The Understandable Reason Why Matt Damon Calls Himself The ‘Anti-Tom Cruise’

by

I hadn’t really thought about the similarities between Tom Cruise and Matt Damon before, but it’s true they both star in big action movie series. However, they approach action films in very different ways, which is why Damon jokingly refers to himself as the “anti-Tom Cruise.” And honestly, I can see his point.

Everyone knows Tom Cruise is famous for doing his own stunts, and he genuinely enjoys them. Matt Damon, however, prefers to let professionals handle the action sequences. Before the release of his upcoming Netflix film, The Rip (scheduled for 2026), he jokingly told Ben Affleck during an interview with Still Watching Netflix that he’s essentially the opposite of Tom Cruise when it comes to performing stunts.

I am the anti-Tom Cruise. I’m like, ‘Let’s let that guy do it. He’s really good at that.’

I really enjoy how Tom Cruise does his own stunts, like the incredible bi-plane scene in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. It’s also great when other actors, such as Glen Powell, are willing to perform their own stunts.

I also have a lot of respect for the stunt performers themselves. They’re incredibly talented artists who risk their safety to create amazing work. While some actors, like Tom Cruise, can successfully perform their own stunts, it’s often better to rely on a professional stunt double. This seems to be Matt Damon’s approach to action sequences, as he explained in a conversation with Ben Affleck:

  • Ben Affleck: Your stuntman has done more interesting stuff.
  • Matt Damon: My stuntman has done fantastic work.
  • Ben Affleck: On the Bourne movies…the action in those movies is so good. There’s a great shot where the camera is behind you when you jump into a window or something? That was amazing.
  • Matt Damon: Yeah, that’s a guy named Kai [Martin].

It’s really hitting home thinking about a story Matt Damon shared about a chat he had with Tom Cruise. They were talking about how things get approved by safety teams on set, and Cruise apparently said he just replaces anyone who tells him “no.” Damon said if someone gave him that answer, he’d immediately stop working on the stunt and walk away – no questions asked. It just shows how differently they approach risk.

Both approaches have their strengths, but they’re quite different. That’s why Damon jokingly refers to himself as the opposite of Tom Cruise. While the actor is dedicated and will change his appearance for a part, he prefers to let a stunt double handle dangerous action sequences.

Fans can soon see Matt Damon in action! His new film, The Rip, will stream on Netflix starting January 16th, and he’ll be in theaters this summer with The Odyssey. Plus, he’s teaming up with Tom Cruise in Digger, which is scheduled for release in theaters on October 2, 2026.

Read More

2026-01-11 02:08