New Matt Damon Film “The Instigators” Slammed by Critics

Road House may be the most-watched film on Prime Video , but Doug Liman's second feature this year, The Instigators , is being dragged through the mud by critics.

The film is apparently so bad that Robert Daniels of rogerebert.com had to give his first-ever zero-star review, saying, "Nothing about this movie works, nothing. Not the script. Not the action. Not the cast, rhythm or look."

Daniels isn't alone. He is joined by many more critics whose first reviews dropped on Rotten Tomatoes, landing the film a disappointing score of 40% from 45 people.

Odie Henderson at the Boston Globe says, "It's sad when a film wastes the talents of so many fine actors," but adds an addendum saying, "Sad for us, that is, because I'm sure they were all paid handsomely."

The Daily Beast's Nick Schager also took a shot at the film, saying, "The sole thing it instigates is frustration over its lethargic unoriginality."

The Instigators stars Matt Damon and Casey Affleck and follows the robber duo as they are forced to go on the run, aided by one of their therapists after a theft doesn't go to plan.

While the resounding majority say it's a flop, David Fear of Rolling Stone weighs in, saying, "No one does these kinds of films anymore. It's scratching a much-needed niche itch", and Deadline's Pete Hammond says, "Damon and Affleck are perfectly matched as an odd couple we want to succeed."

The Instigators Review Roundup

• Vulture: A mess that's at war with itself for most of its run time.
• Hollywood Reporter: 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.
• indieWire: 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 force.
• FandomWire: The Instigators continues Doug Liman's downward spiral of a filmography. This Matt Damon and Casey Affleck buddy picture is as humorless as it is contrived.
• Guardian: Some passable entertainment here but there's not much adrenaline.