You know the vibe. You're scrolling through Netflix, and everything looks like it was designed by a committee to be "background noise" while you fold laundry. But honestly, The Rip feels like a complete 180 from that.
It's weirdly rare to see Matt Damon and Ben Affleck actually share the screen. Sure, they produce everything together through their company, Artists Equity, and we saw them in Air back in '23, but usually, one is directing while the other stars, or they’re just popping in for cameos. The Rip, which drops this Friday, January 16, 2026, is different. This is a gritty, sweat-soaked Miami cop thriller where they are right in the thick of it together.
No capes. No CGI armies. Just two guys, a massive pile of drug money, and a whole lot of bad decisions.
What is The Rip actually about?
The premise is basically a classic "ticking clock" scenario. Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Affleck is Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne. They're part of a tactical narcotics unit in Miami that’s been spinning its wheels for weeks after their captain was murdered.
Frustrated and looking for a win—or maybe just a way out—the team hits a derelict stash house based on a tip. They don’t find a small bag of weed. They find millions. Like, "never work again" money.
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The problem? In Miami, you have to count that cash on-site so everyone knows exactly what was seized. The second they start counting, they realize they’re sitting on cartel money. Very dangerous people are coming to get it, and the team starts wondering if they should even report it.
Why this isn't your typical Netflix "Content"
Director Joe Carnahan is the guy behind Narc and The Grey. He doesn't do "polished." He likes his movies loud, mean, and ethically murky.
During the press tour, Carnahan mentioned this script "flew out of him" after a brutal breakup. You can kind of feel that energy in the trailer. It’s not about heroes; it’s about people under immense pressure who start looking at their friends and wondering if they’re about to get a knife in the back.
The cast is also low-key incredible:
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- Steven Yeun (always a win)
- Teyana Taylor (who was amazing in A Thousand and One)
- Kyle Chandler (playing a DEA agent who probably knows more than he's letting on)
- Sasha Calle and Scott Adkins
The real story behind the "The Rip" Netflix deal
This is where things get interesting for the nerds who follow the business side of Hollywood. Usually, Netflix pays actors a huge check upfront and that’s it. No matter if 10 people watch or 100 million watch, the paycheck stays the same.
Damon and Affleck used The Rip to break that system.
Through Artists Equity, they negotiated a deal where all 1,200 people who worked on the film—from the stars down to the PAs and the crew—get a performance bonus. If the movie hits certain viewership benchmarks in its first 90 days, everyone gets paid extra.
Affleck told The New York Times that they wanted to restore a "middle-class wage" to the industry. It’s a huge gamble. If the movie bombs, they only get their base pay. But if it’s a hit, the people who actually built the sets and held the boom mics get to share the wealth. It's basically the most "Boston" thing they've ever done.
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Is it based on a true story?
Sorta. Carnahan says it was inspired by a friend of his who ran a tactical narcotics team in Miami-Dade. While the "trapped in a house with millions of dollars" part has some Hollywood flair, the procedural details and the tension of the "dope game" are grounded in real events.
Most people get this wrong: they think it’s a heist movie. It’s not. It’s a "bottle" thriller. Most of the action happens in or around that stash house. It’s about the psychological breakdown of a unit that was supposed to be a brotherhood.
Why you should actually care
Honestly, we’ve been waiting decades for this version of Damon and Affleck. In Good Will Hunting, they were the kids. In The Last Duel, they were enemies. In The Rip, they’re weary, middle-aged guys who are tired of being broke and tired of the system.
Affleck plays the more flamboyant, "wild card" role, while Damon is the jaded, sensible one who might actually be the more dangerous of the two. Their chemistry is effortless because, well, they've been friends since they were toddlers.
If you like movies like Training Day or Heat, this is probably going to be your favorite thing of the year. It’s 133 minutes of high-tension choices where there are no "good guys," only people trying to survive the night.
What to do next
If you're planning to watch The Rip this weekend, here's how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch Joe Carnahan’s Narc (2002) first. It’s the spiritual predecessor to this movie and will give you a feel for his gritty, handheld camera style.
- Clear your schedule for Friday, Jan 16. Netflix usually drops these at midnight PT.
- Keep an eye on the "Top 10" list. Remember that crew bonus deal? If you see it staying at #1 for weeks, you’re literally helping 1,200 people get a bigger paycheck just by hitting play.
- Pay attention to Steven Yeun. Word from early screenings is that he almost steals the movie from the two leads.