Matt Damon is opening up about the one family tradition he refuses to compromise on, even as his household prepares for an almost-empty nest.

The Oscar-winning actor, currently promoting Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, revealed that nightly family dinners remain a "non-negotiable" priority for him and his wife Luciana Barroso .

"We have family dinner every night, and that's non-negotiable, and it's always been that way," Damon told People magazine .

However, the 55-year-old actor admitted that even this sacred routine recently received an unexpected reality check from one of his daughters. She pointed out that while the family had gathered for dinner the previous night, they barely exchanged any conversation .

"One of my daughters said, 'Well, family dinner, last night we didn't talk,'" Damon recalled. "And we realized, 'Oh my gosh, you're right.' We sat down for dinner, and you can get lost in that routine a little bit and not appreciate why you established the routine in the first place" .

The actor acknowledged that digital distractions are his family's biggest hurdle. He and Luciana are working to be more mindful about putting phones away during meals and fostering genuine connection .

With two of his four daughters already out of the house, Damon says the family is embracing the approaching empty-nest chapter rather than fearing it .

"I feel like we are facing it and embracing the fact that it's happening," he shared. "We've been talking a lot about presence and about really trying to be in the moment... because you can't slow time down, the only way to really do it is to really be there and be in it" .

Damon shares daughters Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15, with Barroso, whom he married in 2005 . The couple met at a Miami bar in 2003 while Damon was filming Stuck on You .

The actor also recently revealed that his daughters attended the London premiere of The Odyssey after making sacrifices during the film's demanding production .

"It's great because they had to sacrifice a lot too for this," Damon told People at the premiere. "I went away for a while, they came and visited, but it was a lot. It was a very long movie, very grueling shoot" .

Why this matters

Damon's comments reflect a growing cultural conversation about digital mindfulness and family connection in an era dominated by screens. As one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, his willingness to publicly prioritize family dinner over career demands resonates with parents navigating similar work-life balance challenges.