Ben Affleck & Matt Damon’s New Netflix Cop Thriller Extends The Duo’s Strong Rotten Tomatoes Streak
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunite in Netflix’s new crime thriller, The Rip, which is looking to be a critical hit. The two best friends have been collaborating for a long time, and their teamwork has even led to them winning an Academy Award for Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting.
Following the critical success of Air three years ago, the duo is back, this time for a crime thriller with Netflix. They portray two cops in Miami, where they find millions of dollars. However, it leads to distrust among their group, as they question who they rely on.
Based on 26 reviews, The Rip has debuted with a stellar 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The rating continues Affleck and Damon’s strong streak, as the last few films starring the two together have been well-received, including Air (93%) and The Last Duel (85%).
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in tactical gear staring at a phone screen in The Rip
Most critics agree that the new Netflix thriller has a captivating and twisted cop story, with Affleck and Damon’s dynamic being electric from the start. Although there are flaws with the uneven script and the story may not be novel, the action is intense enough to make it a worthwhile popcorn flick.
In ScreenRant’s review of The Rip, Alexander Harrison agrees that the Netflix movie’s best asset is Damon and Affleck and elaborates that “the casting in general deserves the lion’s share of the credit” due to technical problems with the dull script. Nevertheless, he still awarded a decent 6 out of 10 stars, saying: “The Rip is a good time when experienced on its wavelength, and worthy material for a relaxed night in.”
While Affleck has teamed with Netflix on films like The Triple Frontier, this is a first for Damon. The first reviews are a good start for Damon, who also has the highly anticipated epic fantasy, The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan.
On the other hand, Netflix has started its 2026 movie schedule on a strong note, following critical and streaming success with People We Meet on Vacation. This comes as the studio is also on the verge of acquiring Warner Bros., albeit with some competition from Paramount.
Alongside Affleck and Damon, The Rip cast includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Kyle Chandler, and Scott Adkins. Joe Carnahan directed and wrote the screenplay, while Affleck and Damon also acted as producers.
The Rip won’t be the last collaboration between the duo. Affleck will direct and star in a crime thriller, Animals, which will also feature Yeun. Damon was originally supposed to be in the starring role, but had to drop out due to The Odyssey. He remained as a producer.
The Rip will release exclusively on Netflix on January 16, 2026
Release Date
January 16, 2026
Runtime
133 minutes
Director
Joe Carnahan
Writers
Joe Carnahan, Michael McGrale
