Everything we know about the A-list crime thriller which will be released January 2026.

Picture: Matt Damon (left) and Ben Affleck (right) – Netflix

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, inseparable best friends and collaborators, will work on another new Netflix project: the crime thriller The Rip. Details are now much more in the open with filming having concluded in December 2024, and the film is set to be released on Netflix in January 2026, with Damon and Affleck cast in the lead roles. Here’s everything you need to know as of September 2025.  

The RIP is an upcoming crime thriller co-written and directed by Joe Carnahan (Smoking Aces). Based on the screenplay written by Michael McGrale (The Following), The RIP is produced by Dani Bernfeld (Ford v Ferrari) and Falco Pictures. Artists Equity, an artist-led studio founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, is producing its second project, currently set up at Netflix. The production company’s other project, Animals, has is now in post-production.

Carnahan said about the film, “RIP came out of a deeply personal experience that my friend went through, both as a father and as head of tactical narcotics for the Miami-Dade police department. It’s inspired in part by his life and then by my enduring love for those classic 70’s cop thrillers that really valued the character and interpersonal relationships and became touchstones of that era — films like Serpico and Prince Of The City and, more recently, Michael Mann’s Heat.”

When is The RIP coming to Netflix?

First reported to be coming to Netflix in Fall 2025, a slight delay has pushed The RIP back to January 16, 2026! That date announcement came through the Netflix Upfronts.

We’re still waiting for an official trailer, although the movie did feature at TUDUM 2025 with a Cookie Monster featurette.

What is the plot of The RIP?

The murder of a captain has remained unsolved for six weeks, mired in bureaucratic delays, leaving the officers of Miami’s Tactical Narcotics Team restless and eager for justice. Seeking an outlet for their frustration—and perhaps a chance to secure something for themselves—the team acts on a tip about a potential cartel stash.

What they uncover is far more than they anticipated. Inside a derelict stash house, they discover millions in cash, and with it, the fragile bonds of trust within the team begin to unravel. As news of the massive seizure spreads, outside forces close in, and everything comes into question—loyalties, motives, and even who they can truly trust.

GQ got some exclusive new first looks at the new movie in September 2025 and spoke to Joe Carnahan, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck about the project. They highlight the film as a throwback thriller, appealing to fans of the actors and Carnahan’s gritty style. Damon states their production philosophy is simple: “Our goal is always to just make movies that we think we’ll like… A good movie.” Carnahan praises their approach, calling their studio “the vanguard of something that I think is really vital” for empowering artists.

The piece goes deep into the on-screen dynamic between Damon and Affleck, noting that Affleck often takes on the more “ebullient, flamboyant character,” a role he has embraced since their reunion in The Last Duel. When asked about the shift, Damon jokes, “Well someone’s gotta put the movie on their back.” Affleck, in turn, praises Damon’s acting, saying, “He is so understated, so real and so honest- it’s the opposite of a ‘showy’ performance, and I think what he does is more difficult.”
Picture via GQ / Netflix

Picture via GQ / Netflix

Picture via GQ / Netflix

Picture via GQ / Netflix

Who is in the cast of The RIP?

Up until October 2024, only Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were confirmed for The RIP cast. This will be the eleventh movie the pair have collaborated on with the pair having worked on some huge projects together stretching back to the late 1980s, with the best-known projects including Good Will Hunting, Jay and Silent Bob, Chasing Amy, Dogma and most recently, the Prime Video biopic on the origin story of Michael Jordan’s famed sneakers titled Air (2023)

Through multiple announcements throughout October, November, and into December, Netflix slowly unveiled the cast of the new film:

Sasha Calle (The Flash, The Young and the Restless)
Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One, The Book of Clarence)
Catalina Sandino Moreno (Silent Night, Maria Full of Grace)
Scott Adkins (John Wick: Chapter 4)
Nestor Carbonell (Shōgun, The Morning Show)
Lina Esco (S.W.A.T.) as Captain Jackie Velez
Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, BEEF)
Kyle Chandler (Bloodline, Friday Night Lights)
Shawn Michael (And Just Like That…)
Chris Silvestri (The Electric State)

Cast Grid For RIP Netflix Movie

What is the production status of The RIP?

Development
Filming Scheduled
Filming Ongoing
Post-Production

According to the report in issue 1422 of Production Weekly, The RIP started filming on October 2nd, 2024. Filming is reportedly originally scheduled to end on December 11th, 2024, with some of the cast members confirming their segments had wrapped in early December. Filming primarily took place throughout Los Angeles, including Long Beach.

Picture Credits: Dsanchez/CPR / BACKGRID

Picture Credit: Instagram

Picture: im6footseven / Instagram

In early November, Teyana Taylor shared on Instagram some pictures from set with her suited and booted in a Police uniform. The singer-songwriter and actress wrote: “Some set selfies til ACTION! ️️ Happy Monday y’all from me and da cool guyzzzzz! P.S. @carnojoe you’re already an amazing director but u might also have a bright future in lighting my guy cause why these selfies hitting like thissssss, why we look this gewdddd?!!! I see why u always tell me to follow the light!! A Snapple fact: @matt_damon_official ate both of us up in this last pic… my boy model Matt stole the show!

Picture: TEYANA TAYLOR / Instagram

Are you looking forward to watching The RIP on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!