Affleck And Damon Reunite For Netflix Thriller The Rip

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, two of Hollywood’s most enduring best friends, have reunited on screen in Netflix’s latest crime thriller, The Rip, which debuted on January 16, 2026. Their partnership, both personal and professional, has long been the stuff of industry legend, but this project marks a new chapter in their collaborative journey—one shaped by decades of shared dreams, hard-won experience, and, as the actors themselves admit, a renewed desire to make the most of their unique bond.

In a recent interview with Extra, Affleck and Damon reflected candidly on their friendship and the serendipity that’s defined their careers. “I think our friendship is unique in its own way just because we both do the same thing and kind of had a lifelong dream and kind of achieved it together,” Damon mused. “I think now we’re at an age in our 50s where we just looked around and went, you know, we should be doing this together more often.” Affleck, echoing the sentiment, added a touch of humor: “You don’t want to waste this incredible opportunity like of both of us winning the lottery.”

That sense of gratitude and camaraderie is woven into every frame of The Rip, a film that, according to The Daily Beast, is “equal parts Agatha Christie whodunit, Assault on Precinct 13 siege extravaganza, and corrupt-cop drama in the spirit of writer/director Joe Carnahan’s 2002 gem Narc.” Set against the humid, neon-lit backdrop of Miami, the movie thrusts Affleck and Damon into the roles of embattled police officers grappling with corruption, betrayal, and a staggering $20 million in illicit cash.

The plot kicks off on a tense Florida night when Captain Jackie Velez (Lina Esco) is brutally murdered, setting off a chain of events that throws the Miami Tactical and Narcotics Team—known as TNT—into chaos. Federal agent Del Byrne (Scott Adkins) interrogates the squad, suspecting their involvement in Velez’s death due to a recent corruption scandal in the homicide division. The team, including detectives Mike Ro (Steven Yeun), Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor), and Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandino Moreno), bristles at the insinuation, but the tension only escalates when Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck) clashes violently with Del, who is revealed to be his brother.

At the helm of TNT is Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon), JD’s longtime friend. The dynamic between Affleck and Damon’s characters is electric, their real-life rapport lending authenticity to the on-screen tension and trust issues. When Dane receives an anonymous tip about hidden cash at a local residence, he leads his team on a fateful raid. What they find—over $20 million stashed in buckets behind a wall—triggers a high-stakes standoff with potential threats from a vengeful cartel, internal double-crosses, and mounting suspicion from law enforcement higher-ups.

The screenplay, written and directed by Joe Carnahan, wastes no time plunging viewers into a whirlwind of paranoia and action. As The Daily Beast describes, “Carnahan sticks intensely to his subjects, his camera up-close-and-personal—especially during hectic chases, skirmishes, and moments of tension—in order to tap into their frenzied headspace and rough-and-tumble physicality.” The film’s relentless pace and claustrophobic atmosphere keep audiences on edge, as every character becomes a potential suspect and every alliance is suspect.

Yet, amid the gunfights and betrayals, it is the evolving relationship between Affleck’s JD and Damon’s Dane that anchors the film. Their characters’ camaraderie, tinged with suspicion and rivalry, mirrors the actors’ own history—one that began with their Oscar-winning collaboration on Good Will Hunting nearly three decades ago. “We were young and we were excited,” Affleck recalled of their infamous 1998 Oscar speech, a moment they say was less embarrassing than simply unprepared. “We didn’t practice. We didn’t prepare a speech… It wasn’t a well-crafted…” Damon admitted, to which Affleck added, “I think that's the appeal of those shows because, a lot of the times, people haven't even seen the movies, but you get to see a really honest, emotional reaction from somebody who's being gratified for something really meaningful.”

Behind the scenes, the film’s production was a family affair. Damon’s wife, Luciana, served as a producer on The Rip, earning high praise from both stars. “She’s really great at it. And now it’s at the point where, you know, Ben just directed this other movie while I was doing, ‘The Odyssey,’ and Lucy produced that. And now he’s saying he will never do a movie without her producing it,” Damon joked. Affleck chimed in, describing Luciana as “a very deft” producer with “really strong EQ” and “the poise to never get too worked up.” He continued, “I think that’s a big thing is that people act like everything’s a six-alarm fire and just everything can’t be that. It just adds stress and but so that’s a professional gift, and then I mean the fact that, you know, to be around somebody you like and who you’re friends with and who gets jokes and who you can be yourself around and isn’t going to judge you... it’s really nice.”

Supporting performances from Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Kyle Chandler round out a cast that brings depth and ambiguity to the story. Each character, as The Daily Beast notes, is “all sidewise glances, dubious pronouncements, and clandestine actions—further underscoring the film’s suspenseful portrait of money as the great temptation and root of all treachery.” The film’s structure, reminiscent of Murder on the Orient Express, challenges viewers to piece together clues as the action barrels forward, rarely pausing to catch its breath.

While some critics found the ending “somewhat underwhelming,” the final moments deliver a “feel-good button” that pays homage to the real-life friendship between its stars. “So perfectly corny that it almost feels designed to inspire memes, this conclusion puts a feel-good button on the proceedings that, regardless of its inaptness, is likely to plant a smile on the face of anyone with a soft spot for the continuing Damon-Affleck partnership,” wrote The Daily Beast.

For fans of gritty crime dramas and those who cherish the enduring bond between Affleck and Damon, The Rip offers a compelling blend of suspense, action, and heart. It’s a testament to the power of friendship—on screen and off—and a reminder that, sometimes, lightning really can strike twice.