Matt Damon Admits Interstellar Left Him in Tears
Matt Damon confesses that Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar brought him to tears, reflecting on its emotional core and sharing insights into their next ambitious project, The Odyssey.
Christopher Nolan’s cosmic odyssey Interstellar, with its heady mix of theoretical physics and heart-wrenching drama, has left a lasting impression on many. For Matt Damon, who made a memorable appearance as the duplicitous Dr Mann, the film’s emotional resonance proved overwhelming—even years after its release. The 2014 epic, a clear nod to Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, follows a group of astronauts led by Matthew McConaughey as they venture through a wormhole near Saturn, searching for a new home for humanity. Despite its hefty $165 million budget, the film soared at the box office, raking in over $773 million worldwide.
While promoting his latest Netflix thriller, The Rip, Damon found himself reflecting on his favourite of Nolan’s works. Initially tempted to choose Inception, with its dream-hopping thieves and mind-bending narrative, he ultimately settled on Interstellar. The reason, as he explained, was deeply personal:
"I love them all is the truth. Interstellar, I watched again when it was re-released and I don't think I could see it the first time because I was in it — a small role, but I was still in it and had read the script within a year of seeing it, so I don't think I really saw it.
I remember the experience of reading the script and sobbing, because I think it's about a father missing the life of his daughter and my kids were young, and that was such a terrifying thought to me that it really moved me. I had that experience again watching the film a decade later. I was really moved by that one."
The film’s emotional punch is sharpened by the cruel realities of time dilation. McConaughey’s character, Joseph Cooper, spends what amounts to nearly a century away from Earth. By the time he returns, his son has long since passed, and his daughter, Murph, is on her deathbed. The reunion is bittersweet, underscoring the film’s meditation on love, loss, and the passage of time.
Damon and Nolan Reunite for The Odyssey
This summer, Damon and Nolan are set to join forces once more, this time for a grand-scale adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, shot entirely in IMAX. Their last collaboration, Oppenheimer, saw Damon portraying General Leslie Groves, the real-life overseer of the Manhattan Project, opposite Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer. Now, Damon steps into the shoes of Odysseus, the embattled King of Ithaca, determined to return home after the protracted Trojan War.
The Odyssey promises to be Nolan’s most ambitious undertaking yet. The production has whisked a star-studded cast—including Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, and Robert Pattinson—across continents, conjuring a fantastical vision of Homer’s ancient world. Damon, reflecting on the experience, didn’t hold back:
"It was absolutely the pinnacle of my entire career. I loved every minute of it. I just loved it."
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Whether you’re drawn to the human drama at the heart of Interstellar or eagerly awaiting Damon and Nolan’s take on The Odyssey, there’s plenty to look forward to. For those keen on in-depth coverage of Nolan’s films, casting news, exclusive interviews, and thoughtful analysis, subscribing to our newsletter is a proper way to stay in the loop as these cinematic events unfold.