Good Will Hunting is in a genre.
When used to define a specific genre or type of film or television programme , drama is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular subgenre , such as `` political drama , '' `` courtroom drama , '' historical drama , '' `` domestic drama , '' or `` comedy-drama . '' These terms tend to indicate a particular setting or subject-matter , or else they qualify the otherwise serious tone of a drama with elements that encourage a broader range of moods . Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film , directed by Gus Van Sant , and starring Robin Williams , Matt Damon , Ben Affleck , Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgård .