Top 10 Ben Affleck Performances

Kicking off our list is the film everyone hates to admit they love, but the box-office sales mean someone saw it. Affleck's first try as a leading man has him saving the world and getting the girl, too. There's singing, there's bro-love, there's certainly thrills, and Affleck does his best at bringing real-life to a special effects spectacular.

Doing what he does best, Affleck not only acts in but also directs this edge-of-your-seat, based-on-a-true-story tale. He portrays a CIA man sent to extract prisoners during the Iran Hostage Crisis, with help from an elaborate cover story. In large part thanks to Affleck's vision – “Argo” has had Oscar buzz around it from day one.

For his role as a disgraced congressman, Affleck drew on the experiences of fallen politicians like John Edwards and Gary Condit to great effect: he's even got the tearful speech down to a science. Affleck joined the film in replacement of Ed Norton, and he and the rest of the amazing cast do a great job at navigating the film through its outrageous plot twists.

This ensemble drama is dominated by a wealth of strong performances, not the least of which is Ben Affleck's as a high-flying corporate man who loses his job at the height of the recession. The movie does a great job at dehumanizing its characters and making them just a number on a company's bottom line, but Affleck and his fellow actors remind us that white-collar workers are people too.

Affleck hit the mainstream with “Good Will Hunting,” but we'd consider his memorable bit part in “Dazed” as his breakthrough role. His job as part of this stellar cast is to play the mean, paddle-toting senior with the wicked swing, and he does it hilariously. Also, he's proof that payback's a bitch.

Affleck has acting, directing and co-writing credits on this movie, and his talent as a director means he'll have work long after he retires as a leading man. He gets a riveting performance out of co-star Jeremy Renner, and shows that he himself has matured as an actor. Affleck fits seamlessly into the world of Boston crime as a career criminal who falls in love with a former hostage.

For this film, Ben Affleck and childhood friend Matt Damon both won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar, and with good reason. They also both act in the movie: Damon as the genius janitor, Affleck as his non-genius best friend, and it's because of the performances that this movie truly shines. While much of the story revolves around Damon's relationship with his therapist, the Ben Affleck character provides much-needed heart and even some comic relief.

Almost everyone in this movie won an Oscar for their role, but not Affleck and frankly that's a shame. He takes his turn as the cocky star actor of Shakespeare's time, and his role pops with playfulness and farcical humor. Yes, it's a very small role, but it showcases Affleck's natural wit, and that's why it makes our list.

This is probably the closest we'll ever get to seeing Ben Affleck play Superman, but after his last superhero fiasco, that's fine with us. Affleck is perfectly cast as the real-life Superman actor George Reeves, whose mysterious death is the film's central story. As Reeves, Affleck is full of charm and sadness, which helped earn him a Golden Globe nomination for the role.

Taking the top spot on our list is the best of Affleck's performances in all of his many partnerships with Kevin Smith. Affleck is comic book guy who falls for a woman who likes women. The result of this is one of Affleck's most heartfelt performances, full of Smith's sharp and articulate dialogue and enormous character growth. Too bad he strayed from this kind of smart indie film after his success with “Good Will Hunting.” But what good romantic movie doesn't have a passionate kiss in the rain?

Do you agree with our list? Which is your favorite Ben Affleck performance? For more great top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.