The Rip (2026) [Movie Review] — A Gritty, Old-School Thriller That Still Packs a Punch

Movie: The Rip

Director: Joe Carnahan

Writers: Joe Carnahan and Michael McGrale

Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and more.

Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)

Opening Take

An appetite for theatrical-style, character-driven action is rewarded

Joe Carnahan returns to familiar territory with The Rip, a lean, muscular Netflix thriller that feels more like a mid-budget cinema release than a streaming filler. Carnahan’s gift for high-tension setpieces and morally messy characters anchors a story about cops, cash, and the corrosive pull of greed — and the ensemble cast elevates the film beyond routine beats.

Premise & Plot Setup

A routine investigation spirals into a moral and kinetic powder keg

The film begins with the violent death of a young Miami officer and quickly narrows on an elite task force led by Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Matt Damon) and the hotheaded Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Ben Affleck). When a routine “rip” — a police operation to seize illicit funds — uncovers an astonishing $20 million hidden in an ordinary suburban attic, the team must decide how far they’ll bend the law. Carnahan uses that discovery as the hook, then spins a series of suspects and shifting loyalties that keeps the audience guessing about who’s corrupt, who’s compromised, and who’s simply trying to survive.

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Performances

Veteran actors bring lived-in gravity to familiar archetypes

Damon and Affleck have chemistry rooted less in buddy-comedy banter than shared history: both play weary, lived-in officers who carry scars. Damon, in particular, leans into the weight of experience — fatigue, regret, and a cautious moral code — and it’s one of his more nuanced, age-aware turns. Affleck supplies a simmering volatility that balances Damon’s restraint. The supporting cast is equally solid: Steven Yeun and Teyana Taylor add emotional texture and ethical friction, while Sasha Calle makes an immediate impression as Desi, the bewildered young woman caught in the middle. Catalina Sandino Moreno rounds out the unit, contributing scenes that feel quietly lived-in rather than performative.

Direction, Design & Tension

Carnahan’s direction keeps the film lean and menacing; production design quietly unnerves

Carnahan stages setpieces with clarity and grit — close quarters become claustrophobic, suburban normality feels off-kilter — and his knack for coaxing small, telling moments from actors is on full display. The film’s production design turns an innocuous cul-de-sac into a place of menace, and the ticking-clock premise that follows the discovery of the money creates honest suspense. The screenplay smartly toys with expectations, layering interrogations, alliances, and betrayals without losing momentum.

Flaws & Final Notes

Pacing hiccups in the final act are forgivable but noticeable

If the movie errs, it’s in a slightly overlong denouement that ties up too many threads with a blunt scalpel rather than the subtlety earlier scenes display. Some supporting players fall away as the twists cascade, and a bit of trimming would have tightened the emotional payoff. Still, those are quibbles next to the film’s strengths: strong performances, a disciplined director, and a premise that rarely feels contrived.

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Verdict

A satisfying, old-school crime thriller that proves Netflix can harbor cinema-grade action

The Rip isn’t reinventing the cop thriller, but it does deliver a smart, character-forward entry that will please viewers who miss the slow-burn, morally complicated crime films of the 2000s. With commanding turns from Damon and Affleck, an accomplished ensemble, and Carnahan’s steady hand, it’s a streaming release that deserves to be seen on a big screen — and revisited on cable. If you like your action with teeth and your moral choices messy, this one’s worth the watch.