The Oscar-winner opens up about parenting teens, being roasted for Armageddon, and why his “broke” son is learning the value of money.
📍Los Angeles | April 24, 2025:
Ben Affleck is one of Hollywood’s biggest names, but to his kids — he’s just “dad,” and not necessarily a cool one. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the 52-year-old actor revealed that his three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner — Violet (19), Seraphina (16), and Samuel (13) — are “very tough” on his filmography.
“They don’t censor their criticism,” Affleck laughed. “They’ll sit next to me mid-movie and say, ‘This is terrible. Why did you do this?’”
🎬 “Armageddon” Takes the Hit
When asked for a specific example, Affleck admitted the teens once blasted his 1998 blockbuster Armageddon during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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“Almost immediately, they were like, ‘What is this? This doesn’t make sense.’ And I had to say, ‘This is not a logic-based film!’” he recalled with a smile.
Despite the teasing, Affleck said his latest movie, The Accountant 2 (releasing Friday), finally got their approval.
“They liked it. I was shocked. They were shocked — like some magical accident happened and I finally did something OK.”
💼 “Classic Teen Jobs” and $6K Sneakers
Beyond cinema critiques, Affleck says he’s keeping his kids grounded. Speaking on Today With Jenna & Friends, he shared that his children are encouraged to work “classic teenager jobs.”
“As much as I want to give them everything, doing that would be a disservice.”
His youngest, Samuel, went viral in March for being denied a $6,000 pair of sneakers, a moment Affleck describes as a “reckoning” for the teen.
“He can’t mow enough lawns for those crazy expensive shoes — and that’s the point.”
👨👧👦 Parenting, Hollywood Style
Despite his $150 million net worth, Affleck insists on raising kids who understand hard work and humility — even if it means being roasted by them now and then.
“They keep me grounded,” he admitted. “Very grounded.”
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Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Violet Affleck, Seraphina Affleck, Samuel Affleck, The Accountant 2, Armageddon Movie, Celebrity Parenting, Ben Affleck Kids, Hollywood Dads