Netflix's The Rip Review: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Find Too Much Money and Everything Goes Wrong

Netflix’s The Rip arrives with the kind of pedigree that immediately sets expectations. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, reunited once again, leading a gritty crime thriller about cops, cash and collapsing loyalties? On paper, it sounds like it could easily fall into familiar genre territory. Another mystery you solve ten minutes in. Another “one last job” story dressed up with star power. That’s exactly why The Rip ends up being such a pleasant surprise.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, The Rip follows Damon’s Dane and Affleck’s Byrne, two seasoned detectives assigned to a TNT unit, a specialized team handling high-level drug busts. Their job is straightforward: hit stash houses, disrupt operations and keep things moving before the next crisis hits. Alongside teammates played by Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, and Catalina Sandino Moreno, the unit stumbles upon what should be a routine bust… until it isn’t.

The discovery of a stash house loaded with massive amounts of illegal cash is where The Rip shifts gears. The money itself isn’t just a plot device; it’s a catalyst. Once that kind of cash enters the picture and outside forces get wind of it, the pressure becomes relentless. Suddenly, every look lingers too long. Every decision feels questionable. Trust, the one thing cops rely on most starts to fracture.

What The Rip does particularly well is lean into paranoia. This isn’t a film obsessed with flashy twists for shock value. Instead, it lets suspicion simmer. Teammates you’ve trusted with your life begin to feel off and the film smartly allows the audience to share that discomfort. You’re constantly reassessing who’s solid and who might be playing their own game. The result is a tense, fast-moving thriller that keeps you guessing far longer than expected.

Damon and Affleck are the engine that makes it all work. At this point, their chemistry is effortless and The Rip knows exactly how to use it. Their back-and-forth feels lived-in, particularly when Dane and Byrne butt heads. Those moments of friction are some of the film’s most engaging scenes, grounding the story in character rather than just plot mechanics. You believe these guys have history, shared wins, shared losses and very different ways of handling what’s spiraling out of control.

The supporting cast is strong across the board. Steven Yeun brings a quiet intensity that adds another layer of uncertainty, while Catalina Sandino Moreno brings a steady presence that contrasts nicely with the mounting chaos. And then there’s Teyana Taylor who, frankly, is everywhere right now. She continues her impressive run here, making the most of her screen time and leaving you wishing there was more of her. The film gives her enough moments to stand out, but not quite enough to fully explore what she brings to the team.

THE RIP. (L to R) Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, Teyana Taylor as Detective Numa Baptiste, Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Catalina Sandino Moreno as Detective Lolo Salazar, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Sasha Calle as Desi in The Rip. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.

From a writing standpoint, The Rip is sharp. The script understands pacing, letting tension build without bogging the story down in unnecessary exposition. Information is revealed at the right moments and the film resists the urge to over-explain itself. That restraint pays off, especially as the story barrels toward its final act. Even when you think you’ve figured things out, the film finds ways to keep you second-guessing right up until the end.

Visually and tonally, The Rip fits comfortably into the gritty crime thriller mold, but it never feels lazy about it. Carnahan keeps the momentum tight, the stakes clear and the atmosphere appropriately uneasy. It’s not reinventing the genre, but it doesn’t need to. What it offers instead is a well-crafted, actor-driven thriller that understands why these stories work in the first place.

Ultimately, The Rip succeeds because it knows exactly what kind of movie it is. It’s a smart, tense, occasionally nasty crime thriller powered by strong performances, solid writing and a growing sense of dread. Damon and Affleck deliver, the ensemble keeps things unpredictable and the story stays engaging without overstaying its welcome. It’s a great popcorn movie; the kind you throw on expecting something disposable and end up genuinely locked in until the credits roll.

For fans of crime dramas, The Rip is well worth the watch and proof that sometimes, even familiar setups can still surprise you.

The Rip streams on Netflix on January 16th.