Released on December 5, 1997, the drama about a tormented young genius from blue-collar Southie famously transformed relative unknowns Matt Damon and Ben Affleck into Oscar-winning Cinderellas. It finally made Robin Williams an Academy Award-winner, too -- while spawning a wave of Baahston-set movies that continues to this day. The movie was such a huge hit that, um, its good will has carried Damon and Affleck throughout the rest of their careers.