(Credit: Netflix)

Watching Matt Damon and Ben Affleck come together for a project seems like a dose of joy we need every now and then to get recharged. This duo, whenever they come together, delivers a hit and makes it feel like an event.

From their Oscar-winning script for Good Will Hunting to the medieval drama of The Last Duel and the sports-world story of Air, the duo has proven they are more than just lifelong friends. It’s better to call them one of Hollywood’s most enduring partnerships. Lucky for the fans, as now they are back together again, this time stepping into the shadows of Miami for Netflix’s upcoming crime thriller, The Rip.

The film is being directed by Joe Carnahan, and it blends the sharp tension of a cop drama with the moral messiness of old-school thrillers. Carnahan has said he was inspired both by a close friend’s real experience leading Miami’s narcotics unit and by the ‘70s classics. With Damon and Affleck at the centre, the project already feels like a throwback, but with Netflix as a fancy wrapper.

Add the fact that Damon and Affleck are producing under their Artists Equity banner, which is the studio they launched to give creatives more control, and The Rip starts to sound like more than just another cop movie.

So, what exactly can you expect? Here’s everything you need to know about The Rip before it lands on Netflix.

What is the plot?

The film begins with what looks like every cop’s dream: a team of Miami officers finds millions of dollars hidden in a stash house. But instead of changing their lives for the better, the discovery tears them apart. You will see rising suspicion, cracks in the loyalties, and outside forces circle like vultures once word gets out. Very quickly, the “rip” becomes less about money and more about the lack of trust.

Carnahan has called the film “deeply personal”, and it comes from his love for films like Serpico and Heat. These are the thrillers that made character and moral conflict just as important as action.

In Miami cop slang, a “rip” means confiscating the goods, be it drugs, cash, or weapons, seized in a bust. But in this story, the “rip” is both literal and symbolic. The act of taking the money becomes the wedge that rips a team apart. It also exposes fault lines and tempts everyone involved to cross lines they can’t uncross.

Who is in the cast?

Starting with Matt Damon, who is playing Lieutenant Dane Dumars in the film, while Ben Affleck takes on the role of Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne. They are joined by Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Teyana Taylor as Detective Numa Baptiste, and Catalina Sandino Moreno as Detective Lolo Salazar. We also have Sasha Calle, Kyle Chandler, Néstor Carbonell, Lina Esco, and Scott Adkins to round out the rest of the crew. It’s the kind of cast that promises sparks both inside and outside the squad room.

Is there a trailer?

Not yet. Netflix is keeping the footage under wraps for now, but with a release date locked in, the first trailer should be on its way soon. If Carnahan’s description is anything to go by, we can expect a stylish and character-driven glimpse of the movie in the trailer.

When will The Rip release on Netflix?

The Rip is scheduled for its worldwide premiere on January 16, 2026. Which means we still have about six months to wait for this masterpiece, but judging by the details. Looks like it’s going to be worth it.