Hollywood’s most enduring bromance is back, and this time, it’s armed, dangerous, and dripping with suspense. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the dynamic duo who skyrocketed to fame with their Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting script nearly three decades ago, are set to ignite screens once more in The Rip, a pulse-pounding crime thriller hitting Netflix on January 16, 2026. Directed by the gritty visionary Joe Carnahan (Narc, The A-Team, Smokin’ Aces), this high-stakes tale of corruptible cops and unimaginable temptation promises to be one of the streamer’s most gripping originals yet. With a Christmas Day teaser gift from the stars themselves—new footage introduced in a playful holiday video—and a star-studded ensemble cast, The Rip is already generating massive buzz, positioning it as the must-watch event to kick off the new year.

At the heart of The Rip lies a deceptively simple premise that spirals into moral mayhem: A team of Miami police officers, led by veteran partners Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne (Ben Affleck) and Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Matt Damon), raids a derelict stash house and uncovers a staggering $24 million in cash. By law, they must count every bill on-site before seizure—a process known in cop parlance as “the rip.” But as word of the massive haul spreads like wildfire through the underworld, paranoia sets in. Outsiders circle, temptations mount, and trust erodes faster than a Miami beach during hurricane season. Who can they rely on? Each other? Their squad? Or no one at all? The official synopsis teases: “Trust frays when a team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash inside a run-down stash house, calling everyone—and everything—into question.”

This isn’t just another heist gone wrong; it’s a psychological pressure cooker exploring greed, loyalty, and the thin blue line between right and wrong. Carnahan, drawing from a deeply personal story shared by a close friend who headed tactical narcotics for Miami-Dade Police, infuses the film with authentic grit. “The Rip came out of a deeply personal experience,” Carnahan revealed, emphasizing the real-world roots of “rips”—police seizures of illicit goods. Matt Damon’s character, Dumars, is essentially a doppelgänger for Carnahan’s friend, adding layers of authenticity to the portrayal of a seasoned officer grappling with life-or-death decisions in the dead of night.

The trailer, first unleashed in September 2025 and followed by a festive sneak peek on Christmas Day, wastes no time plunging viewers into the tension. Opening with sweeping shots of Miami’s neon-lit streets and humid nights, it cuts to the raid: flashlights piercing darkness, guns drawn, the team breaching the stash house. The discovery hits like a thunderclap—stacks of cash overflowing safes, eyes widening in disbelief. Quick cuts build the frenzy: whispered arguments in dimly lit rooms, Affleck’s Byrne staring down Damon with raw intensity (“I don’t trust you right now, and that’s a fucking problem”), Damon retorting about the money (“Do you think I’m gonna jack this rip?”). Gunfights erupt, alliances shatter, and external threats loom—rival crews, perhaps even internal affairs. The Christmas teaser amps it up with never-before-seen footage: high-octane chases through Miami’s underbelly, brutal close-quarters combat, and moments of quiet dread as the cops realize they’re trapped, counting cash while the clock ticks toward betrayal.

What makes The Rip so intoxicating is the undeniable chemistry between its leads. Affleck and Damon, childhood friends from Boston who conquered Hollywood together, bring decades of shared history to their roles as embattled partners. Affleck, fresh off directing triumphs and navigating personal headlines, embodies the weathered, cynical Byrne with his trademark brooding intensity. Damon, ever the relatable everyman, channels moral conflict as Dumars, torn between duty and the allure of easy wealth. Their banter—sharp, brotherly, laced with underlying tension—recalls classics like Heat or Serpico, films Carnahan cites as DNA influences. “Working with Matt and Ben… wound up being the best of both worlds,” Carnahan gushed, praising their dual roles as actors and producers via Artists Equity, the company they founded in 2022 after the success of Air (2023), their critically acclaimed Nike-Jordan drama.

Artists Equity represents a new chapter for the pair: actor-driven storytelling focused on profit-sharing and creative control. The Rip marks their second outing under the banner and Netflix’s first collaboration with the studio—a match made in streaming heaven. Damon summed up their philosophy simply: “Our goal is always to just make movies that we think we’ll like.” If the trailers are any indication, they’ve succeeded spectacularly.

The supporting cast elevates the thriller to ensemble masterpiece status. Steven Yeun (Beef, The Walking Dead) plays Detective Mike Ro, adding intellectual edge and potential ambiguity. Teyana Taylor brings fierce energy in an undisclosed role, while Sasha Calle (The Flash) and Catalina Sandino Moreno inject diversity and depth. Action stalwart Scott Adkins promises brutal fight sequences, Kyle Chandler embodies authoritative grit as DEA Agent Mateo ‘Matty’ Nix, and veterans like Néstor Carbonell and Lina Esco round out the squad. Daisuke Tsuji appears as FBI Agent Logan Casiano, hinting at federal complications.

Filming wrapped in late 2024, with production capturing Miami’s vibrant, volatile essence—sweltering heat, shadowy alleys, opulent contrasts. Carnahan’s signature style—kinetic action, moral ambiguity, visceral violence—shines through, clocking in at a taut 2 hours and 13 minutes (rated R for intense sequences and language).

As release approaches, anticipation skyrockets. The September teaser racked up millions of views, and the holiday sneak peek—Affleck clutching a gift box, Damon with a football, quipping about “socks”—went viral, blending meta charm with raw thrills. Fans draw comparisons to Training Day, Sicario, or Mann’s masterpieces, craving that rare breed of smart, adult-oriented thriller.

In a streaming landscape flooded with content, The Rip stands out: a throwback to ’90s/’00s crime epics, powered by two of cinema’s most bankable stars at the peak of their powers. Will greed corrupt the incorruptible? Can brotherhood survive betrayal? One thing’s certain—come January 16, Netflix subscribers will be glued to their screens, hearts racing, trusting no one.

Mark your calendars. The rip is coming—and it’s going to tear through everything in its path.