Ben Affleck opened up about a rare, emotional childhood memory involving his father while visiting the Criterion Collection’s famed film closet — and revealed the only time he ever saw his dad cry.
During his stop at the Criterion offices, Affleck, 52, shared that David Lynch’s 1980 classic The Elephant Man holds deep personal meaning for him.
As he added the film to his curated stack of favorites, he revealed, “This is the first and only time I ever saw my father cry.”
The film, starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins, tells the story of a man with extreme physical deformities and the cruelty he endured — but it was the humanity of the film that left a lasting impact on Affleck and his father, Timothy.
“It’s heartbreaking and beautiful… it’s tied to a very personal memory for me,” the actor said, visibly moved.
Timothy Affleck, a former janitor and stage actor, separated from Ben’s mother when he was 12 and has since celebrated over 30 years of sobriety.
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Despite a complex past, Ben has spoken respectfully of his father’s struggles and growth, “Part of being an adult is learning that your parents are just people. They’re not perfect.”
Ben’s emotional reflection came during a promotional round for The Accountant 2, his latest film alongside Jon Bernthal.
During the Criterion visit, he also picked out other favorite films including Miller’s Crossing, Traffic, and Malcolm X — praising Denzel Washington’s performance as “unmatched.”
The Argo star added that visiting Criterion’s vault felt like “heaven” for a lifelong cinephile.
“Everyone has their reasons,” he quoted from The Rules of the Game, noting it’s his favorite line in cinema — and one he even borrowed for his own film Gone Baby Gone.
Affleck continues to reflect more publicly on family, fatherhood, and the films that shaped him — often with surprising vulnerability.
