PUBLISHED
February 08, 2026
KARACHI:
The Rip might not have released in a cinema near you, but it’s one of those films that would have played just as well on the big screen. Not only does it reunite Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, but it also restores the audience’s faith in big-budget filmmaking — something that, sadly, doesn’t seem high on Hollywood’s priority list right now.
In an era of loud, brainless, and, quite literally, dumb films where the plot is spoon-fed and repeated multiple times, The Rip takes you back to a time when crime thrillers were treated with respect. A time when criminals weren’t glamorised and were always defeated. A time when life was simple, the good was good, and the bad was bad. A time when you trusted nothing — not even your own shadow.
The plot
The Rip revolves around a group of officers in the narcotics unit of the Miami-Dade Police Department, all still struggling to recover from the death of their police captain, Jackie Velez (Lina Esco). Things spiral quickly when, during a raid on a hidden cash operation led by Lt. Dane Dumars (Matt Damon), the team’s unity begins to crack. A massive stash of money is discovered, and suspicion spreads as officers begin to believe one of their own may be trying to steal it.
The tension escalates further when it’s revealed that Detective Sgt. J.D. Byrne (Ben Affleck) was having an affair with the deceased captain, who had sent something from her phone before she was killed. Trust erodes completely when a mysterious landline caller warns them of an impending cartel visit. Add to this a terrified stash-house owner (Sasha Calle), a few corrupt cops lurking in the shadows, and an obscure but inconvenient law requiring officers to count seized cash on-site. Naturally, everything that can go wrong does.
Tempers flare, arguments turn physical, and paranoia consumes the group as the deadline draws closer. The result is a tightly wound climax where alliances shift, loyalties are tested, and nothing is quite what it seems.
The good
The Rip takes you back to an era of heroes who might not have had muscular bodies but were smart and used their minds whenever it mattered. From Steve McQueen to Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford to Harrison Ford, and later from Kurt Russell to Richard Gere, these actors portrayed characters who used wit as their secret weapon. Similarly, Affleck and Damon use their wits in this cop thriller, which manages to do better than other films currently in cinemas — Gerard Butler’s Greenland 2: Migration and Jason Statham’s Shelter, where he reprises the familiar one-man-can-make-a-difference persona.
The film’s biggest star is neither Affleck nor Damon, but both together. No matter what characters they play or where they are, their chemistry is mind-boggling at times. Even in this film made for a streaming platform, the two give their very best and come out on top, as actors of their caliber should. From the moment they realise they may be on to something huge to realising one of them might be corrupt, they have delivered a masterclass in acting. Even in the climax, where they are fighting two separate villains, while Affleck nails the revenge perfectly (you have to watch that scene), Damon shows restraint at a time when many wouldn’t.
Besides featuring two Oscar winners who previously collaborated on Good Will Hunting and Air, the film also draws on big names like Kyle Chandler, Sasha Calle, and Lina Esco to attract audiences. Even though the plot feels like a throwback concerned with greed, loyalty, and the corrosive power of money, it remains relatable — and therefore perfect for today’s audience.
And then there is something called suspense, a missing ingredient in most films released in cinemas today. The way director Joe Carnahan incorporates it into the story is impressive because it not only keeps you on the edge of your seat but also makes you suspect everyone. Interesting, isn’t it?
Yes, the film doesn’t look as expensive as its budget suggests, nor is the action overly wild, but the swagger it carries is its biggest asset. The director uses the night to his advantage, with nearly all the action taking place in the dark, heightening the tension brilliantly. What’s more intriguing than the mystery of who the snitch is, is the path towards that revelation — where you suspect one person one moment, and someone else the next.
And if you think the film is dominated by men, think again. The slain captain is a woman, as are two members of the Affleck-Damon squad who play crucial roles in the mission. As for the film being unapologetically loud, sweaty, and confusing — that’s something clearly aimed more at older viewers than younger ones. It might alienate the newer generation, but those are traits the older generation grew up watching, and incorporating them here raises the bar for the audience.
The bad
The biggest question surrounding The Rip is why it never saw a theatrical release. It’s sharper and more competently made than much of the disposable thriller content Hollywood churns out today. The answer, of course, lies in economics, for which one must commend Affleck and Damon. Their production company, Artist Equity, made a deal with Netflix that includes performance-based bonuses for cast and crew, which explains why the film went straight to streaming, even if it still feels like a missed opportunity.
Narratively, The Rip borrows heavily from familiar territory. Corrupt cops, snitches within the unit, massive piles of cash, and a siege-like scenario recall everything from Assault on Precinct 13 to countless episodes of S.W.A.T. and The Rookie. While the film embraces the spirit of 1990s thrillers, it doesn’t always escape their clichés.
There’s also the issue of casting, not that of Affleck or Damon, but the supporting cast. Modern audiences are savvy, and when recognisable actors appear in supporting roles, it often telegraphs their importance to the plot. The film doesn’t quite outsmart viewers on that front, occasionally tipping its hand too early.
The verdict
While The Rip might be a fictionalised take on one of the department’s biggest seizures, it successfully takes the audience along for the journey — from the moment things begin to unravel to the time it all ends. Shot more or less like a Michael Mann flick, it undoubtedly looks and sounds cinematic, and doesn’t let your attention drift from the screen, despite the constant temptation of a second screen, aka cell phones. Director Carnahan deserves appreciation for trusting the audience to keep up, even if it means confusing them for a while.
Overall, The Rip is a dark, trust-no-one heist thriller where Affleck and Damon get to do exactly what they want — entertain the audience. Thanks to their previous collaborations, they know what appeals to viewers and what doesn’t, and they use that knowledge here to perfection. The reason this film feels different from most Netflix originals is that it isn’t really one — it’s a film being streamed on Netflix, with the platform having less to do with its making than Affleck and Damon themselves.
After all, the duo was part of classic Hollywood thrillers like The Departed and The Town, working with some of the biggest names in the industry. The Rip falls into the same league and truly belongs on the big screen, but the changing dynamics of the cinema business ensured it landed on OTT instead. Even then, The Rip proves that star-driven, adult-oriented thrillers still have plenty of life left in them. It’s smart, tense, and unapologetically old-school — a reminder of what Hollywood once did well, and what it should still be doing more often.
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer
Omair Alavi is a freelance contributor who writes about film, television, and popular culture
