Matt Damon’s Priceless Response to a ‘Great Wall’ Fan Prank

Matt Damon found himself the butt of a cheeky joke while promoting his latest Netflix crime drama, The Rip, alongside Ben Affleck. The pair were guests on Project Big Screen, discussing their new project in detail, when the conversation took a sharp turn towards one of Damon's less celebrated works.

As the interview drew to a close, one of the hosts produced a red envelope, explaining it was a token of appreciation from his Chinese in-laws, who, he claimed, were great admirers of The Great Wall. Damon, visibly surprised and rather pleased, asked, “Really?”

The host, unable to keep a straight face, quickly confessed, “No, they don’t. Sorry. I just I had to get one.” Both Damon and Affleck burst out laughing, with Damon admitting, “I was so excited to meet somebody who liked that movie.” He went on, “I was going to take it home and show my daughter.”

Family Reviews: Not Exactly Glowing

If there’s anyone less impressed by The Great Wall than Damon himself, it’s his own daughter. During the same interview, Damon recounted how she refers to the film simply as “The Wall.” When he corrected her, insisting on the full title, she retorted, “Dad, there’s nothing great.”

He’s shared this anecdote before, notably on Marc Maron’s podcast, where he delved into why he believed the film was doomed from the outset. According to Damon, director Zhang Yimou had to compromise his vision to satisfy Hollywood producers, which, in Damon's view, led to a muddled final product. In his words:

I was like, this is exactly how disasters happen. It doesn’t cohere. It doesn’t work as a movie… And my daughter knows it. Whenever she talks about the movie, she calls it ‘The Wall.’ And I’m like, come on, it’s called The Great Wall. And she’s like, ‘Dad, there’s nothing great about that movie.’ She’s one of the funniest people I know.

Behind the Scenes: A Rocky Production

The film, which paired Damon with director Zhang Yimou for the latter’s Hollywood debut, was beset by creative compromises. Damon has been candid about his less-than-enjoyable experience during production, suggesting that the need to appease studio demands left the project without a clear identity.

Attempting to replicate the success of Chinese blockbusters that had found favour in the West, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kung Fu Hustle, the film ultimately failed to capture the same cultural resonance. The result was a story that struggled to find its footing, both narratively and visually.

Reception and Controversy

The Great Wall was met with a frosty reception from critics and audiences alike, despite a box office return of $334 million against a hefty $150 million budget. The film’s casting drew particular ire, with many questioning the decision to place a white lead at the centre of a story so deeply rooted in Chinese history and legend.

Beyond the casting row, viewers took issue with the film’s underwhelming plot and special effects. Even so, the film has enjoyed a minor resurgence since landing on streaming platforms, with a cast that includes Jing Tian, Willem Dafoe, and Pedro Pascal.

For those curious, The Great Wall is currently available to stream on HBO Max.