The Rip (2026) Review: Miami Cops, Millions in Cash, Zero Trust

This The Rip review starts with a simple question: what happens when honest cops find more money than they can count? Joe Carnahan's 2026 crime thriller puts Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in a pressure cooker and lets distrust do the work. It is a lean, talky and tense ride, even if it has seen a few of these roads before.

The Rip Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The plot follows a team of Miami police officers led by Lieutenant Dane Dumars. During a raid on a rundown stash house, they uncover millions of dollars in cash. The tagline says it best: count the money, count it again, count on no one.

The setup is neat and easy to grasp. Once outsiders learn about the big bust, the squad has to decide who is really on their side. The film keeps its focus on that question through its first act and into the unease that follows. I will say no more about where it goes.

What Works in The Rip

Carnahan, who also wrote the script, favors psychological tension over empty pyrotechnics. Much of the story plays out in tight spaces, which makes every glance and half-answer feel loaded. This is a smart choice for a crime thriller built around suspicion.

• Contained tension: The confined staging keeps the stakes personal and the mood claustrophobic.

• Character logic: The cops act like people who have a lot to lose, rather than bending to suit the next set piece.

• Star chemistry: Damon and Affleck bring an easy, lived-in rapport that sells years of shared history.

If you like your action movies with more talk than explosions, this will suit you well.

The Rip Cast and Performances

Matt Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumars, and he gives the role a weary, watchful steadiness. Ben Affleck is Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, and he brings a rumpled, familiar swagger. Together they anchor the film and give the squad a believable backbone.

The supporting ensemble is a strong one. Teyana Taylor plays Detective Numa Baptistie, Steven Yeun is Detective Mike Ro and Catalina Sandino Moreno plays Detective Lolo Salazar. Sasha Calle appears as Desiree 'Desi' Lopez Molina.

These are fine actors, and they make the most of their screen time. Some viewers have noted that the secondary characters are thinly drawn, so the talent sometimes outpaces the material.

Where The Rip Stumbles

The biggest complaint is familiarity. The film borrows heavily from the hard-drinking, foul-mouthed cop thrillers of the 1980s and 1990s, and some viewers will spot where the story is heading well before it gets there. Early audience reactions say the same: the genre has become its own cliché.

The mystery can also feel tangled. A few viewers found the twists convoluted, and at 113 minutes the film could have been tighter. Several of the supporting cops deserve more backstory than they get.

And while Damon and Affleck are charismatic, Affleck in particular sometimes plays to type. That is enjoyable, but it is rarely surprising.

Is The Rip Worth Watching?

Yes, The Rip is worth watching if you enjoy grounded cop thrillers driven by suspicion and strong ensemble acting. It is not a game-changer, but it is well made and confident, and the leads make it easy to stay invested. Audience reception has been warm, with a TMDB user score of 7.1 out of 10 from more than 2,000 votes.

The film is rated R and arrives with a release date of January 13, 2026. Think of it as a solid evening's entertainment rather than a landmark. For more in this vein, browse our thriller reviews. You can also read more about the film on IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy The Rip

• Fans of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck who want to see them share the screen again.

• Viewers who like slow-burn, dialogue-driven crime stories with a paranoid streak.

• Anyone who enjoys old-school Miami cop thrillers and does not mind a familiar formula.