Hollywood’s most enduring creative duo is back. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are set to share the screen once again in The RIP, a gritty new Netflix original that reunites the longtime friends in a tense, true-crime–inspired thriller arriving on January 16, 2026.
With the release just days away, Netflix has unveiled a fresh trailer — and it promises a dark, pressure-cooker story where loyalty is tested and nothing stays buried for long.
A Dangerous Discovery, A Team on Edge
In The RIP, Affleck and Damon play Miami cops on opposite ends of a moral storm. Affleck steps into the role of Detective Sergeant JD Byrne, while Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumars. The plot ignites when their unit stumbles upon millions of dollars hidden inside a rundown stash house.
What begins as a shocking seizure quickly spirals into paranoia. As word of the money leaks and outside forces close in, trust within the team starts to crack — raising the central question of the film: who can you rely on when everyone has something to lose?
Behind the Camera
The film is written and directed by Joe Carnahan, who developed the story alongside Michael McGrale. Known for his sharp, muscular storytelling, Carnahan leans into a grounded, uneasy tone here, drawing inspiration from real-life crime cases rather than stylized spectacle.
Production wrapped quietly after shooting began in October 2024, with Netflix keeping details tightly under wraps until now.
A Stacked Ensemble
Beyond Affleck and Damon, The RIP boasts a strong supporting cast, including Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Nestor Carbonell, and Lina Esco. Each brings weight to a story that thrives on suspicion, shifting alliances, and moral gray zones.
A Busy Year for Both Stars
The RIP is just one major stop on a packed 2026 slate. Damon is also headlining Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, slated for a theatrical release on July 17. Affleck, meanwhile, is deep into his next project Animals, which he’s both directing and starring in for Netflix — a film that also features Steven Yeun.
Interestingly, Damon was initially attached to Animals but stepped away due to scheduling conflicts with The Odyssey.
Final Words
With its moody Miami setting, powerhouse cast, and a story built around fractured trust, The RIP looks set to deliver a tense, character-driven crime thriller — and a welcome reunion for fans of the Affleck-Damon partnership. If the trailer is any indication, this one won’t be about explosions alone, but about the slow, dangerous unraveling of people under pressure.
