Matt Damon calls Ben Affleck 'one of the great loves of my life' after 'The Odyssey' reaction

Damon reveals that after watching the epic, Affleck called him and spent nearly an hour discussing the film

Matt Damon has paid an emotional tribute to his lifelong friend Ben Affleck, describing the Oscar-winning filmmaker as "one of the great loves of my life" while reflecting on their decades-long friendship and creative partnership.

Speaking to MTV UK while promoting Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Damon revealed that Affleck had one of the strongest reactions to the film after attending an early screening.

"Ben is one of the great loves of my life," Damon said. 

According to Damon, Affleck phoned him immediately after watching the epic and spent nearly an hour enthusiastically discussing every aspect of the film.

"He called me afterwards and just went through the whole movie. It was probably an hour-long conversation," Damon recalled, adding that his longtime friend praised virtually every detail of Nolan's latest blockbuster.

The actor admitted Affleck's response meant a great deal because of their shared history in the film industry and the trust they have built over more than four decades.

Damon and Affleck have been friends since childhood, having grown up just blocks apart in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their friendship eventually led to the screenplay for Good Will Hunting, which earned them the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1998 and launched both of their careers. They have since collaborated on films including Dogma, Air and The Rip, while also co-founding the production company Artists Equity in 2022.

While Affleck's praise stood out, Damon said two other reactions were equally meaningful, those of his wife, Luciana, and his daughter Isabella, whom he jokingly described as his toughest critic.

Knowing how honest they are with him, Damon said their enthusiasm for The Odyssey gave him extra confidence that the film had connected emotionally.

The Odyssey stars Damon as the legendary Greek hero Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Elliot Page. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the epic adaptation of Homer's classic poem opened in cinemas this week to strong reviews and significant box office interest.

For Damon, however, one phone call from his oldest friend remains among the highlights of the film's release.

After more than 45 years of friendship, his description of Affleck as "one of the great loves of my life" offered another reminder of one of Hollywood's most enduring partnerships.