January is supposed to be the movie graveyard — the month studios dump projects they don’t believe in. Nobody told Joe Carnahan. The Rip, Netflix’s crime thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, dropped on January 16, 2026, and it arrived like a sucker punch nobody saw coming. Based on the rip reviews flooding in, this one genuinely earned its place among Netflix’s best originals.

The Rip —Overview

Detail	Info
Title	The Rip
Platform	Netflix
Released	January 16, 2026
Director	Joe Carnahan
Writer(s)	Joe Carnahan & Michael McGrale
Lead Cast	Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Kyle Chandler
Genre	Action / Crime / Drama
Rating	R
Review Score	⭐ 3.5 / 5 — Strong Recommend
Based On	Real events — a Miami-Dade tactical narcotics unit

What’s The Rip Actually About?

Newly appointed Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) leads a Miami-Dade tactical narcotics team still reeling from the shooting death of their captain. When the crew responds to a tip about a stash house, the mission escalates fast — what looked like thousands in seized cash turns out to be several million dollars.

That’s when the real game begins. Trust evaporates. Loyalties blur. Greed creeps in. And with the FBI breathing down their necks and outside forces circling the money, everyone becomes a suspect — including the people you thought you knew.

It’s a classic dirty cop whodunit, but Carnahan gives it real texture by grounding it in character rather than just action.

What Works — and What Doesn’t

✅ Strengths	⚠️ Weaknesses
Damon & Affleck’s chemistry is electric	A few dialogue exchanges fall flat
Tense, claustrophobic stash house sequences	The final moments tip into sentimentality
Steven Yeun and Teyana Taylor shine in support	Pacing slightly uneven before the third act
Armored car chase is a genuine showstopper	Some plot bluffs feel telegraphed
Score by Clinton Shorter nails every tonal shift	—

Ben Affleck is the MVP here — gruff, expletive-firing, and operating at the exact register that made The Town and Triple Frontier so compelling. He’s a lit fuse in a film full of calculated minds, and it works perfectly.

Should You Watch The Rip on Netflix?

Yes — without hesitation. The Rip sits comfortably alongside Rebel Ridge and End of Watch as one of the better law enforcement crime films of the decade. It’s the kind of film that reminds you what the genre can do when prestige talent meets genuine storytelling instinct rather than a paycheck grab.

If you enjoy crime thrillers and action films on Netflix, check out our full entertainment coverage at Technosports and our ongoing Netflix originals tracker for what’s dropping next.

FAQs

Q1. Is The Rip on Netflix based on a true story?

Yes. Director Joe Carnahan drew from real events personally connected to him — specifically his friend’s experience as head of tactical narcotics for the Miami-Dade Police Department. The film fictionalises the events but is rooted in that authentic world.

Q2. How long is The Rip on Netflix?

The Rip’s exact runtime hasn’t been officially listed on promotional materials, but it runs at a tight, thriller-appropriate length consistent with Carnahan’s previous genre films. Stream it on Netflix for the full runtime details on your device.