Classic Trailer Rewatch: Damon, Affleck, Williams’ ‘Good Will Hunting’

Classic Trailer Rewatch: Damon, Affleck, Williams’ ‘Good Will Hunting’

by Alex Billington
August 23, 2024
Source: YouTube

“For the first time in his life he’s about to meet his match.” This enduring 90s classic is almost always a wholesome, invigorating watch anytime and anyplace. Good Will Hunting originally opened in theaters in December of 1997, some 27 years ago. It was the film that gave Ben Affleck & Matt Damon their first Oscar. And Robin Williams won a much deserved Oscar as well for his performance as Dr. Sean Maguire. Starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck, Good Will Hunting shows the most brilliant mind at America’s top university isn’t a student, he is the kid who cleans the floors… Will is a headstrong, working-class genius who is failing the lessons of life. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will’s last chance is a psychology professor, who might be the only man who can reach him. Finally forced to deal with his past, Will discovers that the only one holding him back is himself. For a long time, I kept confusing this film with Dead Poets Society – both uplifting stories set at universities about learning to understand & harness your own intelligence. The GWH cast also includes Cole Hauser, Minnie Driver, and Stellan Skarsgård. If you haven’t seen it in a while, give this a watch this weekend. And enjoy these classic original trailers below.

Here’s a few vintage trailers (+ the poster) for Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting, direct from YouTube:

Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor working at MIT, has a gift for mathematics, but needs help from a psychologist (Robin Williams) to find direction in his life. A touching tale of a wayward young man who struggles to find his identity, living in a world where he can solve any problem, except the one brewing deep within himself, until one day he meets his soul mate who opens his mind and his heart. Good Will Hunting is directed by award-winning American filmmaker Gus Van Sant, his six feature film at the time – right after To Die For (1995) and just before his remake of Psycho (1998). The screenplay is written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It’s produced by Lawrence Bender and it was distributed by Miramax. The film originally opened in theaters in December 1997, and ended up earning a total of $225.9 million at the box office. It was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, and won Best Supporting Actor for Robin Williams and Best Original Screenplay for Affleck & Damon. Good Will Hunting is available to watch streaming on Max now if you already are subscribed – or for rental on VOD (listings on JustWatch). Is this film one of your favorites?

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