You’ve seen him as a math genius, a stranded astronaut, and a super-spy with amnesia. But honestly, 2024 felt different for Matt Damon. He didn’t just show up to hit his marks and collect a paycheck. Instead, the guy spent the year basically rewriting how a Hollywood A-lister operates.
It's weird.
For decades, we’ve been conditioned to expect "The Matt Damon Movie"—usually a big, sweeping thriller or a brainy drama where he carries the world on his shoulders. But Matt Damon movies 2024 weren't that. Not exactly. This year was a strange, fascinating mix of "one for them, one for me," and a heavy dose of "let's help my friends get their passion projects made."
If you weren't paying close attention, you might have missed just how much he actually did. Between a heist comedy that felt like a family reunion and a prestige Irish drama that he produced from the shadows, Damon was everywhere and nowhere at once.
The Instigators: A Boston Family Affair
Let's talk about the big one first. The Instigators hit Apple TV+ in August, and it’s basically the cinematic equivalent of a backyard barbecue. You’ve got Matt Damon. You’ve got Casey Affleck. You’ve even got Doug Liman directing—the man who helped Damon invent Jason Bourne back in the day.
The plot is... fine? It’s a heist. Things go wrong. They run away.
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Damon plays Rory, a desperate father who is so "normal" it’s almost funny. He’s the straight man to Casey Affleck’s chaotic energy. While the critics weren't exactly over the moon—it’s sitting at around 40% on Rotten Tomatoes—there’s something kinda charming about watching two lifelong friends bicker while driving a stolen armored truck.
It didn't reinvent the wheel. It didn't try to.
Some people called it "forgettable," and maybe they're right. But in an era where every movie feels like it has to be a "multiverse event," there was something refreshing about a mid-budget crime comedy that just wanted to make you laugh for 100 minutes. Honestly, Damon seemed like he was having the time of his life playing a guy who is completely out of his depth.
Small Things Like These: The Producer's Flex
While The Instigators was the loud, fun project, Small Things Like These was the soul of Damon’s 2024. Most people don't even realize he was involved. He doesn't act in it. He doesn't have a cameo.
He produced it.
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The story of how this movie happened is actually pretty cool. During the filming of Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy pitched the idea to Damon. He wanted to adapt Claire Keegan’s novel about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. Damon didn't just say "good luck with that." He used his and Ben Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity, to actually get the thing financed and made.
It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2024 and finally hit US theaters in November. It’s a quiet, devastating movie. It’s the kind of film that usually struggles to get funding because it’s not a superhero sequel.
Damon’s 2024 was defined by this shift toward the "Artists Equity" model. He’s trying to prove that you can still make smart, adult dramas if you change how the money works. He’s betting on talent rather than just IP.
The Random Bits: Drive-Away Dolls and Voice Work
Damon also did that thing he does where he shows up for five minutes in a friend’s movie just for the hell of it. In 2024, that was Drive-Away Dolls, directed by Ethan Coen. He plays Senator Gary Channel, and it’s a classic "Damon cameo"—brief, weird, and a little bit unhinged.
Then there was IF, the John Krasinski movie. Damon voiced a flower. Yes, a flower.
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It’s these little choices that make his 2024 so interesting. He’s at a point where he can go from producing a heavy Irish historical drama to voicing a cartoon plant without losing an ounce of credibility.
Why This Matters for Fans
If you’re looking for a "Bourne" style adrenaline rush, 2024 probably felt a bit slow. But if you look at the trajectory, Damon is positioning himself as the new power broker in Hollywood.
By the end of 2024, the buzz had already shifted toward his next collaboration with Ben Affleck, a crime thriller called RIP. They filmed it late in the year for Netflix. The big news there wasn't just the movie itself, but the deal they cut. They pushed Netflix to give performance-based bonuses to the entire crew.
That’s the "2024 Matt Damon." He’s less interested in being the face on the poster and more interested in changing how the posters get printed.
What to Watch Right Now
If you want to catch up on the 2024 run, here is your roadmap:
- Watch Small Things Like These first. It’s the best thing he "made" this year, even if he’s not on screen. It’s a masterclass in tension and empathy.
- Stream The Instigators on Apple TV+ when you just want a low-stakes evening. Pay attention to the chemistry between Damon and Casey Affleck; it’s basically a documentary of their friendship.
- Check out Drive-Away Dolls for the "weird Matt" fix. It’s a quick watch and reminds you that he doesn't take himself too seriously.
The takeaway from 2024 is simple: Matt Damon is done playing by the old rules. He’s using his fame to protect "mid-sized" movies, and while not every swing is a home run, it’s a lot more interesting than watching him make Bourne 9.
Keep an eye on Artists Equity. That’s where the real action is happening now. If you want to support the kind of movies Damon is trying to save, the best thing you can do is actually show up at the theater for the small ones. He’s literally banking on us to prove the studios wrong.