Ben Affleck reveals how he feels about starring in box office bomb 'Gigli' with Jennifer Lopez

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ben Affleck recently opened up about his highs and lows in Hollywood. 

Reflecting on one of his biggest lows, 'Gigli,' the box office disaster he starred in alongside his ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez, the actor shared why the movie remains a sensitive subject for him.

Ben Affleck reflects on 'Gigli' being Hollywood's 'most famous bomb'

"I’ve been in movies like 'Gigli', that’s a famous example," said Ben Affleck during a conversation with Deadline, alongside his close friend Matt Damon.

He shared, "I got a big cash payday for that. Well, it doesn’t feel right in retrospect because they lost money." 

This bit of lingering guilt speaks to Affleck's evolving perspective on the business side of Hollywood—an awareness he now channels through his production company, Artists Equity.

The company, founded with Damon, aims to reshape how the industry views profit-sharing, creating a more balanced relationship between studios, actors, and distributors.

Affleck’s dedication to fair practices reflects his discomfort with the losses suffered on projects like 'Gigli'.

"It wasn’t the biggest money-losing movie in history even though it was the most famous bomb in history, perhaps," remarked the 'Gone Girl' star, adding, "Nonetheless, that doesn’t sit right with me."

Despite the fact that 'Gigli' only made a fraction of its $72 million budget—bringing in a mere $7 million—its legacy as a "famous bomb" has become as notorious as the film itself.

Ben Affleck on how 'Bennifer' media frenzy helped doom 'Gigli'

Ben Affleck attributed part of the Martin Brest-directed film's infamous status to his high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez, which, he observed, sparked public curiosity that may have inadvertently fueled the movie's downfall.

As he once told Entertainment Weekly, "The truth about that movie and what it taught me was how much everything around a movie sort of dictates the way people see it...very few people actually saw the movie."

The intense media focus on "Bennifer" didn’t just impact the film’s reception but also led the studio to capitalize on the couple’s popularity.

"I had begun having this relationship with Jennifer Lopez, which was selling a lot of magazines and appeared to generate a lot of enthusiasm," shared Affleck.

He added, "They just predictably latched onto, 'They want a romantic comedy. They want the two of them together. More of that!'" 

Despite the film's dismal reception, Affleck considers the experience a hidden blessing.'

'Gigli' disaster helped Ben Affleck discover his passion for directing

In the aftermath, he turned his attention to directing, a path that’s led to some of his most celebrated work.

"The reaction to 'Gigli' hadn't happened, I probably wouldn't have ultimately decided, ‘I don't really have any other avenue but to direct movies,’ which has turned out to be the real love of my professional life," explained the 52-year-old. 

And if there’s one positive memory both Affleck and Lopez cherish from the film, it’s each other.

While talking about 'Gigli', the 'On The Floor' hitmaker once confessed, "I don’t remember a whole bunch about it. But I remember being on the set with him every day—and loving it."