Joe Carnahan Reveals How He Brought Ben Affleck, Matt Damon Together In The Rip

In his latest high-octane project, director Joe Carnahan (Narc, The Grey) has achieved what many fans consider a cinematic “holy grail”—reuniting Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in a gritty, high-stakes crime thriller titled The Rip.

The film, which premiered on Netflix on January 16, 2026, has quickly climbed to the top of the streaming charts, currently holding a strong 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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How the Reunion Happened

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter and ScreenRant, Carnahan revealed that the collaboration was born out of mutual respect and shared creative history.

• Mutual Admiration: Carnahan previously worked with Affleck on the 2006 film Smokin’ Aces and has long admired Damon’s work. When he presented the script for The Rip, both actors—who now run the production company Artists Equity—felt an immediate connection to the material.
• Creative Sychronicity: Carnahan noted that because Affleck and Damon are “world-class filmmakers” themselves (with two screenwriting Oscars), they were able to offer specific, high-level contributions without over-noting the script.
• The “Artists Equity” Model: The film was produced under Affleck and Damon’s new banner, which notably negotiated a deal for Netflix to pay performance-based bonuses to the entire production crew—a first for the streaming giant.

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Plot & Cast: A “Paranoia-Laced” Thriller

The Rip follows a tactical narcotics unit in Miami that discovers a staggering $24 million in cash hidden inside the walls of a derelict stash house. The “routine” raid turns into a psychological nightmare as the team begins to fracture under the weight of greed and suspicion.+1

The Cast:

• Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars (the team’s morally conflicted leader).
• Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne (the “no-nonsense” second-in-command).
• Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro.
• Teyana Taylor as Detective Numa Baptiste.
• Sasha Calle as Desi (the resident of the stash house).
• Kyle Chandler as Matty, a Federal DEA agent.

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Inspired by a True Story

The film is deeply personal for Carnahan. It is based on a real 2016 bust involving his close friend, Chris Casiano, a former Miami-Dade tactical narcotics head. In the real-life case, officers found $24 million hidden in Home Depot buckets behind a false wall.+2

Note: The film is dedicated to Chris Casiano’s son, Jake, who passed away from leukemia in 2021. Carnahan stated he wanted the film to be a “monument” to his friend’s son, fusing the high-wire tension of a heist with themes of grief and loss.