Why Ben Affleck Vomiting In Front Of Bruce Willis During An Armageddon Scene ‘Probably Made The Scene Better’

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Michael Bay is known for making exciting, popular movies, and many fans consider Armageddon to be one of his best. The film delivers both thrilling action and surprisingly touching scenes. What’s less known is that a particularly moving scene was actually made even more powerful because Ben Affleck was feeling quite ill during filming.

If the ending of Armageddon can make a tough guy like Michael B. Jordan cry, you know it’s going to be something else. The scene, in which Bruce Willis’ character, Harry Stamper, trades places with Ben Affleck’s A.J. Frost, saving the younger man from certain death, is one of the all-time tear-jerkers. While speaking with Jake Hamilton of Jake’s Takes, Affleck revealed that the scene was shot while he was ill, because the actor didn’t realize he was allowed to call in sick. He explained…

I was really sick with food poisoning when we filmed that scene. I was also a pretty new actor back then, so I didn’t realize I could simply call in sick. I thought I had to push through it and come to work anyway.

I heard Ben Affleck talking about the premiere of his new film, The Rip, which you can find on Netflix. He said something really interesting – most of the actors were known for their work in smaller, independent movies. The exception was Bruce Willis, who everyone knew from action films. Apparently, Armageddon was a totally new kind of project for a lot of them, a real departure from what they usually did.

Setting up film scenes takes a lot of effort. Once a scene is planned, it’s usually impossible to switch to a different one on the spot, even if someone is unwell. This explains why Ben Affleck felt he couldn’t call in sick.

Everyone gets sick sometimes, and when you do, it can be impossible to work. Ben Affleck was feeling so unwell during filming that he was even vomiting between shots. Surprisingly, he believes his illness actually improved the scene, as it made his performance more authentic. He later made a joke about it…

I actually got sick – I threw up – right between shots. Luckily, they had a trash can handy. It happened so quickly, and it’s the only time that’s ever happened to me! Looking back, it might have even improved the scene. It’s funny now!

Ben Affleck is perhaps best known for his humorous commentary on the movie Armageddon, even more so than the film itself. However, despite playfully criticizing it, he clearly worked hard to make the movie the best it could be. In a particularly intense scene (seen below), he appears completely exhausted – sweating and struggling to speak. It’s hard to tell if it’s a masterful performance or if he genuinely felt terrible while filming.

Surprisingly, Ben Affleck’s lack of experience as a director actually made that scene more impactful. It’s remarkable how many people were moved to tears by it, considering the film is about destroying asteroids! And it’s especially noteworthy given that Michael Bay later said he regretted some aspects of the movie.

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2026-01-20 02:08