The Rip: Netflix Unveils First Look at Damon, Affleck, and Yeun in Miami Crime Thriller

Netflix has released the first official look at The Rip, the upcoming Miami-set crime thriller from director Joe Carnahan, starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Steven Yeun. Alongside striking new artwork, the streaming giant dropped a teaser trailer on Thursday, confirming the film will debut globally on January 16, 2026.

A Stash House, Millions in Cash, and Shattered Trust

The premise of The Rip is both classic and charged with tension. It begins with a discovery that immediately alters the course of its characters’ lives: a stash house containing millions of dollars in cash.

At first, it looks like a windfall for a team of Miami cops. But what should have been a moment of solidarity quickly descends into suspicion. Loyalties fracture. As word of the find leaks out, outside forces — both criminal and institutional — close in. Soon, no one can be trusted.

Carnahan, who made his name with Narc and later proved his flair for survivalist grit with The Grey, is returning to familiar territory. His films often explore what happens when human bonds collapse under the weight of greed, fear, and violence. The Rip appears poised to expand on those themes, this time with three marquee stars at the center of the storm.

Damon, Affleck, and Yeun: Star Power in the Heat of Miami

The casting of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, real-life friends and long-time collaborators, ensures immediate intrigue. The two have worked together on and off since co-writing Good Will Hunting, but their on-screen collaborations remain rare.

Affleck, who has built a reputation directing and starring in morally complex thrillers like The Town and Argo, will step in front of the camera under Carnahan’s vision. Damon, equally comfortable in franchises (The Bourne Identity) and prestige dramas (The Departed), brings his signature grounded intensity.

Adding Steven Yeun to the mix deepens the ensemble’s dramatic potential. Yeun, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Minari and acclaim for Netflix’s Beef, has become one of the most versatile actors of his generation. His presence suggests that The Rip is aiming beyond action spectacle, toward layered character work that explores trust and betrayal in equal measure.

Why This First Look Matters

The teaser trailer reveals only glimpses: the neon glow of Miami nights, a derelict house stuffed with bundles of cash, and sharp exchanges hinting at fractured loyalties. But its very release signals Netflix’s growing commitment to what some are calling “prestige thrillers” — films that combine big-name stars, auteur directors, and gritty genre storytelling.

Recent Netflix titles like Triple Frontier and Reptile paved the way, blending noir atmosphere with broad accessibility. The Rip appears designed to occupy that same space, but with a heavier emphasis on character conflict. By pairing Carnahan’s history of taut, pressure-cooker storytelling with the star power of Damon, Affleck, and Yeun, Netflix is betting on a film that can appeal to both cinephiles and casual viewers.

Strategic Timing

Netflix’s decision to release The Rip in mid-January is notable. Positioned after the holiday rush and just before awards season crescendos, the film avoids competition from year-end prestige releases while occupying a quieter window on the platform.

The strategy mirrors how streamers often launch their most ambitious genre films: with enough distance from blockbuster-heavy months to maximize visibility. If successful, The Rip could dominate Netflix’s top-10 charts for weeks, benefiting from the combined draw of its cast and the hunger for original thrillers early in the year.

Carnahan’s Return to Crime

For Carnahan, The Rip represents a return to the type of hardboiled, morally murky storytelling that earned him critical acclaim. His 2002 film Narc was praised for its raw realism and exploration of compromised loyalty among police officers. The Grey (2011) shifted gears into existential survival drama but carried the same DNA: what happens to individuals when everything they know is stripped away.

By revisiting the crime genre in The Rip, Carnahan signals an intent to marry the suspense of Narc with the character-driven gravitas of his later work.

Looking Ahead

With the teaser already generating conversation, anticipation for The Rip is high. Fans of Damon and Affleck are eager to see the duo return to a gritty, character-driven narrative, while Yeun’s involvement ensures crossover appeal to audiences drawn by his recent acclaimed performances.

For Netflix, the project is another step toward positioning itself not just as a home for light, bingeable entertainment, but as a platform capable of delivering high-caliber films that might once have belonged to traditional studios.

If the teaser’s hints of tension and neon-soaked atmosphere are any indication, The Rip will be one of 2026’s first cinematic talking points.