review of the rip
“Review of the Rip” most commonly refers to the new Netflix crime thriller The Rip (2026), a gritty Miami-set cops-and-cartel story starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and it is getting generally positive but not unanimous reviews from critics and early audiences.
Quick Scoop
- What it is: A tense, one-night heist-thriller about a Miami police “rip” squad that finds millions in cartel cash in a stash house, triggering paranoia, betrayal, and moral compromise inside the team.
- Stars: Matt Damon plays Lt. Dane Dumars, the grizzled unit leader, with Ben Affleck as his long‑time partner J.D. Byrne; their chemistry and weary back‑and‑forth are widely praised as the movie’s main draw.
- Tone & style: Think old‑school, mid‑budget cop potboiler: lots of macho banter, suspicion, and shootouts in cramped spaces, with most of the story unfolding in one long, pressure‑cooker night at a single Miami house.
- Core hook: The “rip” itself—millions in dirty cash—becomes a psychological test: who wants to book it, who wants to steal it, and who might kill to control it, while everyone fears both cartel retaliation and dirty cops.
Story & Characters
- The film opens with the killing of a cop, Jackie, whose death hints that someone close—possibly inside the task force—has crossed a line, setting a whodunit backdrop.
- Interrogation scenes frame the narrative, cutting between questioning and the long night at the stash house where the team literally tears down drywall to reveal stacks of money.
- The dynamic between Dane (Damon) and J.D. (Affleck) drives the movie: their friendship, shared history, and shifting trust give the otherwise pulpy premise emotional weight.
How Critics See It
- Some major outlets describe The Rip as the kind of sturdy, adult‑oriented action thriller that “doesn’t get made anymore,” praising its momentum, tight tension, and strong star performances.
- Positive reviews highlight:
- Fast pacing and a contained setting that keep stakes high.
- Classic “clean cop vs dirty cop” suspense with modern cynicism about police corruption.
- More mixed critics argue that:
- The movie has strong ideas and atmosphere but occasionally leans on murky motivations as a cover for thin characterization or clunky plotting.
* The extended wrap‑up in the final act feels a bit too long, even if the last grace‑note scene lands well.
Forum & Audience Vibes
- Early audience chatter frames it as:
- A “perfect weeknight watch” rather than a prestige event film: comforting if you miss cable‑era crime movies where you just drop in and enjoy the ride.
* A “spontaneous decision” movie that over‑delivers if you come in expecting a gritty, slightly grimy thriller rather than a massive blockbuster.
- Viewers who like:
- Confined, one‑location thrillers
- Moral‑gray cops and crime dramas
- Damon–Affleck buddy tension
tend to rate it higher than those looking for deeper social commentary or complex character studies.
Should You Watch It?
- Strong pick if you:
- Enjoy old‑school cop thrillers, heist tensions, and character‑driven stand‑offs.
- Want something tense but not emotionally devastating, with slick action and recognizable movie stars doing what they do best.
- Maybe skip if you:
- Need nuanced portrayals of policing and systemic issues rather than genre‑movie shorthand.
- Dislike dialogue‑heavy suspicion games where much of the drama is in who glares at whom across a room.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.