The Rip Movie Review Questions If Netflix’s Latest Action Ride Earns the Buzz

January’s halfway over, and nothing has really stood out yet. Other action heavyweights have stepped in with their own releases- Gerard Butler’s apocalyptic Greenland 2 didn’t impress much, while Jason Statham’s Shelter is still awaited. ​

Meanwhile, here is our version of The Rip movie review, whose flashy trailer gave an action-heavy glimpse of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, but the execution was a disappointment.​

Plot details of The Rip (2026)​

The story focuses on a group of Miami cops with two best friends, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Colonel Dane and Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant, who discover millions in cash in a stash house. This causes them to suspect everyone on the team since distrust takes hold of each one of them.​

Every member of the team thinks they are trying to seize a huge share of the rip, leading them to question everyone’s existence on the team.​

Watch the trailer here:

Actors’ performances in The Rip (2026)​

There is no doubt about the actors’ performances because, after all, it is a Ben Affleck and Matt Damon movie. Both actors felt comfortable working with each other as they have worked together for decades.

The level of ease and credibility Damon and Affleck’s performances bring to the story cannot be overlooked. Ben Affleck has a controlled demeanor with a world-weary and quietly intense manner.

Matt Damon appears to bring a restless energy to the film with his sharp and more reactive performance. He knows what he is doing as the internal conflict with Affleck goes unnoticed.

What truly makes their performances more compelling is the chemistry between them. Affleck and Damon’s long-standing rapport translates into a dynamic that feels lived-in rather than performed. Their conflicts feel personal, their conversations carry weight, and their shared screen moments give the film some of its strongest moments.

What do critics add to The Rip movie review?​

Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus shows positive reviews from the critics, as it says,

“Leveraging Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s classic chemistry to texturize a friendship tested by greed, The Rip tears into its potboiler setup with compulsively watchable confidence.” [Source]

However, some of the prominent critics’ reviews do not approve of Carnahan’s direction, as they did not believe that relying on a star cast only could save the film. In fact, his “lackluster direction” also seemed to waste Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s potential, which could have taken the film to another level.

The first half was a bit slow, and the latter half of the film was filled with action. The latter half could be considered “memorable,” but otherwise, the feature was nothing more than a conventional action film, the critics declared.

Fans’ reaction

The audience’s score was relatively lower than that of critics, as they did not approve of the “mediocre movie” churned out by the director, especially with a good cast. The viewers felt there was no use of extra swear words, as it depicted an “over the top” feeling for everything, which wasn’t necessary.​

Is it worth watching?​

The Rip is a good one-time watch, but overall, the film gives a forgettable experience. Hence, even if you miss it, it won’t be a significant issue. However, if you are an action lover and a fan of Matt Damon or Ben Affleck, then certainly, you should go for it.  ​

The film feels empty and messy at times, despite the interesting story it was meant to tell. It was a good twist, though, when we came to know that it wasn’t actually the matter of rip, rather the two main lead cops wanted to capture the killers of their close friend.

While there was an excitement of seeing Affleck and Damon together once again, the film felt like a missed opportunity. Once the story was revealed, the rest of the film felt like a drag, as the high stakes felt completely flat, and that too, immediately.​

With a mediocre script, the director didn’t seem to take the project seriously. Instead of building sustained tension, the movie went on to overexplain itself. Where a clever reveal should have been embedded within a certain climax, the reiterated plot points felt redundant, weakening the emotional impact. No emotional connection with the characters, leading to the possible reason why I wasn’t able to connect with the story.

Speaking of the action, the gunfights and shootouts fail to leave a lasting impression. They weren’t innovative; therefore, they lacked the element of unforgettability. The action was generic and uninspired, further reinforcing the idea that the movie overall lacked punch and intensity, as was promised in the trailer.  ​

What we liked

• Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s performances
• Natural chemistry between the leads
• An interesting core idea and twist
• A promising trailer and setup
• A stronger second half in terms of action volume

What could be better

• Weak and uneven execution
• Lack of emotional connection
• Mediocre script and overexplanation
• Generic and forgettable action sequences
• Missed directorial potential
• A disappointing payoff after strong hype

Here’s a detailed breakdown of our rating for The Rip (2026):

Story/plot	6/10
Characters and acting	6/10
Direction and pacing	6/10
Visuals and cinematography	6/10
Soundtrack/score	4/10
Themes and message	3/10
Emotional impact	3/10
Creativity/originality	5/10
Rewatchability	2/10

​​Our rating: 6/10

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Is The Rip (2026) available for online streaming?

The Rip (2026) (R-rated) is available for online streaming on Netflix from January 16, 2026, onwards. 

Genre: Crime, thriller, action, cop drama

IMDb rating: 6.9

Rotten Tomatoes: 81 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 68 percent on Popcornmeter

Cast: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Teyana Taylor, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins

Director: Joe Carnahan

Writers: Joe Carnahan, Michael McGrale

Producers: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Luciana Damon, Dani Bernfeld, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran

Release date: January 16, 2026

Movie runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes  

Did The Rip (2026) hit the mark for you, or was it all hype? Let us know your take!