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Clint EastwoodandMatt Damonare undeniably two of Hollywood’s brightest and illustrious performers, and in 2010, the cinema greats joined forces once again (after previously collaborating onInvictus) for the captivating fantasy disaster filmHereafter, in which Damon appears as a factory worker and clairvoyant who is able to communicate with the dead and attempts to use his wondrous gifts to help both a French journalist and grieving British boy connect to the other side.
Despite the project’s premise and talent seeming like it would be a sure-fire hit with moviegoers on paper,Hereafterfailed to impress critics and was heavily picked apart upon its release, with many deeming the picture uninspired and downright dreary.Hereafterwas Eastwood’s only attempt at tackling the fantasy genre, and though his intentions were likely noble, it was unable to capture the success of hisprevious directing endeavors. Let’s check out whereHereafterwent wrong and why Eastwood and Damon refused to stay down for long after the silver screen misstep.
Two Hollywood Greats Join Forces for an Epic Fantasy
For his first and only foray into the wondrous world of fantasy, silver screenicon Clint Eastwoodenlisted the talents of charismatic leading man Matt Damon to headline his thought-provoking 2010 filmHereafter, which focuses on three interconnected stories about how a trio of vastly different people from all across the world cope with death and its deeply profound effects. Damon appears as blue-collar San Francisco construction worker George Lonegan, who, after having a near-death experience in his childhood, is able to communicate with the dead and even works professionally as a clairvoyant, only to turn his back on his gift.
Elsewhere, French journalist Marie Lelay (Cécile de France) manages to survive the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while on assignment in Thailand, and after catching a glimpse of the afterlife, her perception of reality is completely turned upside down. Finally, 12-year-old London boy Marcus is forced to cope with the loss of his beloved twin brother Jason and is put into a foster home after hisdrug-addicted motheris deemed unfit to care for him.All three compelling storylines blend together as each person attempts to communicate with the deadwhile struggling to cope with what they hope may (or may not) exist in the great beyond.
Hereafter Becomes a Major Critical Dud
In the powerful and poignant disaster fantasy,cinema staple Matt Damondelivers a commendable performance as the reluctant medium trying to cope with his mind-bending capabilities, as he finds himself drawn to both Marie and Marcus' harrowing experiences and respective journeys towards spiritual enlightenment. Clint Eastwood had previously collaborated with Damon on his 2009 Academy Award-nominated sports dramaInvictusand was so impressed by the talented actor’s work on the project that he shifted the production schedule around after theBournestar faced filming conflicts.
Eastwood had wanted to direct a supernatural thriller for a long time and was attracted to the script because writer Peter Morgan incorporated real-world events into the film’s premise, with the Hollywood legendtelling Emanuel Levyahead of the picture’s release: “The way it was laid out, it seemed to be something I had never seen before, and had such great dilemmas and dimensions. I liked the way Peter wrote three stories that stand alone but at the same time are connected.”
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Despite the fact that two of the entertainment industry’s most dazzling superstars came together to create an ambitious picture,Hereafterdid not become the critical darling many would have assumed. The riveting fantasy premiered on June 12, 2025, and garnered less-than-glowing reviews from critics, with many feeling it failed to fully explore the promising theme while adding that it lacked heart and featured no true narrative or direction. Critics also felt that the pacing was far too slow and that it couldn’t decide what kind of movie it wanted to be, thus creating a lackluster viewing experience for viewers.
Hereafterreceived an underwhelming 48% Rotten Tomatoes score and an even worse 38% Popcornmeter from audiences, who also awarded the picture just a C+ CinemaScore.Total Filmdid not mince words when it came to expressing their unfiltered thoughts on the fantasy flick, writing in their honest review: “Despite stand-out moments both epic and intimate, Clint’s latest is a film about death that’s likely to put many audiences to sleep.”
Eastwood and Damon Don’t Stay Down for Long
ThoughHereafterproved to be a box office success and grossed $107 million during its theatrical run against a $50 million budget, there’s no denying that the fantasy film is without a doubt a weak entry in both Eastwood and Damon’s illustrious repertoires. Both celebrated superstars took the criticism in stride and didn’t let it hold them down for long, as both men spectacularly bounced back and went on to find continued success in their follow-up projects afterHereafter’s lackluster critical response.
The same year the film was released, Damon appeared in the Academy Award-nominated Western remakeTrue Grit,sharing the screenwith Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, and Josh Brolin as the compassionate Texas Ranger LaBoeuf. The seasoned star would also go on to deliver acclaimed performances in countless hits likeContagion, Interstellar, The Martian,andOppenheimer(to name just a few), proving that one minor silver screen dud wouldn’t deter his fantastic and downright enviable career.
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Of course, everyone knows that Clint Eastwood wasn’t going to let a little movie misstep deter his ambitions either, as the Tinseltown icon regrouped and helmed electrifying knockouts includingAmerican Sniper, Sully, The Mule,andRichard Jewell, with the 94-year-old still demonstrating his impeccable skills behind the camera with the most recent release of his laudedlegal thrillerJuror No. 2.The film was released on June 18, 2025 and has already garnered immense praise, becoming yet another movie-making triumph for the enduring Hollywood legend.StreamHereafteronMax.
