed Damon's win to his "astute, underplayed performance, through which he totally eschews movie star vanity".<ref>{{cite news |title=Winners Best Actor |url=https://www.empireonline.com/awards2005/winners/actor.asp |access-date=August 17, 2018 |work=Empire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021031426/http://www.empireonline.com/awards2005/winners/actor.asp |archive-date=October 21, 2012}}</ref> He played a fictionalized version of [[Wilhelm Grimm]] alongside [[Heath Ledger]] in [[Terry Gilliam]]'s fantasy adventure ''[[The Brothers Grimm (film)|The Brothers Grimm]]'' (2005), a critically panned commercial failure;<ref name="bomojo"/> ''The Washington Post'' wrote, "Damon, constantly flashing his newscaster's teeth and flaunting a fake, '[[Masterpiece Theatre]]' dialect, comes across like someone who got lost on the way to an audition for a high school production of ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]''."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/08/26/a-disappointingly-grimm-tale/ebd09935-5802-4212-b474-1d3080405c7b/|title=A Disappointingly 'Grimm' Tale|access-date=March 1, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Michael|last=O'Sullivan|date=August 26, 2005|archive-date=March 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302001431/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/08/26/a-disappointingly-grimm-tale/ebd09935-5802-4212-b474-1d3080405c7b/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Later in 2005, he appeared as an [[Energy analysis|energy analyst]] in the geopolitical thriller ''[[Syriana]]'' alongside [[George Clooney]] and [[Jeffrey Wright]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Schwarzbaum|url=https://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/23/ew.mov.syriana/index.html|title=EW review: 'Syriana' lacks humanity|access-date=March 1, 2020|date=November 23, 2005|work=CNN|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235347/https://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/23/ew.mov.syriana/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film focuses on [[petroleum politics]] and the global influence of the oil industry. Damon says starring in the film broadened his understanding of the oil industry and that he hoped people would talk about the film.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=September 16, 2012 |title='Syriana' {{!}} Unscripted {{!}} Matt Damon, George Clooney|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7hSCA0Jh98 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/G7hSCA0Jh98| archive-date=October 27, 2021|access-date=August 18, 2018|publisher=[[Moviefone]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' was mainly impressed with Clooney's acting, but also found Damon's performance "whiplash".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Travers |first1=Peter |title=Syriana |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/syriana-90496/ |access-date=August 17, 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 17, 2005 |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161506/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/syriana-90496/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2006, Damon joined [[Robert De Niro]] in ''[[The Good Shepherd (film)|The Good Shepherd]]'' as a career [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent, and played an undercover [[mobster]] working for the [[Massachusetts State Police]] in [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[The Departed]]'', a remake of the Hong Kong police thriller ''[[Infernal Affairs]]''.<ref name="People - Bio"/> Assessing his work in the two films, [[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that Damon has the unique "ability to recede into a film while also being fully present, a recessed intensity, that distinguishes how he holds the screen."<ref name="NYT06">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/movies/moviesspecial/10darg.html |url-access=subscription |title=The Boyish Mr. Damon, Not So Boyish After All|access-date=April 21, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Manohla|last=Dargis|date=September 10, 2006|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006124231/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/movies/moviesspecial/10darg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Departed'' received critical acclaim and won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/departed/|title=The Departed reviews|access-date=April 21, 2010|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=October 6, 2006 |archive-date=November 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118005417/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/departed/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|[[Box Office Mojo]] ranked it seventh amongst his films.<ref name="bomojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=mattdamon.htm|title=Box Office Mojo – Matt Damon|access-date=April 21, 2010|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=April 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405074109/http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=mattdamon.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}}

According to ''[[Forbes]]'' in August 2007, Damon was the most bankable star of the actors reviewed. His last three films at that time averaged $29 at the box office for every dollar he earned.<ref name="ForbesPayback">{{cite news|last=Pomerantz|first=Dorothy|work=[[Forbes]]|title=Ultimate Star Payback|url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/08/03/celebrities-hollywood-movies-biz-cz_dp_0806starpayback.html|date=August 6, 2007|access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093033/http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/03/celebrities-hollywood-movies-biz-cz_dp_0806starpayback.html|url-status=live|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> Two of his major releases in 2007 were the films ''[[Ocean's Thirteen]]'' and [[The Bourne Ultimatum (film)|''The Bourne Ultimatum'']], the third installments of their respective series. Both films earned more than $300 million at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ocean's Thirteen(2007) - Financial Information |url=https://www.https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Oceans-Thirteen#tab=summary |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=August 10, 2022 |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021122315/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Oceans-Thirteen#tab=summary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bourneultimatum.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=August 16, 2022|archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707110915/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bourneultimatum.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Damon had an uncredited cameo in [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s ''[[Youth Without Youth (film)|Youth Without Youth]]'' (2007) and another in the 2008 [[Che Guevara]] biopic ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weissberg|first=Jay|title=Review: 'Youth Without Youth'|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/youth-without-youth-2-1200555232/|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 20, 2007|archive-date=June 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604135957/http://variety.com/2007/film/awards/youth-without-youth-2-1200555232/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Salto|first=Stephen|title=The Curious Camerography of Matt Damon|work=IFC |url=http://www.ifc.com/2009/01/the-curious-cameography-of-mat|publisher=[[IFC (American TV network)|IFC]]|access-date=August 7, 2016|date=January 8, 2009|archive-date=April 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427001257/http://www.ifc.com/2009/01/the-curious-cameography-of-mat|url-status=live}}</ref> While working on the ''Bourne'' films, Damon declined an offer from [[James Cameron]] to star in his upcoming film ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'', as he did not want to break his ''Bourne'' contract. Cameron offered Damon 10% of the profits for the film, which went on to become the most successful of all time. Damon said later: "I will go down in history... you will never meet an actor who turned down more money."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kemp |first=Sam |date=February 25, 2023 |title=Matt Damon names the biggest mistake of his career |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/matt-damon-biggest-mistake-of-career/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Far Out |archive-date=February 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226160234/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/matt-damon-biggest-mistake-of-career/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2009–2019: Established actor ===
[[File:Matt Damon 2009 Venice Film Festival.jpg|thumb|upright|Damon attending an event for ''[[The Informant!]]'' at the [[2009 Venice International Film Festival]]]]

He made a guest appearance in 2009 on the sixth-season finale of ''[[Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]'' as himself, where he tries to pressure [[Vincent Chase]] ([[Adrian Grenier]]) into donating to his real foundation ''ONEXONE''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/tv/matt-damon-fundraises-on-entourage/|title=Matt Damon Fundraises on ''Entourage''|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M.|date=July 13, 2009|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235345/https://people.com/tv/matt-damon-fundraises-on-entourage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2009/10/11/we-hear-tom-werner-katy-davis-matt-damon-more/|title=We Hear: Tom Werner, Katy Davis, Matt Damon & more...|date=October 11, 2009|work=[[Boston Herald]]|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235349/https://www.bostonherald.com/2009/10/11/we-hear-tom-werner-katy-davis-matt-damon-more/|url-status=live}}</ref> His next role was Steven Soderbergh's dark comedy ''[[The Informant!]]'' (2009),<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/theinformant.soderbergh/index.html|title=Damon's weighty role in comedy 'The Informant!'|last=Corliss|first=Richard|date=September 17, 2009|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235346/https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/theinformant.soderbergh/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> of his Golden Globe-nominated work in which ''Entertainment Weekly'' wrote: "The star—who has quietly and steadily turned into a great Everyman actor—is in nimble control as he reveals his character's deep crazies."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/09/16/informant-2/|title=The Informant|access-date=March 1, 2020|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 16, 2009|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094042/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20304807,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2009, Damon portrayed [[South Africa national rugby union team]] captain [[Francois Pienaar|François Pienaar]] in the [[Clint Eastwood]]-directed film ''[[Invictus (film)|Invictus]]'', based on the 2008 [[John Carlin (journalist)|John Carlin]] book ''Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation'' and featuring [[Morgan Freeman]] as [[Nelson Mandela]].<ref name="HumanFactor">{{cite news|last=Leys|first=Nick|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/damon-tackles-rugby-in-flick/story-e6frfkp9-1111119134336|title=Matt Damon takes rugby union to Hollywood|work=news.com.au|access-date=October 10, 2014|date=March 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018203642/http://www.news.com.au/national/damon-tackles-rugby-in-flick/story-e6frfkp9-1111119134336|url-status=live|archive-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref> ''Invictus'' earned Damon an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. ''[[The New Republic]]'' observed that he brought "it off with low-key charm and integrity."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-plank/the-mini-review-invictus|title=The Mini-Review: 'Invictus'|access-date=April 21, 2010|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|archive-date=December 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216072922/http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-plank/the-mini-review-invictus|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon also lent his voice to the English version of the animated film ''[[Ponyo]]'', released in the United States in August 2009.<ref name="PonyoVoice">{{cite news|last=Child|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/27/hayaomiyazaki|title=English-language cast announced for Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff|publisher=[[guardian.co.uk]]|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=April 5, 2009|date=November 27, 2008|location=London|archive-date=September 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930144632/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/27/hayaomiyazaki|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2010, Damon and Affleck collaborated again to create another production company, [[Pearl Street Films]], a [[Warner Bros.]]-based production company.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/08/29/jennifer-todd-joins-pearl-street-films-as-president/ | title=Jennifer Todd Joins Pearl Street Films as President | date=August 29, 2012 | author=Lisa Foreman | newspaper=Chicago Tribune | access-date=October 4, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101754/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-29/news/sns-rt-ben-affleck-jennifer-toddmt1thewrap54051-20120829_1_cbs-films-affleck-and-damon-jennifer-todd | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="USAToday10">{{cite news|first=Donna|last=Freydkin|title=Busy actor, father Matt Damon is in the 'Green Zone'|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-03-11-Damon11_ST_N.htm|date=March 11, 2010|access-date=March 14, 2010|archive-date=March 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314111503/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-03-11-Damon11_ST_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, he reunited with director Paul Greengrass, who directed him in the ''Bourne Supremacy'' and ''Bourne Ultimatum'', for the action thriller ''[[Green Zone (film)|Green Zone]]'', which flopped commercially<ref name=corliss>{{cite magazine|last=Corliss|first=Richard|title=Alice turns Damon a sickly Green|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1971941,00.html|date=March 14, 2010|access-date=March 1, 2020|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235347/http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1971941,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and received a score of 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and ambivalent critical reception.<ref name="green zone reviews">{{cite web|url=http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/1202804-green_zone/ |title=Green Zone Movie Reviews|work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=April 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407221346/http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/1202804-green_zone/ |archive-date=April 7, 2010 }}</ref> He appeared as a guest star in an episode of ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'', titled "The Making of Arthur", as himself.<ref name="Animation"/> During season 5 of ''[[30 Rock]]'', he appeared as a guest star in the role of [[Liz Lemon]]'s boyfriend in the episodes "[[I Do Do]]", "[[The Fabian Strategy]]", "[[Live Show]]", and "[[Double-Edged Sword (30 Rock)|Double-edged Sword]]". Damon's 2010 projects included Clint Eastwood's ''[[Hereafter (film)|Hereafter]]'' and the [[Coen brothers]]' remake of the [[True Grit (1969 film)|1969 John Wayne-starring]] Western ''[[True Grit (2010 film)|True Grit]]''.<ref name="collider 2010 interview">{{cite web |title=Matt Damon talks Future Projects, Oscars and Directing His First Feature |url=https://collider.com/matt-damon-talks-future-projects-oscars-and-directing-his-first-feature-info-on-the-coen-brothers-true-grit-the-rfk-project-with-gary-ross-clint-eastwoods-hereafter-liberace-contagion-more/ |first=Steve |last=Weintraub |work=collider.com |date=February 27, 2010 |access-date=March 5, 2010 |archive-date=March 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303111633/http://www.collider.com/2010/02/27/matt-damon-talks-future-projects-oscars-and-directing-his-first-feature-info-on-the-coen-brothers-true-grit-the-rfk-project-with-gary-ross-clint-eastwoods-hereafter-liberace-contagion-more |url-status=live }}</ref> He also narrated ''[[Inside Job (2010 film)|Inside Job]]'', a documentary film about the effects of financial deregulation in the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/05/is_matt_damons_narration_of_a.html |title=Is Matt Damon's Narration of a Cannes Doc a Sign that Hollywood is Abandoning Obama? |first=Logan |last=Hill |work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=May 16, 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819221334/https://www.vulture.com/2010/05/is_matt_damons_narration_of_a.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, he was one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, ranking 37th.<ref name="The Numbers">{{cite web|publisher=The Numbers|title=All Time Top 100 Stars at the Domestic Box Office|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/people/records/|access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-date=August 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825163052/http://www.the-numbers.com/people/records/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, he starred in ''[[The Adjustment Bureau]]'', ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'', and ''[[We Bought a Zoo (film)|We Bought a Zoo]]''. That same year, the documentary he narrated, ''American Teacher'', opened in New York before national screening.<ref name=Docu>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Anna M.|title=Film Examines the Challenging Economics Facing Teachers|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/302378-do-teachers-have-it-made-hardly-a-new-film-says/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 24, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 24, 2011|archive-date=August 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814091657/http://www.wnyc.org/story/302378-do-teachers-have-it-made-hardly-a-new-film-says/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2011, he voiced a [[krill]] named Bill in the animated film ''[[Happy Feet Two]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/movies/happy-feet-two-with-brad-pitt-matt-damon-and-elijah-wood-review.html|title=A Search for Self-Discovery, Two Left Feet and All |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 4, 2014|date=November 17, 2011|archive-date=October 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024073758/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/movies/happy-feet-two-with-brad-pitt-matt-damon-and-elijah-wood-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Damon signed a multiyear deal to be the voice of [[TD Ameritrade]] advertisements, replacing [[Sam Waterston]] as the discount brokerage's spokesman. He donated all fees from the ads to charity.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mattdamon-tdameritrade-idUSTRE8081Q120120109 | work=Reuters | title=Matt Damon new voice of TD Ameritrade | date=January 9, 2012 | access-date=July 5, 2021 | archive-date=February 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203114410/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mattdamon-tdameritrade-idUSTRE8081Q120120109 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, Damon filmed ''[[Promised Land (2012 film)|Promised Land]]'', directed by [[Gus Van Sant]], which Damon co-wrote with [[John Krasinski]].<ref name=dl120201>{{cite news | url = https://deadline.com/2012/02/focus-participant-acquire-matt-damonjohn-krasinski-film-gus-van-sant-directing-224414/ | title = Focus, Participant Acquire Matt Damon/John Krasinski Film; Gus Van Sant Directing | first = Mike | last = Fleming | date = February 1, 2012 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | access-date = April 17, 2020 | archive-date = February 11, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140211221407/http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/focus-participant-acquire-matt-damonjohn-krasinski-film-gus-van-sant-directing/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rittmeyer|first=Brian C.|url=http://triblive.com/news/1845285-74/damon-adkins-apollo-matt-movie-street-nice-former-krasinski-promised#axzz2737LZmL4|title=Fan-friendly actors take time for photos, say hello|work=Triblive News|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603122230/http://triblive.com/news/1845285-74/damon-adkins-apollo-matt-movie-street-nice-former-krasinski-promised|archive-date=June 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gerhardt|first=Tina|date=December 31, 2012|title=Matt Damon Exposes Fracking in Promised Land|url=http://www.progressive.org/matt-damon-exposes-fracking-in-promised-land|work=[[The Progressive]]|access-date=December 31, 2012|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826055310/http://www.progressive.org/matt-damon-exposes-fracking-in-promised-land|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon's next film with Soderbergh was ''[[Behind the Candelabra]]'', a drama about the life of pianist/entertainer [[Liberace]] (played by [[Michael Douglas]]), with Damon playing Liberace's longtime partner [[Scott Thorson]]. The film premiered on [[Home Box Office|HBO]] on May 26, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Douglas To Play Liberace |url=https://people.com/movies/michael-douglas-to-play-liberace/ |first=Peter |last=Mikelbank |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=March 1, 2020 |archive-date=March 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235349/https://people.com/movies/michael-douglas-to-play-liberace/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Matt Damon 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Damon at the French premiere of ''[[The Monuments Men]]'' in 2014]]

Damon starred in the science fiction film ''[[Elysium (film)|Elysium]]'' (2013), playing car-thief-turned-factory-worker Max DeCosta.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=''Elysium'': A Slick Dystopian Ride That Goes Off the Rails|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/08/elysium-movie-review/|access-date=August 9, 2013|first=Angela|last=Watercutter|magazine=Wired|date=August 9, 2013|archive-date=April 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408060629/http://www.wired.com/2013/08/elysium-movie-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also appeared in the science fiction movie ''[[The Zero Theorem]]'' in 2013, directed by [[Terry Gilliam]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/19/movies/christoph-waltz-drowns-in-technocracy-in-the-zero-theorem.html|title=Work, Love and Therapy, in So Many Bytes |first=A.O. |last=Scott |author-link=A.O. Scott|date=September 18, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 4, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121050/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/19/movies/christoph-waltz-drowns-in-technocracy-in-the-zero-theorem.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Damon appeared in a 20-second advertisement for [[Nespresso]], directed by [[Grant Heslov]], with whom he worked on ''[[The Monuments Men]]''. The deal earned him $3 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Matt Damon was paid $3 million for a 20 second Nespresso commercial|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/matt-damon-was-paid-3-million-for-a-20-second-nespresso-commercial/news-story/d3e7a2471d3a5f2dd59e70a7d582ee03|work=news.com.au|access-date=May 22, 2019|date=November 11, 2013|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819235433/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/matt-damon-was-paid-3-million-for-a-20-second-nespresso-commercial/news-story/d3e7a2471d3a5f2dd59e70a7d582ee03|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon also provided voiceover for [[United Airlines]]' resurrected "Fly the Friendly Skies" ad campaign in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch the Spot: United Resurrects 'Fly the Friendly Skies'|url=http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/united-resurrects-fly-friendly-skies/244277/|work=Advertising Age|access-date=June 4, 2015|date=September 20, 2013|archive-date=February 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227082450/http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/united-resurrects-fly-friendly-skies/244277/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, he starred in [[George Clooney]]'s ''[[The Monuments Men]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/19/george-clooney-monuments-men-ignores-british-hero|title=George Clooney's Nazi art theft film attacked for ignoring real-life British war hero|date=January 18, 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=October 4, 2014|author=Robin Stummer|archive-date=October 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009040001/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/19/george-clooney-monuments-men-ignores-british-hero|url-status=live}}</ref> and played the minor role of scientist Dr. Mann in [[Christopher Nolan]]'s ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]''. That same year, Damon appeared as a celebrity correspondent for ''[[Years of Living Dangerously]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://yearsoflivingdangerously.com/correspondent/matt-damon/|title=Years of Living Dangerously Correspondent Page|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317102807/http://yearsoflivingdangerously.com/correspondent/matt-damon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Damon had the lead role, astronaut Mark Watney, in [[Ridley Scott]]'s ''[[The Martian (film)|The Martian]]'', based on [[Andy Weir (writer)|Andy Weir]]'s bestselling novel [[The Martian (Weir novel)|of the same name]], a role that earned him the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] and his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Having not returned for the fourth film in the [[Bourne film series|''Bourne'' film series]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Weintraub|first=Steve|title=Matt Damon Interview – THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM|url=https://collider.com/entertainment/article.asp/aid/4967/cid/13/tcid/1|work=Collider|access-date=August 18, 2012|date=August 27, 2007|archive-date=February 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219141039/http://collider.com/entertainment/article.asp/aid/4967/cid/13/tcid/1|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Owen|title=Definitely No Damon For Bourne Legacy|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/definitely-damon-bourne-legacy/|work=Empire|access-date=March 1, 2020|date=October 11, 2010|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235345/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/definitely-damon-bourne-legacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon reprised his role in 2016's ''[[Jason Bourne (film)|Jason Bourne]]'', reuniting with Paul Greengrass. In 2017, Damon played the lead role in [[Zhang Yimou]]'s ''[[The Great Wall (film)|The Great Wall]]'', a hit internationally and a disappointment at the domestic box office. The film, and Damon's casting, were not well received by critics.<ref name="FebruaryRelease">{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Matt Damon's 'The Great Wall' Pushed Back to 2017|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/the-great-wall-moved-back-matt-damon-1201709873/|access-date=February 19, 2016|work=Variety|date=February 18, 2016|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504153423/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/the-great-wall-moved-back-matt-damon-1201709873/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Zhang Yimou in Talks to Direct Legendary's 'Great Wall'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zhang-yimou-direct-legendary-great-wall-689250|access-date=September 21, 2014|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 18, 2014|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826062359/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zhang-yimou-direct-legendary-great-wall-689250|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Zhang Yimou To Scale 'The Great Wall'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/zhang-yimou-to-scale-the-great-wall-700861/|access-date=September 21, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 18, 2014|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914004356/http://deadline.com/2014/03/zhang-yimou-to-scale-the-great-wall-700861/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in 2017, he starred in two satires, George Clooney's 1950s-set ''[[Suburbicon]]'', released in October,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/toronto-film-festival-2017-margot-robbie-gary-oldman-jake-gyllenhaal-emma-stone-christian-bale-1202135285/ |title=Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate |work=Deadline |date=July 25, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2017 |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727162146/http://deadline.com/2017/07/toronto-film-festival-2017-margot-robbie-gary-oldman-jake-gyllenhaal-emma-stone-christian-bale-1202135285/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Alexander Payne]]'s comedy ''[[Downsizing (film)|Downsizing]]'', released in December.<ref>{{cite web|title=Matt Damon downsizing with Alexander Payne|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=November 6, 2014|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/06/matt-damon-downsizing-alexander-payne|access-date=January 7, 2015|archive-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413060420/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/06/matt-damon-downsizing-alexander-payne|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2018, he portrayed jurist [[Brett Kavanaugh]] on the late night sketch series ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2018/09/30/653062763/matt-damon-is-a-sniffing-shouting-brett-kavanaugh-on-snl-season-premiere|title= Matt Damon Is A Sniffing, Shouting Brett Kavanaugh On 'SNL' Season Premiere|website= NPR|date= September 30, 2018|access-date= August 10, 2023|archive-date= August 10, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232047/https://www.npr.org/2018/09/30/653062763/matt-damon-is-a-sniffing-shouting-brett-kavanaugh-on-snl-season-premiere|url-status= live|last1= Doubek|first1= James}}</ref> In 2019, Damon portrayed [[Carroll Shelby]] in the action biographical drama ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]'', directed by [[James Mangold]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Krok |first=Andrew |title=Ford v Ferrari trailer puts Matt Damon in Carroll Shelby's shoes, Christian Bale in the driver's seat |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-v-ferrari-trailer-1966-le-mans-matt-damon-carroll-shelby-christian-bale-ken-miles/ |website=CNet |date=June 3, 2019 |access-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701145049/https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-v-ferrari-trailer-1966-le-mans-matt-damon-carroll-shelby-christian-bale-ken-miles/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2021–present: Continued positive critical reception ===
{{as of |2021}}, [[Matt Damon filmography|the films in which he had appeared]] had collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North American box office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://m.the-numbers.com/person/550401-Matt-Damon |title=Matt Damon |website=m.the-numbers.com |access-date=July 26, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501071711/https://m.the-numbers.com/person/550401-Matt-Damon }}</ref> In 2021, Damon starred in [[Tom McCarthy (director)|Tom McCarthy]]'s [[crime films|crime drama]] ''[[Stillwater (film)|Stillwater]]'', playing an unemployed [[oil rig]] worker from Oklahoma who sets out with a French woman to prove his convicted daughter's innocence. The film premiered at the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]]. [[IndieWire]] called Damon's performance "graced with a quiet softness that offsets the sheer volume of the character he's playing".<ref>{{cite web |last=Ehrlich |first=David |date=July 8, 2021 |title='Stillwater' Review: Matt Damon Is a Dad on a Mission in Tom McCarthy's Affecting Turducken of a Movie |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/stillwater-review-matt-damon-1234649672/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701225455/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/stillwater-review-matt-damon-1234649672/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |publisher=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> That same year saw the release of the historical drama ''[[The Last Duel (2021 film)|The Last Duel]]'', which he starred in and co-wrote alongside [[Ben Affleck]]. The film, set in [[medieval France]] and based on the [[The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France|book of the same name]], focuses on the true story of a knight, [[Jean de Carrouges]], portrayed by Damon, who challenges his former friend to a [[judicial duel]] after he's accused of raping his wife. It premiered at the [[78th Venice International Film Festival]] and was favorably reviewed but a financial failure.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Chris |date=December 15, 2021 |title=Ben Affleck on Why 'The Last Duel' Bombed and What He Thinks of Ridley Scott Blaming Millennials |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-the-last-duel-box-office-1235062522/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701225455/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-the-last-duel-box-office-1235062522/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

In 2023, Damon starred as [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] executive [[Sonny Vaccaro]] in ''[[Air (2023 American film)|Air]]'', a drama film about the launch of [[Air Jordan]], co-starring and directed by Affleck.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-matt-damon-true-life-story-nike-sneaker-man-sonny-vaccaro-1235132424/|title=Ben Affleck, Matt Damon Team for True Life Story of Nike Sneaker Man Sonny Vaccaro (Exclusive)|first=Borys|last=Kitt|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421051637/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-matt-damon-true-life-story-nike-sneaker-man-sonny-vaccaro-1235132424/|url-status=live}}</ref> It marked the first release from Affleck and Damon's independent production company, [[Artists Equity]], which they formed in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes|first=Brooks|title=Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Start Film Production Company|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/media/ben-affleck-matt-damon-film-company.html|access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |date=November 20, 2022|archive-date=November 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121001744/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/media/ben-affleck-matt-damon-film-company.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The company was founded with a mission to give creators a larger stake in the financial success of their projects, utilizing a data-driven approach to distribution and offering profit participation to both above- and below-the-line talent.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|title=Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Start Film Production Company|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/media/ben-affleck-matt-damon-artists-equity.html|website=The New York Times|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=September 19, 2025}}</ref> Following ''Air'', the company's next major project was the Jennifer Lopez-led science fiction film ''Atlas'', released on Netflix in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=From 'Barbie' To 'Oppenheimer': Artists Equity Is A Film Studio Of The Future|url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/artists-equity-barbie-oppenheimer-ben-affleck-matt-damon-1235445215/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 24, 2023|access-date=September 19, 2025}}</ref> Damon received praise for the role, earning a nomination for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Golden Globe Award]]. He also reunited with [[Christopher Nolan]] in the biographical film ''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=November 2, 2021|title=Robert Downey Jr. And Matt Damon Latest Stars To Join Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/robert-downey-jr-matt-damon-christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-1234859892/|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=Deadline|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102154342/https://deadline.com/2021/11/robert-downey-jr-matt-damon-christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-1234859892/|url-status=live}}</ref> playing [[Leslie Groves]], the director of the [[Manhattan Project]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=November 2, 2021|title=Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. Join Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/matt-damon-robert-downey-jr-christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-1235040518/|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102160710/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/matt-damon-robert-downey-jr-christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-1235040518/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=July 14, 2023 |title="This Can't Be Safe. It's Got to Have Bite": Christopher Nolan and Cast Unleash 'Oppenheimer' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-cast-interview-film-1235535418/ |access-date=July 23, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=July 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720013003/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-cast-interview-film-1235535418/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming Damon's highest-grossing movie.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zemler|first1=Emily|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-08-04/oppenheimer-movie-christopher-nolan-atomic-bomb-hiroshima-nagasaki-critics|title=Critics say omitting the Japanese toll makes 'Oppenheimer' 'morally half-formed'|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url-access=limited|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804122246/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-08-04/oppenheimer-movie-christopher-nolan-atomic-bomb-hiroshima-nagasaki-critics|archive-date=August 4, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024, Damon starred in and produced ''[[The Instigators]]'', alongside [[Casey Affleck]], for [[Apple TV+]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Matt Damon & Casey Affleck Set To Star In 'The Instigators'; Doug Liman Directing For Apple Original Films |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/matt-damon-casey-affleck-apple-original-films-the-instigators-doug-liman-1235193043/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews, with critics generally praising the chemistry between Damon and Affleck but finding the script formulaic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Instigators (2024)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_instigators_2024|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=September 19, 2025}}</ref>

Damon will work with Nolan once again on ''[[The Odyssey (2026 film)|The Odyssey]]'', portraying [[Odysseus]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=December 23, 2024 |title=Christopher Nolan's Next Film Is An Adaptation Of Homer's 'The Odyssey,' Universal Reveals |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-confirmed-directors-new-film-universal-1236241340/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223222535/https://deadline.com/2024/12/christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-confirmed-directors-new-film-universal-1236241340/ |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |access-date=December 24, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=October 8, 2024|title=Christopher Nolan Sets Next Movie At Universal In Imax For Summer 2026 With Matt Damon Eyed To Star|url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/christopher-nolan-new-movie-matt-damon-release-date-1236099940/|access-date=October 8, 2024|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Odysseus">{{cite web |last1=Dunn |first1=Jack |title='The Odyssey' First Look: Matt Damon Is Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's Next Epic |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/the-odyssey-matt-damon-odysseus-christopher-nolan-1236311018/ |access-date=February 18, 2025 |website=Variety |date=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

== Activism ==
[[File:Matt Damon in Haiti 2009.jpg|thumb|Damon with the [[United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti]] in 2008]]

With [[George Clooney]], [[Brad Pitt]], [[Don Cheadle]], [[David Pressman]], and [[Jerry Weintraub]], Damon is one of the founders of [[Not On Our Watch Project]], an organization that focuses global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities such as in [[Darfur conflict|Darfur]].<ref name="NOT">{{cite web|publisher=NotOurWatchProject.org|title=Not On Our Watch Project|url=http://notonourwatchproject.org/who_we_are|access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917221559/http://notonourwatchproject.org/who_we_are|archive-date=September 17, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Damon supports One Campaign, which is aimed at fighting AIDS and poverty in [[Third World]] countries. He has appeared in its print and television advertising. He is an ambassador for ONEXONE, a nonprofit foundation committed to supporting, preserving, and improving the lives of children at home in Canada, the United States, and around the world.<ref name="OneXOne">{{cite news|author=[[The Canadian Press]]|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/t-o-benefit-gala-hosted-by-matt-damon-raises-1m-1.256415|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902030421/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/20070914/damon_charity_070914/20070914/?hub=SpecialEvent2&subhub=PrintStory|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2008|title=T.O. benefit gala hosted by Matt Damon raises $1M|access-date=April 5, 2009|date=September 17, 2007|publisher=CTV}}</ref>

Damon is a spokesperson for [[Feeding America]], a hunger-relief organization, and a member of its Entertainment Council, participating in its [[Ad Council]] [[public service announcement]]s.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2010/12/matt-damon-portraying-minnetonka-man-puts-real-face-hunger| title=Matt Damon, portraying a Minnetonka man, puts a real face on hunger| newspaper=MinnPost| date=December 10, 2010| author=Cynthia Boyd| access-date=October 4, 2014| archive-date=October 6, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073942/http://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2010/12/matt-damon-portraying-minnetonka-man-puts-real-face-hunger| url-status=live}}</ref> He was a board member of Tonic Mailstopper (formerly GreenDimes). This company attempted to halt the delivery of junk mail to American homes.<ref name="Oprah">{{cite web|publisher=Oprah.com|title=It's Easy Being Green|url=http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/oprahshow1_ss_20070420/6|access-date=April 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425192531/http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/oprahshow1_ss_20070420/6|archive-date=April 25, 2009}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Appearing on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' on April 20, 2007, Damon promoted the organization's efforts to prevent the trees used for junk mail letters and envelopes from being chopped down. Damon stated: "For an estimated dime a day they can stop 70% of the junk mail that comes to your house. It's very simple, easy to do, great gift to give, I've actually signed up my entire family. It was a gift given to me this past holiday season and I was so impressed that I'm now on the board of the company."<ref name="MDGreenDimes">{{cite news|author=Aceshowbiz|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2007-04/23/content_857704.htm|title=Matt Damon goes green with GreenDimes.com|access-date=April 5, 2009|date=April 23, 2007|newspaper=[[China Daily]]|archive-date=February 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214101355/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2007-04/23/content_857704.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2021}}|group="nb"}} Damon founded the [[H2O Africa Foundation]], the charitable arm of the [[Running the Sahara]] expedition,<ref name="H20">{{cite news|last=DeCwikiel-Kane |first=Dawn |work=[[News & Record (Greensboro)|Greensboro News & Record]]|title=Charlie Engle's office: the great outdoors |url=http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/08/31/article/carlie_engles_office_the_great_outdoors |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080930050555/http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/08/31/article/carlie_engles_office_the_great_outdoors |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2008 |date=August 31, 2008 |access-date=April 5, 2009 }}</ref> which merged with [[WaterPartners]] to create [[Water.org]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://water.org/2009/07/new-waterorg/ |title=Water.org Working Toward Global Access to Safe Water |publisher=Water.org |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=July 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719083450/http://water.org/2009/07/new-waterorg/ |archive-date=July 19, 2009 }}</ref> Water.org has partnered with corporate sponsors to promote awareness and raise funds to support its mission of bringing safe, clean, cost-effective drinking water and sanitation to developing countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://water.org/partners/ |title=Partners |publisher=Water.org |access-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111125626/https://water.org/partners/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In this context, Damon has been the face of advertising campaigns to promote Water.org in conjunction with products from major sponsors.

In 2011, Water.org received an $8 million grant from the [[PepsiCo]] Foundation to scale up WaterCredit, which provides microloans to families in India.<ref>{{cite web|title=PepsiCo Foundation expands commitment to Water.org with $8 million contribution to scale "WaterCredit" across India|url=https://water.org/about-us/news-press/pepsico-foundation-8-million-grant/|publisher=Water.org|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111125626/https://water.org/about-us/news-press/pepsico-foundation-8-million-grant/|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon has promoted those efforts, tying in with [[Aquafina]] and [[Ethos Water]] bottled water, owned by PepsiCo and [[Starbucks]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Natalie|last=Zmuda|title=Pepsi partners with Starbucks water brand. Also teams with Matt Damon's group to push charitable message behind Ethos|url=https://adage.com/article/news/pepsi-partners-starbucks-water-brand/125593|work=AdAge|date=October 18, 2013|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111131139/https://adage.com/article/news/pepsi-partners-starbucks-water-brand/125593|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Why Matt Damon and Gary White of Water.org are friends of PepsiCo|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOgYbz1hzHU|access-date=January 11, 2022|website=YouTube|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111125625/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOgYbz1hzHU|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2015, Damon has promoted [[ABInBev|Anheuser-Busch InBev]]'s [[Stella Artois]] beer as a Water.org partner, including the sale of limited-edition "blue chalice" glasses imprinted with an embellished blue version of the brand's logo.<ref>{{cite news| first=Alissa| last=Fitzgerald| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alissafitzgerald/2021/11/05/matt-damon-x-stella-artois-join-forces-to-give-back/?sh=5e3b229669ae| archive-date=January 11, 2022| access-date=January 11, 2022| title=Matt Damon X Stella Artois join forces to give back| website=Forbes| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111235523/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alissafitzgerald/2021/11/05/matt-damon-x-stella-artois-join-forces-to-give-back/?sh=5e3b229669ae| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stella Artois partnership with Water.org|url=https://water.org/partners/stellaartois/|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111141515/https://water.org/partners/stellaartois/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In a commercial made for broadcast during the 2018 [[Super Bowl]] of the United States' [[National Football League]] (NFL), he promoted Water.org and Stella Artois's role in supporting its work.<ref>{{cite web| title=Stella Artois Limited Edition Chalice at Water.org (Matt Damon)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1W2mxYIeuo|access-date=January 11, 2022|website=YouTube|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111235524/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1W2mxYIeuo&gl=US&hl=en| url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2021, he announced a new partnership with the cryptocurrency trading platform [[Crypto.com]], under which Crypto.com was to make a $1 million donation to Water.org. In the announcement, Damon said, "Crypto.com gave us this great donation, which is amazing. The money that I make for the commercials to promote them, I give 100% of that to Water.org as well. So, it's millions of dollars coming in to us."<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Conway |title=Matt Damon announces Water.org partnership with Crypto.com |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffconway/2021/10/25/matt-damon-announces-waterorg-partnership-with-cryptocom/?sh=3fcf133e57b3 |website=Forbes|access-date=January 11, 2022|date=October 25, 2021|archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113090651/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffconway/2021/10/25/matt-damon-announces-waterorg-partnership-with-cryptocom/?sh=3fcf133e57b3|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bhasin|first=Kim|date=October 28, 2021|title=Matt Damon is the Face of Crypto.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-28/matt-damon-to-promote-crypto-com-in-race-to-attract-new-users|url-status=live|website=Bloomberg|access-date=January 19, 2022|archive-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105003528/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-28/matt-damon-to-promote-crypto-com-in-race-to-attract-new-users}}</ref> Damon's Crypto.com commercial<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBC5TVdYT8 |website=YouTube |title=Fortune Favours the Brave – Crypto.com |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110154807/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBC5TVdYT8 |url-status=live }}</ref> started rolling out in cinemas late in 2021, and then on television in January 2022, mainly during sports programming such as NFL games. Once it was broadcast widely on television, it sparked much criticism, as did its accompanying "making of" featurette.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI2Jl8_eBOg |website=YouTube |title=The making of Fortune Favours the Brave – Crypto.com |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113090651/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI2Jl8_eBOg |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''[[The Independent]]'', Nathan Place wrote, "Twitter is cringing after a TV commercial starring Matt Damon compared trading cryptocurrency to mankind's greatest achievements. In the ad, which aired during Sunday night's NFL games, Mr Damon makes an abstract plug for crypto.com – a platform for exchanging digital currencies like Bitcoin – while striding past images of explorers and astronauts."<ref>{{cite news|first=Nathan |last=Place |title=Matt Damon mocked for new cryptocurrency ad |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/matt-damon-cryptocurrency-ad-twitter-b1986014.html |website=The Independent|date=January 3, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109081805/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/matt-damon-cryptocurrency-ad-twitter-b1986014.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'', Lexie Cartwright summed up viewer reaction: "Matt Damon's new commercial plugging cryptocurrency has been absolutely savaged on social media, with viewers dubbing it 'insulting' and 'disgusting'." Cartwright included a series of tweets, among them one by [[Carole Cadwalladr]] of ''[[The Observer]]'' that read, "There isn't enough yuck in the world to describe Matt Damon advertising a Ponzi scheme and comparing it to the moon landings."<ref>{{cite news|first=Lexie|last=Cartwright|title="Insulting": Matt Damon's new crypto move slammed|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/insulting-matt-damons-new-crypto-move-slammed/WLW752TDKWSL5V3UVMVTYB52UQ/|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114095503/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/insulting-matt-damons-new-crypto-move-slammed/WLW752TDKWSL5V3UVMVTYB52UQ/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jody Rosen of the ''[[New York Times]]'' wrote, "There is something unseemly, to put it mildly, about the famous and fabulously wealthy urging crypto on their fans" and "The bleakness of that pitch is startling."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rosen |first=Jody |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Why Is Matt Damon Shilling For Crypto? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/magazine/matt-damon-crypto.html |magazine=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-date=February 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212090329/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/magazine/matt-damon-crypto.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Public image ==
Comedian [[Jimmy Kimmel]] had a running gag on his [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television show, ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', [[Damon–Kimmel feud|where he apologized for not being able to interview Damon at the end of each show]]. It culminated in a planned skit on September 12, 2006, when Damon stormed off after having his interview cut short.<ref name="USAW">{{cite news|last=Saad|first=Nardine|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|title=Jimmy Kimmel vs. Matt Damon: A video history|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-jimmy-kimmel-matt-damon-video-history-20130124-story.html|date=January 24, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929095356/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/24/entertainment/la-et-mg-jimmy-kimmel-matt-damon-video-history-20130124|url-status=live|archive-date=September 29, 2014}}</ref> Damon appeared in several of E! Entertainment's top ten ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' spoofs.<ref name="Kimmel top 10">{{cite web | url=http://www.eonline.com/news/464205/jimmy-kimmel-live-10-best-spoofs-and-pranks-in-the-show-s-history | title=Jimmy Kimmel Life 10 Best Spoofs and Pranks in the Show's History | publisher=E! Entertainment | date=September 27, 2013 | access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006103401/http://www.eonline.com/news/464205/jimmy-kimmel-live-10-best-spoofs-and-pranks-in-the-show-s-history| url-status=live |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|On January 31, 2008, Kimmel aired a clip of his then girlfriend, comedian [[Sarah Silverman]], singing a song entitled "[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!#"I'm Fucking Ben Affleck"|I'm Fucking Matt Damon]]" in which Damon appeared.<ref name="Kimmel top 10" /><ref name="PeopleSarahMatt">{{cite news|last=Jordan|first=Julie|title=Behind Matt Damon's Raunchy Payback to Jimmy Kimmel|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=February 2, 2008|url=https://people.com/celebrity/behind-matt-damons-raunchy-payback-to-jimmy-kimmel/|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106052730/https://people.com/celebrity/behind-matt-damons-raunchy-payback-to-jimmy-kimmel/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kimmel responded on February 24, 2008, with his music video which said that he was "fucking Ben Affleck". It featured Affleck along with several other actors.<ref name="Kimmel top 10" /> Another encounter, titled "The Handsome Men's Club", featured Kimmel, along with handsome actors and musicians. At the end of the skit, Kimmel had a door slammed in his face by Damon, who said that they had run out of time, followed by a sinister laugh.<ref name="Kimmel top 10" /><ref name="NYTKimmelAffleck">{{cite news|last=Wyatt|first=Edward|title=Late-Night TV Satires Become Online Hits |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 27, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/arts/television/27kimm.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-date=May 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510054615/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/arts/television/27kimm.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}} On January 24, 2013, Damon took over his show and mentioned the long-standing feud and having been bumped from years of shows. It involved celebrities who were previously involved in the "feud", including Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, and [[Sarah Silverman]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=January 25, 2013 |title=Matt Damon takes over 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/01/25/jimmy-kimmel-live-matt-damon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235348/https://ew.com/article/2013/01/25/jimmy-kimmel-live-matt-damon/ |archive-date=March 1, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2020 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Matt Damon Venice 2009.jpg|thumb|Damon with his wife Luciana Bozán at the [[2009 Venice International Film Festival]]]]

Damon met his wife, Luciana Bozán, while filming ''[[Stuck on You (film)|Stuck on You]]'' in Miami in April 2003.<ref name="meetingbarroso">{{cite news |last = Booth |first = Jessica |work = People |title = Who Is Matt Damon's Wife? All About Luciana Damon |url = https://people.com/movies/who-is-luciana-barroso-matt-damon-wife/ |date = August 1, 2024|access-date = August 15, 2024 }}</ref><ref name="USATBartender">{{cite news |agency = Associated Press |work = [[USA Today]] |title = Matt Damon, fiancee wed |url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-12-09-damon-wedding_x.htm |date = December 9, 2005 |access-date = April 5, 2009 |archive-date = March 10, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090310202405/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-12-09-damon-wedding_x.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> They became engaged in September 2005 and married in a private civil ceremony at the [[Manhattan Marriage Bureau]] on December 9, 2005. They have three daughters together, born in 2006,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/celebrity/matt-damon-wife-have-a-girl/|title=Matt Damon, Wife Have a Girl|magazine=People|access-date=August 13, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322234741/http://people.com/celebrity/matt-damon-wife-have-a-girl/|url-status=live}}</ref> 2008,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Leonard|first=Elizabeth|url=https://people.com/celebrity/matt-damon-wife-have-a-girl/|title=Matt Damon and His Wife Welcome a Girl|magazine=People|date=August 20, 2008|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301235347/https://people.com/celebrity/matt-damon-wife-have-a-girl/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/matt-damon-and-wife-welcome-daughter-stella/|title=Matt Damon Welcomes Daughter Stella Zavala|work=People|access-date=August 13, 2014|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101002728/https://people.com/parents/matt-damon-and-wife-welcome-daughter-stella/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also has a stepdaughter from Bozán's previous marriage, and considers her his own.<ref>{{cite web|title=Matt Damon Was 'Bourne' to Be a Dad! Meet the Actor's 4 Daughters With Wife Luciana Barroso|url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/matt-damon-daughters-meet-the-actors-4-kids-with-luciana-barroso/|website=[[Closer Weekly]]|last=Braun|first=Kelly|date=August 7, 2019|access-date=November 6, 2019|archive-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904010317/https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/matt-damon-daughters-meet-the-actors-4-kids-with-luciana-barroso/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://starmagazine.com/2014/07/24/matt-damon-good-relationship-with-wifes-ex-husband-exclusive-interview/|title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Matt Damon's Great Relationship With Wife's Ex - Star Magazine|work=Star Magazine|date=July 24, 2014|access-date=June 13, 2015|archive-date=June 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616155116/http://starmagazine.com/2014/07/24/matt-damon-good-relationship-with-wifes-ex-husband-exclusive-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/matt-damon-harvey-weinstein-russell-crowe-sexual-abuse-scandal-interview-1202185574/|title=Matt Damon Denies Trying To Kill 2004 NYT Harvey Weinstein Story: "If There Was Ever An Event And Harvey Was Doing This...I Would Have Stopped It"|website=Deadline|quote=But now, as the father of four daughters[...]|date=October 10, 2017|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426031713/https://deadline.com/2017/10/matt-damon-harvey-weinstein-russell-crowe-sexual-abuse-scandal-interview-1202185574/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The couple has lived in Miami and New York City;<ref>{{cite web |last=Freydkin |first=Donna |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-09-16-matt-damon-informant_N.htm |title=Nice-guy Matt Damon dug in for hefty role in 'Informant!' |work=USA Today |date=September 18, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114601/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-09-16-matt-damon-informant_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> since 2012, they have lived in the [[Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles|Pacific Palisades]] neighborhood in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck Take Kids to Matt Damon's Pool Party | url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-take-kids-to-matt-damons-pool-party--2012138#ixzz3F6yNbCGD | magazine=US Weekly | date=August 13, 2012 | access-date=February 10, 2017 | archive-date=December 21, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221235849/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-take-kids-to-matt-damons-pool-party--2012138#ixzz3F6yNbCGD | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, Damon bought a luxury penthouse in New York City's [[Brooklyn Heights]] neighborhood for $16.5 million.<ref name="Brooklyn penthouse">{{cite magazine |last=David |first=Mark |title=Brooklyn Heights Penthouse Purchase by Matt Damon Sets Borough Record |url=https://variety.com/2018/dirt/real-estalker/matt-damon-brooklyn-heights-1203097209/ |access-date=February 12, 2019 |magazine=Variety |date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112232547/https://variety.com/2018/dirt/real-estalker/matt-damon-brooklyn-heights-1203097209/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

He is a fan of the [[Boston Red Sox]].<ref name="MattRedSox">{{cite news|last=Edes|first=Gordon|title=Loyalty not an act for this Red Sox fan|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=November 27, 2007|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/11/27/loyalty_not_an_act_for_this_red_sox_fan/|access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-date=January 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105155147/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/11/27/loyalty_not_an_act_for_this_red_sox_fan/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the team won the [[2007 World Series]], he narrated the commemorative DVD release of the event.<ref name="DamonBOSOXDVD">{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Doug|title=World Series DVD coming Nov. 27|work=[[MLB.com]]|date=November 9, 2007|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_entertainment.jsp?ymd=20071109&content_id=2297512&vkey=entertainment&fext=.jsp|access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-date=April 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407140524/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_entertainment.jsp?ymd=20071109&content_id=2297512&vkey=entertainment&fext=.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref> He has competed in several [[World Series of Poker]] (WSOP) events,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/poker/2007-07-09-wsop-winnings_N.htm|title=Final table veterans conserve World Series winnings|access-date=October 28, 2010|date=July 9, 2007|work=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=November 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125154105/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/poker/2007-07-09-wsop-winnings_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ed|last=Koch|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/ups-downs-world-series-poker/|title=The highs and lows of the World Series of Poker|access-date=October 28, 2010|date=May 15, 2008|work=[[Las Vegas Sun]]|archive-date=July 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720002345/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/ups-downs-world-series-poker/|url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[2010 World Series of Poker]] main event.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dan|last=Kadlec|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997467,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621010359/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997467,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2010|title=World Series of Poker: Attack of the Math Brats|access-date=October 28, 2010|date=June 28, 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> He was eliminated from the 1998 WSOP by poker professional [[Doyle Brunson]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Essex|author2=Tricia Laine|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/05/22/world-series-poker/|title=The World Series of Poker|access-date=October 28, 2010|date=May 22, 1998|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=November 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109210517/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/05/22/world-series-poker|url-status=live}}</ref>

<!--Citations should be used approximately, there is no need to have 5+ citations for a statement or position. This is overcite.--><!--Please reference ''Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not'' before adding substantial changes to this section.-->
=== Political and social views ===
While discussing the [[Iraq War]] on ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]'' in December 2006, Damon expressed concern about inequities across socioeconomic classes with regard to who is tasked with the responsibility of fighting wars.<ref name="OYE">{{cite news|publisher=United Press International|title=Damon: Maybe Bush twins should go to Iraq|url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061215-091251-2299r |date=December 15, 2006|access-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070105010500/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061215-091251-2299r |archive-date = January 5, 2007}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[Sunday Herald]]'' in January 2003, Damon expressed his support for [[gun control]] with "I actually hate guns. They freak me out."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Ian |title=Matt Damon - Sunday Herald (2003) |url=https://www.ianwatsonuk.com/mattdamon.html |website=ianwatsonuk.com |access-date=November 15, 2024}}</ref>

Damon is a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and has made several critical attacks on [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] figures. He also expressed disappointment over the policies of President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="DamonPalin">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3310993/YouTubes-best-US-election-videos.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221022939/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3310993/YouTubes-best-US-election-videos.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2009|title=YouTube's best US election videos|publisher=[[Telegraph.co.uk]]|date=October 31, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2009 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ali |first=Rahim |url=https://www.bet.com/article/rh75h5/matt-damon-criticizes-obama-and-american-politics |title=Matt Damon Criticizes Obama and American Politics |publisher=BET |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007033846/http://www.bet.com/news/celebrities/2012/12/28/matt-damon-criticizes-obama-and-politics.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He had a working relationship with the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]], primarily due to his friendship with [[Jason Furman]], his former Harvard roommate who became Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors to Obama.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldfarb |first=Zachary A. |date=February 12, 2014 |title=Jason Furman is the biggest nerd in the White House. And a juggler. And Matt Damon's former roommate. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/economist-jason-furman-is-the-wonkiest-wonk-in-the-white-house/2014/02/12/7e14b7bc-8e8f-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825191713/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/economist-jason-furman-is-the-wonkiest-wonk-in-the-white-house/2014/02/12/7e14b7bc-8e8f-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html |archive-date=August 25, 2016 |access-date=November 29, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In 2012, Damon joined Affleck and [[John Krasinski]] in hosting a fundraiser for Democratic [[United States Senate|Senate]] nominee [[Elizabeth Warren]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Daunt|first=Tina|date=May 22, 2012|title=Ben Affleck-Hosted Fundraiser for Elizabeth Warren Draws Big Stars, Big Bucks|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-hosted-fundraiser-elizabeth-327714|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503134134/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-hosted-fundraiser-elizabeth-327714|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/05/08/damon-affleck-krasinski-hosting-elizabeth-warren-fundraiser/hdRiIVwFoscCToE0W4nmhI/story.html|title=Damon, Affleck, Krasinski hosting Elizabeth Warren fundraiser|author1=Noah Bierman|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 8, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094208/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/05/08/damon-affleck-krasinski-hosting-elizabeth-warren-fundraiser/hdRiIVwFoscCToE0W4nmhI/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/news/a6147/matt-damon-supporting-hillary-clinton/|title=Why Matt Damon is Supporting Hillary Clinton|last=Hallemann|first=Caroline|date=May 11, 2016|website=Town & Country|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029134649/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/news/a6147/matt-damon-supporting-hillary-clinton/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October and December 2017, Damon made headlines when he made a series of comments about the [[Me Too movement]] against sexual harassment and misconduct. On October 10, [[Sharon Waxman]], a former reporter for ''[[The New York Times]]'', mentioned that Damon and [[Russell Crowe]] had made direct phone calls to her to vouch for the head of [[Miramax]] Italy, Fabrizio Lombardo. In her report, she suspected Lombardo of facilitating incidents of [[Harvey Weinstein]]'s sexual misconduct in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/media-enablers-harvey-weinstein-new-york-times/|title='Harvey Weinstein's Media Enablers'? The New York Times Is One of Them|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|date=October 8, 2017|work=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014015627/https://www.thewrap.com/media-enablers-harvey-weinstein-new-york-times/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinstein-matt-damon-russell-crowe-new-york-times-sharon-waxman-2017-10|title=Former New York Times reporter says paper once killed story on Weinstein's sexual harassment after pressure from Matt Damon and Russell Crowe|last=Tani|first=Maxwell|date=October 9, 2017|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010022003/http://www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinstein-matt-damon-russell-crowe-new-york-times-sharon-waxman-2017-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/10/09/report-matt-damon-helped-kill-earlier-new-york-times-story-about-harvey-weinstein/2TDJnvLT0eDq9HhuvdmXjP/story.html|title=Report: Matt Damon helped kill earlier New York Times story about Harvey Weinstein|last=Shanahan|first=Mark|date=October 9, 2017|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010035227/http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/10/09/report-matt-damon-helped-kill-earlier-new-york-times-story-about-harvey-weinstein/2TDJnvLT0eDq9HhuvdmXjP/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon later clarified that the calls were solely to reassure her of Lombardo's professional qualifications in the film industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/matt-damon-harvey-weinstein-russell-crowe-sexual-abuse-scandal-interview-1202185574/|title=Matt Damon Denies Trying To Kill 2004 NYT Harvey Weinstein Story: "If There Was Ever An Event And Harvey Was Doing This...I Would Have Stopped It"|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=October 10, 2017|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014012410/http://deadline.com/2017/10/matt-damon-harvey-weinstein-russell-crowe-sexual-abuse-scandal-interview-1202185574/|url-status=live}}</ref> Waxman endorsed Damon's statement on Twitter hours later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/matt-damon-denies-killing-2004-nyt-report-on-harvey-weinstein_us_59dd14ece4b01df09b769be5|title=Matt Damon Denies Killing 2004 NYT Report On Harvey Weinstein|last=Bradley|first=Bill|date=October 10, 2017|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019105914/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/matt-damon-denies-killing-2004-nyt-report-on-harvey-weinstein_us_59dd14ece4b01df09b769be5|url-status=live}}</ref> Also during this time, Damon said he had heard a story from Affleck that [[Gwyneth Paltrow]], a co-worker on a feature film of his, had been harassed by Weinstein in 1996, but thought "she had handled it" because they continued to work together, and Weinstein "treated her incredibly respectfully".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/matt-damon-knew-gwyneth-paltrows-weinstein-harassment-story-w509939|title=Matt Damon Knew Gwyneth Paltrow's Weinstein Sexual Harassment Story|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123048/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/matt-damon-knew-gwyneth-paltrows-weinstein-harassment-story-w509939|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/gwyneth-paltrow-angelina-jolie-harvey-weinstein.html |url-access=subscription |title=Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Others Say Weinstein Harassed Them|last1=Kantor|first1=Jodi|date=October 10, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 4, 2018|last2=Abrams|first2=Rachel |archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010170622/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/gwyneth-paltrow-angelina-jolie-harvey-weinstein.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In another series of interviews in December 2017, Damon advocated a "spectrum of behavior" analysis<ref name="ABC News-2017">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/matt-damon-opens-harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-confidentiality/story?id=51792548|title=Matt Damon on Harvey Weinstein, sexual harassment and confidentiality agreements|date=December 14, 2017|website=ABC News|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117213825/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/matt-damon-opens-harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-confidentiality/story?id=51792548|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chen-2017">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/matt-damon-theres-a-spectrum-in-sexual-misconduct-scandals-w514152|title=Matt Damon's Says 'There's a Spectrum' in Sexual Misconduct Scandals|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123104/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/matt-damon-theres-a-spectrum-in-sexual-misconduct-scandals-w514152|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Desta-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/matt-damon-sexual-misconduct-comments|title=Matt Damon Is Still Talking About Sexual Misconduct|last=Desta|first=Yohana|work=HWD|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=December 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223004748/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/matt-damon-sexual-misconduct-comments|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Guerrasio-2017">{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-damon-talks-about-sexual-misconduct-in-hollywood-2017-12|title=Matt Damon says we aren't talking enough about all the men in Hollywood who aren't sexual predators|work=Business Insider|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104125230/http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-damon-talks-about-sexual-misconduct-in-hollywood-2017-12|url-status=live}}</ref> of sexual misconduct cases, noting that some are more serious than others.<ref name="Caron-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/arts/matt-damon-metoo-movement.html|title=Matt Damon Draws Rebukes for Comments on the #MeToo Movement|last=Caron|first=Christina|date=December 17, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105070346/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/arts/matt-damon-metoo-movement.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Desta-2017" /><ref name="Guerrasio-2017" /> The comment offended prominent members of the Me Too movement<ref name="Caron-2017" /><ref name="Helmore-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/16/minnie-driver-matt-damon-men-cannot-understand-abuse|title=Minnie Driver: men like Matt Damon 'cannot understand what abuse is like'|last=Helmore|first=Edward|date=December 17, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104000834/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/16/minnie-driver-matt-damon-men-cannot-understand-abuse|url-status=live}}</ref> and the public for being "tone-deaf in understand[ing] what abuse is like".<ref name="Helmore-2017" /><ref name="Caron-2017" /> On January 17, 2018, Damon apologized on ''[[Today (American TV program)|The Today Show]]'' for his social commentary, saying he "should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/16/entertainment/matt-damon-metoo/index.html|title=Matt Damon is done weighing in on #MeToo for a while|first=Sandra|last=Gonzalez|work=CNN|access-date=January 18, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117221105/http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/16/entertainment/matt-damon-metoo/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><!--Please refrain from adding more specific contributions to this section as that often compromises the articles neutral point of view by overburdening the article.--><!--This is a living, breathing person folks. This article falls under the ''Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons'' standard. Consult it before adding anything controversial content with "a high degree of sensitivity".-->

In March 2018, Damon and Affleck announced they would adopt the [[inclusion rider]] agreement in all future production deals with [[Pearl Street Films]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |title=Matt Damon, Ben Affleck Will Support Inclusion Rider in Future Deals |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/matt-damon-ben-affleck-inclusion-rider-1202724988/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=July 23, 2018 |date=March 13, 2018 |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324225503/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/matt-damon-ben-affleck-inclusion-rider-1202724988/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2021, Damon sparked controversy after saying in an interview with ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' that he had only "months ago" stopped using the word "[[Faggot (slang)|fag]]", saying that it "was commonly used when I was a kid, with a different application".<ref>{{cite web |last=Dean |first=Jonathan |date=August 1, 2021 |title=Is Matt Damon the last of Hollywood's leading men? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/is-matt-damon-the-last-of-hollywoods-leading-men-gdh9bcwqd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110104510/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-matt-damon-the-last-of-hollywoods-leading-men-gdh9bcwqd |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |access-date=January 10, 2022 |website=[[The Times]]}}</ref> This came after an incident in which his daughter left the table due to his usage of the word and "wrote a very long, beautiful treatise on how that word is dangerous".<ref>{{cite web|last=Delbyck|first=Cole|date=August 1, 2021|title=Matt Damon Says Daughter Taught Him Not To Use 'F-Slur For A Homosexual' Months Ago|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-damon-daughter-homophobic-slur_n_6106d90ce4b0f9b5a234983f|access-date=August 20, 2021|website=HuffPost|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802035713/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-damon-daughter-homophobic-slur_n_6106d90ce4b0f9b5a234983f|url-status=live}}</ref> He denied ever using the word "faggot" in his personal life, and of the word "fag": "I explained that that word was used constantly and casually and was even a line of dialogue in a movie of mine as recently as 2003... To my admiration and pride, she was extremely articulate about the extent to which that word would have been painful to someone in the LGBTQ+ community regardless of how culturally normalized it was. I not only agreed with her but thrilled at her passion, values and desire for social justice."<ref>{{cite web|title=Matt Damon Insists He Never Used 'F-Slur': 'I Stand With the LGBTQ+ Community'|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/matt-damon-addresses-f-slur-1235032441/|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=Variety|date=August 2, 2021|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110093000/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/matt-damon-addresses-f-slur-1235032441/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Matt Damon}}
Aside from [[List of awards and nominations received by Matt Damon|awards]] he has garnered for his role as an actor and producer, Damon became the 2,343rd person to receive a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on July 25, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|first=Terri|last=Schwartz|url=http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2009/12/11/the-evolution-of-matt-damon-follow-the-invictus-actors-career-in-photos/|title=The Evolution Of Matt Damon: Follow The 'Invictus' Actor's Career In Photos|access-date=June 14, 2010|date=December 11, 2009|publisher=MTV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510114240/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2009/12/11/the-evolution-of-matt-damon-follow-the-invictus-actors-career-in-photos/|archive-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> He reacted to the award by stating: "A few times in my life, I've had these experiences that are just kind of too big to process and this looks like it's going to be one of those times."<ref name="FoxNews">{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]]|title=Matt Damon Gets Hollywood Walk of Fame Star|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/matt-damon-gets-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star|date=July 26, 2007|access-date=April 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207012035/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290888,00.html|archive-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160px">
File:MattDamonHWoFOct10.jpg|alt=Pink granite star on a black granite side-walk.|Matt Damon's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
File:MattDamonGraumanHandFootprintsOct10.jpg|alt=Hand and foot prints in cement dated of June 6, 2007|Handprints and footprints of Damon in front of the [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]]
</gallery>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group="nb"}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Altman |first1=Sheryl |title=Matt Damon & Ben Affleck: on and off screen |last2=Berk |first2=Sheryl |date=1998 |publisher=HarperCollins Pub |isbn=978-0-06-107145-4 |edition=1st |location=New York, NY}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bego |first=Mark |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm40338279 |title=Matt Damon: chasing a dream |date=1998 |publisher=Andrews McMeel |isbn=978-0-8362-7131-7 |location=Kansas City |oclc=ocm40338279}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Diamond |first1=Maxine |title=Matt Damon: a biography |last2=Hemmings |first2=Harriet |date=1998 |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=978-0-671-02649-3 |location=New York}}
* {{Cite book |last=Nickson |first=Chris |title=Matt Damon: an unauthorized biography |date=1999 |publisher=Renaissance Books |isbn=978-1-58063-072-6 |edition=1st |location=Los Angeles}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Matt Damon}}
{{wikiquote|Matt Damon}}
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* {{people.com}}

{{Matt Damon}}
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|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Matt Damon|Awards for Matt Damon]]
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestOriginalScreenplay 1981-2000}}
{{Astra Midseason Movie Award for Best Actor}}
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Empire Award for Best Actor}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestScreenplayMotionPicture 1981-2000}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
{{Satellite Award Best Original Screenplay}}
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[[Category:Matt Damon| ]]
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[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
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[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:People Sexiest Man Alive]]