MOVIE NEWS – Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are back together, but this time they’re not chasing awards-season prestige – they’re chasing bullets, betrayal, and a mountain of dirty money in Netflix’s new action thriller The RIP. Early reactions suggest Joe Carnahan’s latest is exactly the kind of hard-hitting, no-nonsense genre ride the streamer has been quietly getting very good at. With strong early reviews and an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score, Netflix looks ready to kick off the year with another adrenaline-fueled crowd-pleaser.

When Matt Damon and Ben Affleck share the screen, it almost always feels like an event – but The RIP isn’t here to be subtle. Netflix’s new action thriller throws the duo straight into the kind of grimy, morally compromised world genre fans love: crooked cops, a mysterious cash haul, and escalating violence that turns partners into enemies.

MovieWeb’s Corey Atad praised the reunion for placing Damon and Affleck in “a totally different register” from their most recent collaboration. After 2023’s Air – Affleck’s crowd-pleasing drama about Nike and the birth of Air Jordan – the pair now pivot into a full-throttle Joe Carnahan action thriller, and Atad notes that the film gives viewers exactly what they’re hoping for… along with a few surprises along the way.

Critically, the film is off to a very strong start. The RIP currently sits at a highly encouraging 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. RogerEbert.com handed it a near-perfect 3/4 and argued that Carnahan’s direction is so sharp there’s “not a false note” in the ensemble. Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam also singled out the movie’s structure and twists, emphasizing that the plot holds together and continually reframes what came before – forcing audiences to rethink who the “good guys” even are in a world built on temptation and moral rot.

The RIP Proves Netflix Still Knows How to Do Straightforward, High-Impact Action

Not every outlet was equally ecstatic, but even the more tempered reactions still suggest a solid genre performer. Collider called the movie “solid enough” to earn a mild recommendation, while ScreenRant described it as a film that occasionally feels like it’s “cosplaying” as a tense, twisty thriller. Even so, most early impressions point to a lean, intense action ride that should satisfy fans of the format.

KKFI-FM added another near-perfect 4/5, boiling down the appeal to one central hook: the movie delivers plenty of action while challenging viewers to keep guessing about who can actually be trusted – if anyone. That sentiment was echoed by Loud and Clear Reviews and Zach Pope Reviews, both awarding 4/5. Loud and Clear described it as a suspenseful cop thriller packed with sharp twists, fun action, and believable performances. Zach Pope put it even more bluntly: dirty cops, millions of dollars, Damon, Affleck, and massive shootouts – “what more could you ask for?”

Directed by Joe Carnahan, The RIP boasts a stacked cast beyond its two headliners, including Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler. The movie is streaming now on Netflix, and its official synopsis reads as follows:

“Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question – including who they can rely on.”

Source: MovieWeb