Ben Affleck Looks Back at His Career’s Highs and Lows

Ben Affleck’s path in Hollywood has included many successes along with several mistakes. Before gaining fame as an Oscar-winning director and respected actor, he had taken roles that didn’t go as planned. Despite that, he admitted those early experiences still gave him some value—whether through lessons, stories, or money.

While audiences often remember him for major films like Good Will Hunting and Argo, Affleck’s career also includes lesser-known and less successful projects. He acknowledged that even if some of those roles didn’t bring fame, they gave him something to learn from.

Affleck Felt Phantoms Was a Major Flop

One of those not-so-great moments came in 1998 when he starred in Phantoms, a horror movie based on a novel by Dean Koontz. In the film, he played a sheriff who investigated strange happenings in a small Colorado town. The cast featured well-known actors like Peter O’Toole, Rose McGowan, Liev Schreiber, and Joanna Going. However, the movie didn’t impress critics or audiences and failed at the box office.

In a video interview with GQ where he talked about his filmography, Affleck said Phantoms wasn’t a good film. He joked that people used to say he was amazing in Phantoms, but then admitted the movie was, in his words, “utter garbage.” He didn’t hesitate to share how disappointed he was with the final result.

He Found Some Benefits Despite the Film’s Failure

Affleck also mentioned that although the movie was a failure, it had some benefits. He recalled that he got to ski during the shoot and earned about $100,000 for his role. At that time, he believed that he was financially secure and even thought he could retire with that amount. He said those memories still made him laugh.

A Special Moment with Peter O’Toole

The most unforgettable part of working on Phantoms, Affleck noted, wasn’t about the film’s story or special effects—it was about meeting Peter O’Toole. He shared that he had a unique experience when he spent time with O’Toole and got high with him. He said that moment felt so surreal that he couldn’t think of anything else in life that could top it.

Even though the film didn’t help his acting career much, he appreciated the chance to share that unusual moment with a screen legend.

What Phantoms Was About

Directed by Joe Chappelle, Phantoms mixed horror and science fiction with some strange twists. The story followed two sisters—Dr. Jennifer Pailey (Joanna Going) and Lisa (Rose McGowan)—who arrived in a silent, empty town called Snowfield, Colorado. When they found the town deserted and filled with corpses, things quickly turned terrifying.

Sheriff Bryce Hammond, played by Affleck, joined the investigation. Alongside his team, he came across bizarre scenes, such as heads in ovens and creatures that ripped faces apart. They also found the words “Timothy Flyte” written on a mirror, which referred to a British academic who believed the town was being attacked by an ancient alien-like creature called the “Ancient Enemy.”

This monster had powers to change shape, read minds, and absorb people and knowledge. It then created phantoms to spread fear. The only plan the group had was to kill it using bacteria—leading to a chaotic and wild ending.

Not a Great Movie, But a Memorable Experience

Affleck admitted Phantoms was far from a great film and openly called it a bad experience in terms of quality. Still, he said it offered him good memories, a decent paycheck, and a few funny stories to look back on. Even though he thought the movie was poorly made, the things he took away from it remained special to him.