Some movie moments strike a deep chord with audiences and stick in our minds for the rest of our lives. Such moments abound in the 1997 psychological drama Good Will Hunting. But one ‘breakup’ scene in particular still sticks out as one of the most impactful scenes in Gus Van Sant’s movie and a showcase for Matt Damon and Minnie Driver’s extraordinary talent.
While on-screen couples often develop chemistry, Damon and Driver’s Good Will Hunting was a prime example of this. Their interpretations of Will Hunting and Skylar, respectively, were so real that viewers were led to believe in their strong emotional bond. From their first meeting at a Harvard bar to the intense ‘break up scene’, their chemistry was palpable on screen. So much so that admirers deem the latter one to be among the greatest scenes from Good Will Hunting.
The Breakdown Scene: Matt Damon and Minnie Driver’s Chemistry in Good Will Hunting
The story of Good Will Hunting revolves around Matt Damon‘s character, Will Hunting, a gifted and troubled young mathematician. Minnie Driver portrayed Skylar opposite Damon, for which she received nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Easily one of the greatest scenes in the film was the ‘What are you so scared of?’ scene that ended with Will and Skylar breaking up. This specific breakup scene occurred during a tumultuous time, right before Skylar departed from Boston. Emotions were high and inner fears took flight when faced with the reality of the troubled relationship. What followed was a highly charged conversation that highlighted the amazing acting abilities of both Damon and Driver.
The whole world seemed to hold its breath as Skylar told Will how much she loved and dedicated herself to him. For everyone who saw the scene, their authentic depiction of confusion, heartbreak, and vulnerability made a lasting impression. So much so that audiences did not hold back in praising their performances in the scene shared on YouTube:
“I guarantee this scene is why she got nominated for an Oscar. Stunning performance. You can feel her devastation.”
“Skylar is such a brave character, putting her heart out on the line for him over and over in this scene. And he just rips it apart over and over too, in his defensiveness.”
“Probably one of the most believable , emotive scenes ever filmed. Amazing acting by both, on of my top 5 films of all time.”
“It’s even more heartbreaking when he says ‘I don’t love you’ and she mouths ‘you do’ whilst her world is turning upside down. Great scene!”
“Those opening lines where she thinks he’s just being coy, playing hard to get, when actually you can so clearly see his walls instantly going up, just brilliant character writing for both of them.”
“Wow there’s something really amazing when two people act there arses off. What a scene. They both nailed it.”
The actors eventually became a couple, as we learned from Parade after Driver met Damon on the set of Good Will Hunting in 1997. However, they broke up in 1998.
Minnie Driver Reflected on Her Bond With Matt Damon
In her book, Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays, Minnie Driver embarked on a nostalgic journey through her past. The British-American actress discussed the collection of essays with ET. It covered a wide range of topics, including her relationship with co-star Matt Damon and the making of Good Will Hunting. Last year, she explained why, in her opinion, the Oscar-winning movie was still so powerful even after more than 20 years:
“The filmmaker, Gus Van Sant, and Matt and Ben [Affleck], I think they were really left alone to make the film that they wanted to make.”
Although the highly regarded movie has endured, Driver’s friendship with Damon has not. Despite their “sweet” relationship, she told ET that it ended before the film even made it to the Oscars, as her family had predicted.
“My family loved Matt — it wasn’t that. They were like, ‘This may well end badly for reasons that are to do with all these things coming together in a perfect storm’.”
Driver claimed that she had fond memories of their relationship despite the drama that followed.
“I tell that story with love, because that was just a sweet romance that was just a sweet love affair in the center of all of that stuff, but had a combustible ending, which then became the focus..”
Despite a $10 million budget, Good Will Hunting earned over $225 million in revenue during its theatrical run and garnered favorable reviews from critics. It was nominated for nine awards at the 70th Academy Awards.
Good Will Hunting is streaming on Max.
