Miami cops are suing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon over their portrayal in The Rip

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The former Miami police officers who supposedly served as the basis for the Netflix movie ‘The Rip’ are taking Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to court, claiming they were inaccurately depicted in the film.

Joe Carnahan wrote and directed The Rip, a story about dishonesty and backstabbing inside the Miami-Dade Police Department.

In the new Netflix movie, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck play Miami detectives who stumble upon $20 million in cartel money hidden in a safe house.

I heard the movie is actually based on a true story! Apparently, it’s inspired by cops Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, who pulled off a huge drug bust – they seized over $21 million back in June 2016. Now, they’re suing the production company behind the film, Artists Equity, which was started by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It’s a pretty wild situation!

Cops suing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for “substantial harm” to reputations

Entertainment Weekly reports that the police officers involved claim the film portrays them in a way that’s easily recognizable, even though they aren’t named. They believe this has significantly damaged their reputations both personally and professionally.

The film, along with its promotional materials, suggests wrongdoing, bad decisions, and unethical actions related to an actual police operation.

Although Netflix isn’t being sued, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Falco Productions, is. They’re accused of both direct and implied defamation.

Smith and Santana have also brought a claim for “intentional infliction of emotional stress.”

Okay, so basically, the movie used a lot of specific details from the real investigation on June 29, 2016, and set it in Miami-Dade with a drug task force. Because of that, they’re saying anyone watching could easily assume the cops shown in the film are the actual people involved in the case – that’s what the lawyers are arguing, anyway.

Police previously sent “cease and desist” to The Rip filmmakers

The lawyers pointed out several instances in the film where the police didn’t follow proper procedures. They also stated that those close to the individuals involved suspect illegal funds were used for home renovations, buying cars and boats, and paying for their children’s private education.

According to the complaint, they sent a legal notice demanding the filmmakers stop in December 2025. However, after the movie was released, they were told in January 2026 that their worries were baseless. The reason given was that the film didn’t specifically mention Sergeant Smith, nor did it suggest the plaintiffs did anything wrong.

The officers are asking for financial compensation for the harm caused, as well as a larger sum to punish the filmmakers. They also want the filmmakers to cover their legal costs, issue a public apology and correction, and add a clear disclaimer to the film.

Representatives for Affleck, Damon, and Artists Equity did not respond to EW’s request for comment.

You can now watch The Rip! Check out where it ranks on our list of the best thrillers available on Netflix here.

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2026-05-11 18:19