In 2024, starred in the comedy film The Instigators alongside Casey Affleck. While the movie didn’t receive much praise when it first came out, it’s now gaining popularity as a surprise hit on Apple TV.
According to FlixPatrol, The Instigators reached the top 10 on Apple TV’s global movie chart on January 15, 2026, landing at number 10. The film was the most popular movie in Micronesia and Uganda, and generally ranks around 4.8 on streaming charts worldwide. In the U.S., it’s doing very well, currently at number 2 after debuting at number 8 on January 10th. This success is a bit of a comeback for the film, which premiered on Apple TV in 2024 to mixed reactions. The Instigators stars Damon and Affleck as two unlikely partners who team up to rob a corrupt politician.
Rory, played by Damon, is a father struggling to make ends meet, and Affleck portrays Cobby, a man recently released from prison. They team up to pull off a heist, hoping to steal bribes from the dishonest mayor, Joseph Miccelli. However, their plan quickly falls apart, and they find themselves being chased by both the police and dangerous criminals. Despite their disagreements, Rory and Cobby must work together if they want to evade capture.
Although the story of The Instigators sounded promising, the movie itself wasn’t as thrilling as expected. It received a ‘rotten’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with only 41% of critics giving it a positive review after considering over 155 reviews. Critics noted that while Casey Affleck and Matt Damon have good chemistry, the movie ultimately falls flat due to a lack of suspense and energy.
Viewers didn’t react well to the movie, either. One harsh review on Rotten Tomatoes described The Instigators as a failed attempt at a buddy comedy, saying it tries too hard to be funny, but the jokes feel unnatural and don’t land.
Like most critics, general audiences gave the film a lukewarm score of 55%. While many viewers felt that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s performances were enough to keep them watching, they also acknowledged the story wasn’t very realistic. Ultimately, though, most people found the movie unentertaining, wishing it had been more exciting or funny to justify the time spent watching it.
Damon’s New Role in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey is Likely to Fare Better with Critics
Look, The Instigators is growing on me, but I have a really good feeling about what Matt Damon has coming up. He’s joining Christopher Nolan for The Odyssey in 2026, and this one feels like a guaranteed hit. It’s based on the classic Homer story, and the cast is absolutely incredible – Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and a whole bunch of other big names. Mark your calendars for July 17th, because this is one you won’t want to miss.
Joe Carnahan, the director of The A-Team, wrote and directed The Rip, which premiered on Netflix on January 16th. Matt Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumars, and Ben Affleck stars as Detective Sergeant JD Byrne. The movie follows a group of police officers who uncover millions of dollars during a raid, leading them to question their own values and actions.
The Instigators is now streaming on Apple TV.
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2026-01-16 17:36