Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Sued by Miami Cops Over Netflix’s The Rip

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The most popular Netflix release of 2026 was a thrilling action movie, loosely based on a true story. It quickly became a hit with viewers.

Nearly four months after it came out on January 16th, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company is being sued by two police officers from Miami. According to a new legal filing reported by Entertainment Weekly, the officers claim the film, The Rip, damaged their reputations through its portrayal of law enforcement and are accusing the duo of defamation.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Sued for The Rip

I’ve been following this story, and it’s pretty interesting. Apparently, two Miami-Dade Sheriff’s officers, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, are suing Affleck and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity. They’re taking issue with how law enforcement was portrayed in their new Netflix movie, The Rip. It seems they feel the depiction wasn’t accurate or fair.

Although the movie doesn’t say it directly, the lawsuit argues that the characters played by Damon and Affleck – Lieutenant Dumars and Detective Byrne – are clearly based on Smith and Santana.

The depiction in the film has allegedly caused significant damage to the individuals’ reputations, both personally and professionally. This is because the film and its promotional materials suggest they acted improperly, exercised poor judgment, and behaved unethically during an actual law enforcement investigation.

The lawsuit claims that Affleck and Damon’s company, Artists Equity, and their production company, Falco Production, intentionally damaged the plaintiff’s reputation through both direct and implied false statements. It also alleges the companies caused severe emotional distress.

We contacted Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and their company, Artists Equity, but they haven’t yet responded to the allegations. Netflix, which isn’t involved in the lawsuit, said they would not be making a statement.

What Is The Rip About?

This crime thriller centers on Lt. Dane Dumars and Detective Sgt. J.D. Byrne. During a raid on what they believe is a simple drug house, they unexpectedly find $20 million in cash belonging to a drug cartel. As they grapple with what to do next, suspicion and mistrust grow within the team, as each member begins to wonder if someone is planning to steal the money.

I was really struck by how much heart this film has. The director actually shared with Tudum that The Rip was inspired by something incredibly personal – a friend of his went through a tough time, both as a dad and while working as a leader in the Miami Dade police department’s narcotics unit. It’s amazing to see a story rooted in real life like that.

He explained that the story draws inspiration from his own life, as well as his long-standing appreciation for classic 1970s police thrillers. These films, like Serpico, Prince of the City, and more recently, Michael Mann’s Heat, focused on strong characters and the relationships between them, and have remained influential ever since.

The thriller features a strong cast including Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead, Teyana Taylor known for One Battle After Another, Sasha Calle who starred in The Flash, and Catalina Sandino Moreno from the series From. Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler, and Néstor Carbonell also appear in the film, alongside Damon and Affleck.

The series quickly became a hit, gaining 114.7 million views since it premiered on January 16th and becoming one of the year’s most popular original releases. It has also received positive reviews, earning a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating with 78% approval from critics and 65% from viewers.

The Rip is streaming on Netflix.

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2026-05-10 18:38