Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon are undeniably two of Hollywood’s brightest and illustrious performers, and in 2010, the cinema greats joined forces once again (after previously collaborating on Invictus) for the captivating fantasy disaster film Hereafter, 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, Hereafter failed to impress critics and was heavily picked apart upon its release, with many deeming the picture uninspired and downright dreary. Hereafter was Eastwood’s only attempt at tackling the fantasy genre, and though his intentions were likely noble, it was unable to capture the success of his previous directing endeavors. Let’s check out where Hereafter went wrong and why Eastwood and Damon refused to stay down for long after the silver screen misstep.

Release Date October 22, 2010 Cast Cecile de France , Thierry Neuvic , Cyndi Mayo Davis , Lisa Griffiths , Jessica Griffiths , Ferguson Reid

Two Hollywood Greats Join Forces for an Epic Fantasy

For his first and only foray into the wondrous world of fantasy, silver screen icon Clint Eastwood enlisted the talents of charismatic leading man Matt Damon to headline his thought-provoking 2010 film Hereafter, 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 his drug-addicted mother is deemed unfit to care for him. All three compelling storylines blend together as each person attempts to communicate with the dead while 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 Damon delivers 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 drama Invictus and was so impressed by the talented actor’s work on the project that he shifted the production schedule around after the Bourne star 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 legend telling Emanuel Levy ahead 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, Hereafter did not become the critical darling many would have assumed. The riveting fantasy premiered on October 22, 2010, 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.

Hereafter received an underwhelming 48% Rotten Tomatoes score and an even worse 38% Popcornmeter from audiences, who also awarded the picture just a C+ CinemaScore. Total Film did 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

Though Hereafter proved 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 after Hereafter’s lackluster critical response.

The same year the film was released, Damon appeared in the Academy Award-nominated Western remake True Grit, sharing the screen with 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 like Contagion, Interstellar, The Martian, and Oppenheimer (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 including American Sniper, Sully, The Mule, and Richard Jewell, with the 94-year-old still demonstrating his impeccable skills behind the camera with the most recent release of his lauded legal thriller Juror No. 2. The film was released on November 1, 2024 and has already garnered immense praise, becoming yet another movie-making triumph for the enduring Hollywood legend. Stream Hereafter on Max.