Matt Damon’s new movie, a heist comedy produced by Apple called The Instigators, has received mixed reviews from critics. Since it was released in select theaters on August 2, 2024, The Instigators has mostly underwhelmed top critics, earning it a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 41%. If this score were to stand after The Instigators releases on Apple TV+ on August 9, Damon’s latest film would be his lowest-rated since 2017’s Downsizing, which was a rare miss from celebrated directed Alexander Payne (The Holdovers, The Descendants).
Damon stars in The Instigators with Casey Affleck, who he notably appeared onscreen with in Good Will Hunting. He and Affleck also co-wrote the 2002 adventure drama Gerry with Gus Van Sant and starred in that as well. Outside of their collaboration on the Ocean’s trilogy, Affleck and Damon also both starred in two Christopher Nolan movies despite not appearing onscreen together in either, Interstellar (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023). Similar to the Ocean’s movies, The Instigators is listed as a true heist thriller with elements of comedy.
Directed by Doug Liman, The Instigators also marks the first time that Damon has worked with the acclaimed director since The Bourne Identity in 2002. Although early reviews of The Instigators have been mixed, the film still has time to recover with a positive audience score or high viewership on Apple TV+. Given the star power of Damon and the Boston-centric setting, The Instigators should be popular on the streaming platform. Damon is also reunited with Downsizing actress Hong Chau in The Instigators, with Chau playing the role of a psychologist to Affleck and Damon’s characters.
10 The Instigators Frustratingly Wastes The Top-Tier Talent Of Its Cast
Damon, Affleck, and a great support cast should produce a better product
One of the most common critiques of The Instigators made by top critics is that Damon, Affleck, and the supporting cast are capable of a much better movie. Ty Burr of The Washington Post writes in his 1.5-star review of The Instigators, “It’s 101 minutes of talented people struggling to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear and coming up with a Filene’s Basement handbag.”
The Instigators also stars Chau, who got an Oscar nomination for 2022’s The Whale, 2-time Emmy nominee Michael Stuhlberg, 2-time Emmy nominee Ron Perlman, 2-time Emmy nominee Alfred Molina, and Emmy nominee Ving Rhames. Odie Henderson of The Boston Globe writes in his 1.5-star reviews, “It’s sad when a film wastes the talents of so many fine actors. Sad for us, that is, because I’m sure they were all paid handsomely.” With Affleck and Damon both being Oscar winners, their collaborative efforts with a supporting cast of this caliber should have been aimed higher.
9 The Instigators Lacks The Humor & Cleverness Of Other Heist Comedies
The Instigators is advertised as a good old-fashioned heist comedy
The Instigators is advertised as a good old-fashioned heist comedy that should draw instant comparisons to the Ocean’s movies that Damon and Affleck were both a part of. Ultimately, the punchlines and comedic elements in The Instigators weren’t as effective as many critics had hoped and expected them to be. Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Chronicle writes in his 2.5-star review of The Instigators, “The whole thing feels flat somewhere, with little blips of comedic inspiration. It’s not that it misses more than it hits. It’s that it just doesn’t take that many shots.” Tim Grierson of The Los Angeles Times writes, “There are laughs and clever bits of business in “The Instigators,” but there’s never a reason to care.”
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8 The Plot Of The Instigators Feels Flat & Uninspired
Many critics wanted more adrenaline-pumping moments
Image via Apple TV+
Many top critics who gave The Instigators a poor review commented that the film needed more juice and adrenaline-pumping moments. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian writes in his 2-star review, “Damon is so withdrawn and hangdog, and all the back talking and the kibbitzing doesn’t snap the way it’s supposed to. Chau isn’t given much in the script to work with and isn’t in any case much of a natural comic or foil. Affleck himself brings a higher energy level and seems more at ease with the material. Some passable entertainment here but there’s not much adrenaline.” Many critics also pointed out that the film feels like a half-baked effort without a full-blown commitment, which stems from the screenplay.
7 There’s Really Nothing At Stake Going On In The Instigators
Some critics think its worse than Liman’s Road House
Image via Apple TV+
Some reviewers appreciated the back and forth of the characters in the downtime moments of the film, while others found it to be a complete waste of time. Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com writes in his 0-star review, “I didn’t think Doug Liman could deliver a worse film than “Road House,” the plastic, overwrought remake of the 1980s cult classic. With “The Instigators,” his second film of the year, he manages to make Matt Damon, in a re-teaming from their Bourne days, so void of any charm that the director makes this among the actor’s least crowd-pleasing offerings. This Apple TV heist flick is underwritten, dreary, tedious, inert, and without any stakes.” Critics often felt that The Instigators needed to rely on its charm but came up very short in that department.
6 The Instigators’ Screenplay Is Unfocused, Flawed, & Underwritten
Some critics called the story lethargic and unoriginal
The Instigators’ screenplay is a very common point of criticism among top critics, particularly its lack of focus and its notable flaws. Kyle Smith of The Wall Street Journal writes, “The movie is the latest in a line of splashy Apple TV+ offerings that seem like pet projects for big-name filmmakers working from obviously flawed scripts.” Nick Schager of The Daily Beast writes, “The sole thing it instigates is frustration over its lethargic unoriginality. The Instigators is generic in just about every respect, from its title (which is unrelated to its plot), to its criminal shenanigans, to the green “33” jersey (minus the name “Bird”) hanging in a downtown Boston office.” It appears that the actors weren’t given a great starting point to begin with.
5 The Instigators Doesn’t Have The Passion Or Charm To Get Viewers Invested
The cast isn’t enough to keep viewers engaged
Image via Apple TV+
The Instigators should be charming as a heist comedy but it fails to deliver, according to some critics. Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph writes in his 2-star review, “The Instigators needed downtrodden charm and that’s exactly what it’s missing. The fact that Damon and Affleck can probably finish each other’s sentences doesn’t make their wavelength a default delight.” David Elrich of IndieWire writes, “It’s no surprise that [Casey Affleck and Matt Damon] bounce off of each other so well here, but their natural chemistry is more pronounced in the context of a movie where everything around them feels so forced.” The cast isn’t enough to keep viewers engaged.
4 Some Critics Think The “Damon & Affleck In A Boston Movie” Thing Is Getting Old
The Boston setting feels overdone to some critics
While some critics loved the classic Damon, Affleck, and Boston combination that inspired their early careers and Dunkin brand deals, other critics have grown tired of the same old song and dance. Dana Barbuto of Boston Movie News writes in her review, “The Boston setting starts to feel like a gimmick.” David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “The movie attempts to straddle the three genres and half-asses all of them. It tries for Carhartt Workwear realism but constantly trips over movie-ish contrivances. Not even three editors could iron out the tonal uncertainties.”
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3 The Instigators Is Familiar But A Lighthearted Good Time Nonetheless
Positive reviewers call the film a fun ride
Image via Apple TV+
On the other hand, some critics were much less critical of The Instigators and appreciated its lighthearted tone. Tania Hussain from Collider writes, “Thanks to a witty script and a charming cast led by Damon and Affleck, The Instigators is a fun heist film with heart that blends the right dose of humor, action, and emotion for a comedy you can watch again and again.” Molly Freeman of Screen Rant writes, “The Instigators isn’t as slick as a Guy Ritchie flick, though it’s cut from a similar cloth, but Matt Damon and Casey Affleck make it a fun ride.” Kambole Campbell of Empire Magazine writes, “The Instigators isn’t exactly revolutionary, but is a good time regardless: an easygoing crime caper offering an excellent cast a fun sandpit in which to snipe at each other.”
2 Damon & Affleck’s Chemistry Is The Backbone Of The Entire Film
Damon & Affleck fans will still enjoy The Instigators
Fans of Damon and Affleck will still enjoy the ride in The Instigators. Jake Coyle of The Associated Press writes, “On the run, their double act — Damon’s earnest deadpan, Affleck’s smart-aleck flippancy — works as well as it ever has, even if the script could use a touch more wit.” Julian Roman of MovieWeb writes, “The Instigators has Matt Damon and Casey Affleck leading a star-studded cast down a rabbit hole of laugh-out-loud, bungling ineptitude. Hijinks ensue from the start and never let up in a breezy comedy that embraces absurdity.” Peter Travers of ABC News writes, “Since heist movies are a dime a dozen, don’t get your hopes up. But thanks to the easy chemistry between Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, there is the kick of an acting job well done.”
1 The Instigators Is A Classic Niche Movie That Hardly Gets Made Nowadays
Some top critics love that this old-school movie exists in 2024
Some critics were happy that films like The Instigators are still being made nowadays. David Fear of Rolling Stone writes, “That it gets close to conjuring that bygone moviegoing pleasure is the best thing about this oddball throwback. No one does these kinds of films anymore. It’s scratching a much-needed niche itch.” Peter Debruge of Variety writes, “In previous years, a star-driven, Doug Liman-directed caper would surely have propped up the summer box office, whereas this Apple original gets a cursory theatrical release en route to streaming.” Ultimately, Affleck and Damon deliver an old-fashioned heist comedy in a new day and age of major streaming releases, leaving viewers to decide for themselves whether The Instigators is worth the watch.
The Instigators (2024) 
3.0 RCrimeMysteryAction
The Instigators revolves around the complex dynamics of a group of individuals who find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and deception. As alliances are formed and trust is broken, the true motives of each character are slowly revealed, leading to a crescendo of tension and suspense.
Director Doug Liman Release Date August 2, 2024 Studio(s) Artists Equity , The Walsh Company , Apple Studios , Studio 8 Writers Chuck MacLean , Casey Affleck , Jeff Robinov , John Graham Cast Matt Damon , Casey Affleck , Hong Chau , Michael Stuhlbarg , Paul Walter Hauser Main Genre Crime Expand