Ben Affleck Breaks the Internet With Hilarious Billy Bob Thornton Impression

Ben Affleck is currently busy making the rounds to promote his new Netflix film, The Rip, but he still found time to entertain fans with a hilarious moment during a recent interview. While the actor is usually serious when discussing his filmmaking craft, he lightened the mood by showing off a hidden talent. Affleck delivered a spot-on impression of his former co-star, Billy Bob Thornton, that has quickly gone viral.

The moment happened during an appearance on Barstool’s Project Big Screen, where Affleck decided to share a funny story from the late 90s. He took the audience back to the premiere of the massive blockbuster Armageddon, which was held at the Kennedy Space Center in 1998. It was at this event that he had a memorable and quippy interaction with the Landman star.

Affleck explained that Thornton approached him with a very specific question regarding his recent success at the Academy Awards. “He was like, ‘Hey, I saw you got that — you won that Oscar, didn’t you?’ I was like, “Yeah,” Affleck recalled. He then completely shifted his demeanor and voice to match Thornton’s distinct Southern drawl and eccentric personality.

The impression involved Thornton teasing Affleck about having to share his Oscar with his best friend, Matt Damon. According to Affleck’s imitation, Thornton said, “So what? Did they give you like half an Oscar? Feels like you only wrote half the picture, right?” The crowd and the hosts laughed as Affleck continued to mimic the veteran actor’s dry sense of humor.

Affleck continued the bit, quoting Thornton as saying, “I give you two, half an Oscar for that. That’s nice, that’s good. That’s like a kid’s Oscar, right? Participation Oscar, is that what you got?” The roasting was particularly funny because both actors were riding high on major successes at the time of the conversation.

Who knew Ben Affleck had a perfect Billy Bob Thornton impression in his back pocket? pic.twitter.com/0LCqkb7KYb

— Project Big Screen (@ProjBigScreen) January 19, 2026

It is interesting to note that Affleck had secured his first Oscar win just three months before this interaction took place. He and Matt Damon had won Best Original Screenplay for their work on the drama Good Will Hunting. That film launched both of them into superstardom and remains a beloved classic to this day.

However, Billy Bob Thornton was not speaking from a place of jealousy, as he was already an Academy Award winner himself. He had taken home the trophy for Best Adapted Screenplay a year prior for his 1996 film Sling Blade. This shared experience of winning for writing likely gave Thornton the confidence to poke fun at his younger co-star.

Ben Affleck has been incredibly active in the industry lately, both in front of and behind the camera. His latest project, The Rip, is a crime thriller that is currently streaming on Netflix and drawing significant attention. The film adds another gritty title to his extensive filmography, which includes hits like The Town and Gone Girl.

Beyond acting, Affleck has been focusing heavily on his production company, Artists Equity, which he co-founded with Matt Damon. The company is dedicated to creating a fairer profit-sharing model for cast and crew members. This partnership recently produced the sports drama Air, which received critical acclaim for its look at the origin of the Air Jordan shoe brand.

We are curious to know if you think Ben Affleck’s impression was accurate or if he should stick to dramatic acting, so please share your opinion in the comments.