Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are reuniting once again — but The Rip isn’t a victory lap or a nostalgia play. The upcoming Netflix original crime thriller finds the longtime collaborators leaning into darker territory, trading youthful ambition for moral pressure and quiet paranoia.
The duo famously launched their careers together with Good Will Hunting, but The Rip reflects who they are now: actors and producers interested in stories about power, temptation, and what happens when loyalty starts to crack.
The Rip premieres globally on Netflix on January 16, 2026, positioning it as one of the streamer’s first major releases of the year.
What Is The Rip About?
Set in Miami, The Rip follows a group of police officers who discover millions of dollars hidden inside an abandoned stash house. What initially feels like a shocking find quickly becomes a dangerous burden.
As news of the money spreads, outside forces close in — but the real threat comes from within the group. Trust erodes. Motives are questioned. Every choice tightens the pressure.
Rather than leaning on spectacle, The Rip builds tension through suspicion and restraint. It’s a crime thriller driven by consequences, where silence can be as dangerous as action and loyalty is constantly tested.
A Netflix First for Affleck and Damon
Although Affleck and Damon have collaborated for decades across acting, writing, and producing, The Rip marks their first true Netflix original feature together. That milestone is notable as Netflix continues to invest in adult-oriented thrillers led by major stars.
Instead of chasing franchise scale or broad spectacle, The Rip fits neatly into Netflix’s prestige crime lane — character-driven stories designed for focused viewing. It’s also aligned with the duo’s current creative phase: selective, controlled, and intentionally grounded.
An Ensemble That Deepens the Tension
Affleck and Damon are supported by a strong ensemble cast that reinforces the film’s serious tone. The lineup includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins, and Néstor Carbonell.
The ensemble structure adds unpredictability. Alliances shift, loyalties blur, and no character feels completely safe. Each performance feeds into the film’s central question: who can you trust when everything is on the line?
Joe Carnahan’s Gritty Direction
Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, The Rip carries a gritty, grounded sensibility. Carnahan is known for prioritizing atmosphere, pacing, and character pressure over flashy excess.
Here, the tension builds gradually, allowing moral ambiguity to take center stage. The direction emphasizes escalation rather than explosions — a choice that keeps the focus on the characters and their increasingly fraught decisions.
Why The Rip Feels Timely
In an era dominated by franchises and cinematic universes, The Rip stands out as a contained, adult crime thriller led by performances rather than IP. It’s a reunion that looks forward instead of backward, using Affleck and Damon’s shared history as subtext rather than selling point.
They’re not playing idealists. They’re playing men who understand the rules — and know exactly what it costs to break them.
Release Date
The Rip premieres on Netflix on January 16, 2026.
