The Rip Trailer, Fun Facts & Review

The Rip Synopsis:

A team of police officers, including long-time partners Dane Dumars (Matt Damon) and J.D. Byrne (Ben Affleck), finds millions of dollars in cash inside a stash house. Inspired by true events, the discovery tests their loyalty and integrity as they are tempted by the fortune and face escalating danger from the criminals who want the money back.

Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime

Release Date: On Netflix January 16th, 2026

The Rip Fun Facts:

Inspired by True Events:
The film's tense, high-stakes plot was created by director Joe Carnahan. The story is based on a personal experience told to him by a friend who led the Miami-Dade police tactical narcotics unit.

The Meaning of "The Rip":
The movie's title is Miami police slang. "The Rip" is what cops call taking a criminal's belongings, like cash, drugs, or weapons. The actual seizure of those items is known as a "rip."

A New Damon/Affleck Era:
This movie is the first project Netflix has worked on with Artists Equity, the production company founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in 2022. Damon and Affleck are both the lead actors and producers of the film. Damon and Affleck are real-life best friends and frequent collaborators.

Star-Studded Supporting Cast:
The movie features a massive supporting cast, including Oscar nominees Steven Yeun (Mickey 17), Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Néstor Carbonell (The Morning Show), Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another), Sasha Calle (The Flash), and action star Scott Adkins.

The High-Stakes Question:
The movie's central ethical question is summed up in the teaser trailer by a character who asks, "A-W-T-G-G, What does it mean?" and Matt Damon's character replied, "Are we the good guys?"

Filming Locations:
Even though the movie is set in Miami, they filmed most of it in Los Angeles. They also filmed extra scenes in New Jersey.

Source: youtube, wikipedia

The Rip Review:

The Rip is the latest movie starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who are real-life best friends and Oscar winners. The film is written and directed by Joe Carnahan; the movie is based on a true story from 2016, when Miami-Dade seized a record-breaking amount of cash—the largest seizure in the department's history.

The story centers on the Miami-Dade Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) grappling with the mysterious killing of their captain. The team's new leader, Dane Dumars (Matt Damon), leads the team to a quiet neighborhood after receiving a tip. They expected to uncover a decent amount of cash; to their surprise, they discovered a secret stash of $20 million in cartel money tucked away in an attic behind a finished wall.

What happens next is Dumars immediately followed protocol and initiated a lockdown, forcing the team into the confines of the house. He takes away their phones and demands they count the cash on-site. Tension quickly rises between Dumars and his hot-headed partner, J.D. Byrne (Ben Affleck), along with fellow team members. As the clock ticks, the presumed cartel becomes aware and comes for their money. To make things worse, there are rumors that some of the officers are dirty. There are lies on top of lies among team members; the house feels like a death trap where no one knows who to trust, and at any moment, anyone could turn against the other.

The best part of the movie is the two main leads. Matt Damon plays Dumars as a tired, older cop with grey hair and a calm demeanor, whereas Ben Affleck plays Byrne with a lot of loud, angry energy. They are friends in real life, and they have great chemistry working together on screen. You can really feel their connection whether they are screaming at each other or just being quiet and saying nothing at all.

The rest of the cast are just as great. Steven Yeun plays Mike Ro, a member of the team who is cautious and follows all the rules. The unspoken tension between Ro and Dumars is paramount as Ro is walking away and his back is facing Dumars. Sasha Calle plays Desi, the granddaughter of the homeowner; she is convinced some members of the Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) are corrupt after overhearing their conversation. Teyana Taylor's and Catalina Sandino Moreno's characters are underutilized; they are often sidelined because they are tasked with counting cash in the garage and seen less on screen.

The shootout action sequences are great, as the nightly garage is lit up with every burst of round being fired and shaky camera that demonstrates the intensity of the gunfight. As the movie came together towards the end, the detective work appeared to be smart and intelligent. Just one note, try to listen intently when watching this movie.

The Rip is a good choice if you are looking for great acting experience and the feeling of high stressful tension. The movie is a fast-paced thriller that works well for one simple reason: it features two big stars with great on-screen chemistry who are best friends in real life and longtime collaborators who know how to play off each other on-screen.