Jason Bourne Franchise: Movies, Future & Matt Damon’s Exit

Few movie franchises have kept audiences gripping their seats across nearly two decades, but the Jason Bourne series pulled it off—and then some. From the shaky-cam action of The Bourne Identity to the globe-trotting Jason Bourne (2016), the franchise has grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide.

Number of films: 5 (starring Matt Damon) plus one spin‑off · Total box office: Over $1.6 billion worldwide · First film release: 2002 (The Bourne Identity) · Most recent Damon film: 2016 (Jason Bourne) · Rotten Tomatoes score (Jason Bourne 2016): 55% critics, 61% audience · Status of Jason Bourne 6: Not officially announced

Five films, one consistent pattern: the domestic rankings mirror critical reception of the original trilogy, while the 2016 return lands below the peak of 2007.

What are the 5 Bourne movies in order?

The Bourne Identity (2002)

• Opening weekend: $27,118,640 (Box Office Mojo (box‑office tracking site))
• Lifetime domestic gross: $121,661,683 (Box Office Mojo)

Doug Liman directed the film that introduced a new kind of action hero: a man with amnesia who can kill a man with a pen. The franchise was born.

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

• Opening weekend: $52,521,865 (Box Office Mojo)
• Lifetime domestic gross: $176,241,941 (Box Office Mojo)

Paul Greengrass took over the director’s chair and brought the signature handheld style that became the series’ hallmark. The plot deepens the conspiracy, and Damon’s performance ranks among the best action sequels of the 2000s.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

• Opening weekend: $69,283,690 (Box Office Mojo) – highest domestic opening of the franchise (The Numbers (film data analytics firm))
• Lifetime domestic gross: $227,471,070 (Box Office Mojo)
• Worldwide gross: $444,043,396 (The Numbers)

The critical peak of the series—92% on Rotten Tomatoes—proved that smart action could still dominate a mid-2000s box office.

The Bourne Legacy (2012) – spin‑off

• Opening weekend: $38,142,825 (Box Office Mojo)
• Lifetime domestic gross: $113,203,870 (Box Office Mojo)

This entry stars Jeremy Renner as a new operative, Aaron Cross, and is the only film in the series not to feature Matt Damon (Bourne Fandom (fan wiki archive)). It sits at the bottom of the domestic gross chart.

Jason Bourne (2016)

• Opening weekend: $59,215,365 (Box Office Mojo)
• Lifetime domestic gross: $162,434,410 (Box Office Mojo)
• Worldwide gross: $416,168,316 (The Numbers) – highest worldwide gross in the franchise

Damon and Greengrass returned after a nine-year gap. The film earned a mixed critical reception (55% on Rotten Tomatoes) but proved the character still had commercial draw.

The pattern is clear: the earlier trilogy set the standard, while later entries struggled to recapture that magic.

Is there a Jason Bourne 6 movie?

Current status of a sixth Bourne film

Universal Pictures has not announced a sixth Bourne film. The franchise page on Box Office Mojo lists only the five known titles (Box Office Mojo), and no press release has confirmed a new installment through mid‑2026.

Matt Damon’s statements about returning

In a 2023 interview, Damon told CNBC that he would “love” to revisit the character if the story felt right and if director Paul Greengrass were involved. “It would have to be a really good script,” he said. No formal talks with the studio have been reported.

Potential release date speculation

Rumors of a 2026 release have circulated, but they lack official confirmation. Given the typical three‑year production cycle, even a green‑lit project would likely launch no earlier than 2028. For now, the franchise sits in a holding pattern.

The franchise’s future hinges on whether Universal sees a viable market for grounded spy thrillers.

Why did Matt Damon stop playing Jason Bourne?

Damon’s decision after The Bourne Ultimatum

After The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007, Damon said he would not return unless Paul Greengrass directed the next film. Greengrass was not ready—he wanted to distance himself from the franchise after a decade of intense filmmaking—so Damon moved on to other projects such as Ocean’s Thirteen and Green Zone.

The role of director Paul Greengrass

Greengrass has been the defining creative force behind the best‑received entries. He returned for Jason Bourne in 2016 because he felt the story had a timely relevance: the film explores surveillance and memory in the digital age. “We had something new to say,” Greengrass said in a 2016 interview.

Other commitments and creative differences

Between 2008 and 2015, Damon worked on the Ocean’s trilogy, The Martian, and several dramas. He never officially quit the role—he left the door open. As he put it, “It’s not that I walked away. It’s that the circumstances weren’t right.”

The implication: Damon’s insistence on Greengrass preserved the franchise’s quality but also limited its output.

Was Jason Bourne 2016 a success?

Box office performance

With a $120 million budget, Jason Bourne grossed $162.4 million domestically and $416.2 million worldwide (Box Office Mojo; The Numbers). That makes it a commercial success—Universal more than tripled its investment. But it fell well short of the $444 million worldwide haul of The Bourne Ultimatum.

Critical reception

Rotten Tomatoes scores sat at 55% for critics and 61% for the audience—far below the 92% of The Bourne Ultimatum. Critics praised the action but criticized the story as a retread. The film earned a Metacritic score of 58, indicating mixed or average reviews.

Audience response

CinemaScore, which measures opening‑night audience reactions, gave the film a B+, lower than the A− of The Bourne Ultimatum. While fans were happy to see Damon return, many felt the plot recycled elements from earlier entries.

Financial success alone wasn’t enough to guarantee a sequel; creative missteps left the series at a crossroads.

What movie almost made Matt Damon quit acting?

The film that caused the crisis

Matt Damon has never named the specific film. In a 2023 interview, he said a “terrible movie” made him consider walking away from acting altogether. He described a production where everything went wrong—from the script to the on‑set atmosphere—and he lost confidence in his own instincts.

Damon’s own account

“I remember sitting in my trailer thinking, ‘I’m not good at this. I should just stop,’” Damon recalled. He does not name the title, but sources suggest the experience occurred in the mid‑2000s, around the time he was making several projects outside the Bourne franchise.

Impact on his career

The crisis became a turning point. Damon began being more selective about roles, which led him to projects such as The Departed, True Grit, and eventually The Martian. In hindsight, the near‑quit moment gave him the clarity to choose projects he truly believed in—including the 2016 Bourne return.

The near‑quit moment reshaped Damon’s career, making him more selective and ultimately benefiting the Bourne franchise when he returned.

Timeline

• 2002: The Bourne Identity released, launching the franchise
• 2004: The Bourne Supremacy released
• 2007: The Bourne Ultimatum released (critical peak)
• 2012: The Bourne Legacy (spin‑off) released
• 2016: Jason Bourne released, Damon returns
• 2023: Matt Damon hints at possible return; no official announcement

Clarity check

Key voices

“I would love to go back and do another Bourne movie. I just don’t think it would be anytime soon, and it would have to be a really good script.”

Matt Damon, CNBC interview, 2023

“We had something new to say about surveillance and the way we live now. That’s why I came back.”

Paul Greengrass, 2016 interview

“I remember sitting in my trailer thinking, ‘I’m not good at this. I should just stop.’”

Matt Damon, reflecting on a near‑quit moment

For Universal Pictures, the decision on a sixth Bourne film is a test of whether a franchise built on mid‑budget action can survive in a blockbuster world. For Matt Damon, the choice is simpler: he returns only if the story and director are right. For fans, the wait continues—and the odds of a 2028 release look as uncertain as ever.

Fans who want to watch the series chronologically can find a complete list and watch guide that details every installment from 2002 to 2016.

Frequently asked questions