In a clip that has quickly spread across social media platforms, Matt Damon recently related a story that encapsulates the fragile egos, unspoken pecking order, and sense of humor that have come to be linked to the inner creative circle of film director Christopher Nolan. Featured as a guest on the January 17, 2026, episode of the podcasting show “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Matt Damon revealed how his neighbor, personal friend, as well as co-star in some of his productions, Emily Blunt, who is also his neighbor, gave him a backhanded compliment that surprisingly drew a response from the “Oppenheimer” movie director.
“’I think that’s the best she’s ever been. You know, we live in the same building in New York. She’s like a very dear friend of mine, and I really think that’s the best she’s ever been. And then I said, and then I blurted that out to Chris Nolan, and then he kind of, you know, just looked at me, like, ‘He didn’t say it. But then he’s kind of like, ‘She’s pretty f——— good in my movie, too.’”
It is not the conflict that lingers in this scene but familiarity. This is the kind of chemistry that exists between a clique of artists who have climbed to the top of the film industry together as a group, where accolades are a competition, loyalty is given, and even adoration is close to territorial. At the center of all this is Nolan, who is so unassuming that a pause can be a punch line.
The problem of ‘best ever’ becoming a challenge
The dialogue began with a background of The Smashing Machine—an aggressive MMA-themed drama, written and directed by Benny Safdie, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a fighter named Mark Kerr, and Emily Blunt, Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples. Blunt’s performance in The Smashing Machine—free of any hint of stardom and full of the simple, distilled essence of exhaustion—has already been cited as one of the best of her career, and it impressed Damon enough to carry him past simple praise.
This impression was soon relayed to Nolan in a conversation with him about his then-upcoming film, The Odyssey.
This was said in a spontaneous manner by Damon, and there was a silence between them that said it all. The episode has become one of the favorites among fans, not only for the revelation of his character, Nolan, but also for the way in which the humanity of that character has been brought out in the episode without in any way diminishing the character. This is not a petty, proud, or even loud declaration of his character but more of a declaration of something that is very important to him. This is also very important in understanding the significance of how much he cares for the work of these actors.
This continues in The Odyssey, which happens to be Nolan’s biggest project yet, including the appearance of Damon and Blunt in it yet again. Indeed, if anything, the story of Damon’s experience in regard to Nolan’s “offense” has got to be a very good omen. Because the level of competition here is so cordial—and personal—and the end product has got to be anything but ordinary. Additionally, it would seem that Emily Blunt has got the best of it, no matter which film happens to be declared the winner.
