History YMMV / GoodWillHunting

** Elliott Smith's "Miss Misery"
** Similarly his performance of the song at the Oscars, just before it inevitably [[AwardSnub lost]] to "[[Film/{{Titanic 1997}} My Heart Will Go On]]"

** Creator/BenAffleck confessed that in the years after the film (before his CareerResurrection), he had a few IAmNotSpock experiences; where people treated him like he was "Matt Damon's airheaded friend". Not helped by the latter's career remaining solid while he suffered setbacks such as ''{{Film/Daredevil}}'', ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''{{Film/Gigli}}''.

* OlderThanTheyThink: "How do you like ''them'' apples?" was first used in film in ''Film/RioBravo'' after Walter Brennan's character throws a stick of dynamite and his partner shoots it in the air. The expression reputedly comes from a trench mortar grenade called a "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-inch_Medium_Mortar toffee apple]]" used in UsefulNotes/TheGreatWar. It's been a {{Stock American Phrase|s}} of gloating long before ''Good Will Hunting'' came out.

** Creator/BenAffleck and Creator/MattDamon first asked Creator/KevinSmith to direct, but the latter declined. Both Affleck and Damon would later appear in ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'', directed by Smith.

** Creator/BenAffleck and Creator/MattDamon first asked Creator/KevinSmith to direct, but the latter declined. Both Afflech and Damon would later appear in ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'', directed by Smith.

* {{Narm}}: The scene where Chuckie poses as Will in the meeting. The rest of the movie had its humorous moments, but this felt like something out of ''Film/AmericanPie''.

** Creator/BenAffleck confessed that in the years after the film (before his CareerResurrection), he had a few IAmNotSpock experiences; where people treated him like he was "Matt Damon's airheaded friend". Not helped by the latter's career remaining solid while he suffered setbacks like ''{{Film/Daredevil}}'', ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''{{Film/Gigli}}''.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Will can come off as this sometimes because he tends to behave like a jerk throughout the film despite everyone and their dog making it clear they're on his side.

** Whenever Will's therapy sessions are over, he announces that "time's up". Creator/MattDamon would later get in hot water for making remarks against the #MeToo movement, leading to an apology and his endorsement of the Time's Up movement.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Before Creator/BenAffleck pulled off his CareerResurrection, this was a retroactive example. He would become best known for the likes of ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''{{Film/Gigli}}'' for a while, but his defenders pointed to this as an example that he did have talent.

* TruthInTelevision: The ubiquity of Dunkin' Donuts (rebranded Dunkin' in 2019) in the film. There's so many in Boston you'd think they outnumber Starbucks. It'd be weirder if the characters ''didn't'' drink Dunkin'' Donuts coffee.

* TruthInTelevision: The ubiquity of Dunkin Donuts in the film. There's so many in Boston you'd think they outnumber Starbucks. It'd be weirder if the characters DIDN'T drink Dunkin Donuts coffee.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Before Ben Affleck pulled off his CareerResurrection, this was a retroactive example. He would become best known for the likes of ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''{{Film/Gigli}}'' for a while, but his defenders pointed to this as an example that he did have talent.

** Ben Affleck confessed that in the years after the film (before his CareerResurrection), he had a few IAmNotSpock experiences; where people treated him like he was "Matt Damon's airheaded friend". Not helped by the latter's career remaining solid while he suffered setbacks like ''{{Film/Daredevil}}'', ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''{{Film/Gigli}}''.

** Whenever Will's therapy sessions are over, he announces that "time's up". Matt Damon would later get in hot water for making remarks against the #MeToo movement, leading to an apology and his endorsement of the Time's Up movement.

** The scene where Will verbally deconstructs the NSA has gotten harsher thanks to the WarOnTerror and the recession that occurred through the next decade. Not to mention that the NSA's reputation got shattered by whistleblower revelations towards the end of that period.

** Also features "Afternoon Delight" well before it was hip or ironic.
*** Or [[{{Series/ArrestedDevelopment}} creepy.]]

* MemeticMutation: Do you like apples? Well, (insert "gotcha" comment). How do ya like ''them'' apples?

** NarmCharm: The "It's not your fault" scene. Very easy to make fun of, but still very poignant in the context of the film.
* OlderThanTheyThink: "How do you like ''them'' apples?" was first used in film in Film/RioBravo after Walter Brennan's character throws a stick of dynamite and his partner shoots it in the air. The expression reputedly comes from a trench mortar grenade called a "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-inch_Medium_Mortar toffee apple]]" used in UsefulNotes/TheGreatWar. It's been a {{Stock American Phrase|s}} of gloating long before ''Good Will Hunting'' came out.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Before Ben Affleck pulled off his CareerResurrection, this was a retroactive example. He would become best known for the likes of ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''{{Film/Gigli}}'' for a while, but his defenders pointed this as an example that he did have talent.

* JerkassWoobie: Will's rough demeanor and general dickishness comes from the fact that he was abandoned by his birth parents, beaten up frequently by his foster father and has spent his life thinking he's nothing.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Will can come off as this sometimes, because he tends to behave like a jerk throughout the film despite everyone and their dog making it clear they're on his side.

* HarsherInHindsight: The scene where Will verbally deconstructs the NSA has gotten harsher thanks to the WarOnTerror and the recession that occurred through the next decade. Not to mention that the NSA's reputation got shattered by whistleblower revelations towards the end of that period.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Creator/BenAffleck, a retroactive example. Although he would go on to be known for schlock like ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' and ''Film/PearlHarbor'', his DareToBeBadass speech is one of the most bitter, poignant moments of the film.

* HilariousInHindsight: Whenever Will's therapy sessions are over, he announces that "time's up". Matt Damon would later get in hot water for making remarks against the #MeToo movement, leading to an apology and his endorsement of the Time's Up movement.

* TomHanksSyndrome: Creator/RobinWilliams won Best Supporting Actor for his role. However, he didn't abandon comedic roles completely after this, despite his success.