Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Return as Miami Narcotics Partners in Netflix's The Rip

Hollywood's most beloved partnership is making a comeback and this time, they're playing cops on the edge. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunite on screen in The Rip, a hard-hitting crime thriller that plunges viewers into Miami's seedy criminal underworld. Set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on January 16, 2026, the film marks another collaboration between the longtime friends, who are producing through their Artists Equity studio.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, known for his unflinching approach to action cinema, The Rip draws inspiration from the morally complex cop dramas of the 1970s think Serpico meets modern-day Miami. The story follows Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) and Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck), seasoned partners in an elite tactical narcotics unit whose bond is about to face its ultimate test.

During what should have been a routine raid on an abandoned stash house, the team stumbles upon millions of dollars in cartel cash untraceable, uncounted, and up for grabs. What starts as a major bust quickly transforms into something far more dangerous. As word of the discovery spreads, the officers find themselves caught between ruthless cartel enforcers looking to reclaim their money and the corrupting allure of an easy payday.

The tension escalates as paranoia sets in and the once-unshakeable trust between partners begins to crack. With threats closing in from all sides criminal syndicates, political pressure, and their own colleagues Dumars and Byrne must navigate an increasingly deadly situation where loyalty becomes a liability and survival means questioning everyone, including each other.

Rounding out the impressive cast are Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, and Kyle Chandler, who portray members of the tactical team grappling with their own moral crossroads. Carnahan's visceral directorial style promises to deliver both explosive action sequences and the psychological pressure cooker atmosphere that makes the best crime thrillers unforgettable.

By skipping theaters entirely and heading straight to Netflix's global platform, The Rip is poised to kick off 2026 as the streaming giant's first major original film event of the year. For fans of Affleck and Damon's on-screen chemistry and anyone craving a gritty, morally ambiguous crime story, this one's shaping up to be unmissable.