Ben Affleck’s New Action Thriller Becomes Huge Netflix Hit With Almost 80 Million Hours Viewed

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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon first gained fame together with the acclaimed film Good Will Hunting, and have remained a leading pair in Hollywood ever since. They’ve collaborated on several successful movies over the years, including Dogma, The Last Duel, and Air, proving they have great chemistry on screen. That’s why there was a lot of anticipation for their newest project, the crime thriller The Rip. Released on Netflix over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in early 2026, The Rip quickly became popular, thanks to its well-known stars and compelling story.

From January 12th to 18th, the movie The Rip was the most popular title on Netflix. It earned 41.6 million views and a total of 78.3 million hours of watch time, surpassing other shows and movies like People We Meet on Vacation and One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5. Remarkably, The Rip only began streaming on January 16th, achieving these numbers in just three days.

The Rip Is Another Winner for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

January isn’t usually a great month for new movies, but The Rip is a standout. Beyond the excitement of seeing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon work together again, it’s clear why it’s popular with Netflix viewers. This film offers classic entertainment, telling a gripping story about Miami police officers who discover a huge amount of drug money during a raid. Director Joe Carnahan immediately builds suspense, delivering a thrilling and action-packed ride with plenty of twists and turns. The Rip feels like a throwback to older films, and it’s a welcome addition to what’s currently available.

No matter the type of movie, it’s always enjoyable to watch Ben Affleck and Matt Damon together on screen. Their real-life friendship creates a believable and interesting connection between their characters. In The Rip, they both convincingly play seasoned police officers, and their interactions effectively show how serious the situation is. They handle the emotional scenes well and also demonstrate their ability to perform action sequences. The supporting actors are also excellent, especially Kyle Chandler as a DEA agent and Steven Yeun as part of the tactical team. The whole group of detectives feels like a team with a shared history, thanks to the natural chemistry between the actors.

Given that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon star in it, it’s surprising The Rip didn’t play in theaters. It would have been interesting to see how audiences reacted to it. The film is well-regarded (with an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes) and could have potentially done well in a slower month like January, similar to how Den of Thieves performed. However, people’s moviegoing habits have changed a lot. Now, they’re more careful about what they see in theaters, and with shorter theatrical releases and so many streaming options, it’s easy to wait and watch at home. The Rip is a good film, but it likely would have struggled in theaters before finding an audience. Netflix made a smart decision by releasing it directly on their platform. Now, it can be considered a success without the risk of being labeled a box office failure.

Damon is having a good run on Netflix! Following the success of his popular 2019 film Ford v Ferrari a few weeks ago, his new movie, The Rip, is also performing well. Several other films starring Damon are currently available on the platform, and it will be interesting to see if The Rip‘s popularity boosts their viewership. With excitement building for this summer’s The Odyssey, fans looking for more Damon movies have plenty to choose from on Netflix.

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2026-01-24 17:40