Ben Affleck says he was 'vomiting between takes' while filming 'Armageddon' scene with Bruce Willis

“When we shot that scene, I had food poisoning,” Affleck said during an interview

Ben Affleck recently opened up about the grueling experience behind one of the most emotional scenes in the 1998 blockbuster Armageddon, revealing that he filmed the pivotal goodbye sequence with co‑star Bruce Willis while severely ill with food poisoning.

Affleck recalled that during the climactic moment when Willis’ character sacrifices himself so Affleck’s A.J. Frost can return to Earth, he was struggling physically on set, so much so that he was vomiting between takes.

“When we shot that scene, I had food poisoning,” Affleck said during a Fox 32 Chicago interview with Jake Hamilton, admitting that at the time he wasn’t experienced enough to call in sick. “I wasn’t an experienced enough actor at that point to know that you can just pick up the phone and be like, ‘I’m too sick to work today.’ I’m like, ‘I better come in.’”

 

 

 

 

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Affleck described the uncomfortable reality of shooting while ill: “It’s the only time it’s ever happened in my life: vomiting between takes,” he recalled, laughing about how a strategically placed garbage can was part of the setup. “They had a garbage can. It was a cut, and, and it probably made the scene better.”

Despite the ordeal, Affleck said the experience of working on Armageddon left him with fond memories, especially because of the talented ensemble cast. He recently saw co‑star Steve Buscemi at the premiere of his latest film, and the two reminisced about how unusual and “otherworldly” the entire Armageddon shoot felt.

“I actually saw Steve Buscemi last night at the premiere for The Rip, and we were reminiscing about that movie and thinking about how that was the weirdest, kind of wonderful, strange, otherworldly movie experience,” Affleck shared.

Affleck also praised Willis, saying the Die Hard star was “really nice to everybody” on set, highlighting the supportive environment amid the physical challenges of filming the disaster epic.

The revelation adds a new layer to Armageddon’s most unforgettable moment, showing that behind the dramatic performance was genuine physical hardship — yet Affleck delivered nonetheless, turning what might have derailed production into part of cinematic history.