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Mild spoilers follow for The R.I.P..

I’m a big fan of movies starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. I’ve really enjoyed the films in which only one of them appears, but there’s no denying that the projects in which they’re both involved – Goodwill Hunt, DogmaAnd Air to name just three, they have a certain magic.

So color me intrigued when the first trailer for The R.I.P.the first film in nearly three years in which they shared screen time, was released in late 2025. A crime thriller with a talented cast and a seemingly twisty plot, it bore the telltale signs of being Netflix’s next blockbuster film.

As pleasant as the ride is, The R.I.P. is simply a serviceable film. While engaging to a certain extent, it lacks originality and the shock storytelling needed to stand out from the genre pack.

Are we the good guys?

Inspired by real events, The R.I.P. introduces us to Lt. Dane Dumars (Damon) and Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck), who lead a crime-fighting task force known as the Tactical Narcotics Team – or TNT for short – in Miami, Florida.

When an anonymous tip about a hideout comes in one evening, Dane rounds up the troops – JD, Mike Ro (Steven Yeun), Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor) and Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandino Moreno) – to investigate. Arriving at a property where nervous Desi (Sasha Calle) lives, the group soon discovers $20 million hidden in the attic.

Given the size of the stash, it doesn’t take long for confidence and tempers to crumble over whether to call it in or, for reasons that will become clear later, pocket the money. And when outside forces – the DEA, a local cartel and another mysterious faction – become aware of what has been discovered, Dane, JD and co. must determine who they can count on and whether they will survive until morning.

SO, The R.I.P. Is there yet another examination of institutional corruption within law enforcement agencies? In a word, yes. As with any story involving crooked cops, the suspicious nature displayed by each character is what will keep you engaged throughout its nearly two hours as you try to determine who will betray who.

That said, The R.I.P. would have better sustained the momentum of this particular puzzle if it wasn’t determined to position Dane as the officer who appears to be behind the money heist suggestion.

Indeed, The R.I.P.The trailers for and its first act go to great lengths to set him up as the prime suspect. Despite the spoilers, things are not as simple as they seem. Still, I would have been more invested in solving the mystery before the big reveal in the third act if The R.I.P. had actively explored the deceptive nature and motivations of other TNT members much earlier and more thoroughly than she does.

Whether through character actions or serpentine narratives, similar genres like Prisoners, MementoAnd missing girl – ironically, the last of this trio also stars Affleck – and classic thrillers keep you guessing from the start and/or until their climax.

Try as it might, it might elicit the same kind of mind-blowing response when its big twist occurs, The R.I.P. did not create the tension necessary to elicit such a reaction when the time came. It doesn’t fall flat on its own, and I’m sure the unexpected twist will surprise some viewers, but I expected more from a film whose primary intention is to entertain via unpredictability and the apparent unreliability of someone in the ranks of TNT.

Act on impulse

SO, The R.I.P. is sorely lacking in the storytelling department, but what about the performance of its all-star cast?

As if there was any doubt, Damon and Affleck’s on-screen chemistry is as captivating as ever. The natural, natural rapport they exhibit ensures that the bond between Dane and JD is as close and magnetic as the actors’ own relationship. Both men bounce off each other easily, as their testosterone-driven characters clash with their superiors – and each other – in spicy and risky circumstances.

The R.I.P.‘s leads are ably supported by their fellow actors, with Yeun and Calle delivering particularly convincing performances. However, other A-list actors, Moreno and 2026 Golden Globe winner Taylor, are underutilized, with their characters sometimes sidelined by the direction of the plot.

Additionally, I wish there were more opportunities to develop the dynamic between the entire group. This would have gone a long way toward explaining each individual’s actions, and would have further increased the tension and melodrama when the accusations start flying as near-total distrust takes hold.

In fact, except The R.I.P.In examining Dane and JD’s brotherhood, it is the topsy-turvy relationship of JD and his FBI-employed brother Del (Scott Adkins) that is arguably examined in more detail than Dane and/or JD’s associations with their fellow TNT members. This may not matter to some, but it’s an oversight that I’ve had a hard time overcoming.

If you want action alongside or instead of your crime-based thrills, The R.I.P. is a little undercooked in this department. Indeed, the first of its thin sequences of gunfire and vehicle chases doesn’t materialize until an hour later. Even so, while undeniably adrenaline-fueled, the gunplay and rubber-burning set pieces aren’t as chaotic or engrossing as I hoped.

My verdict

No matter how you cut it, The R.I.P. It feels like a star-studded film tailor-made for the Netflix generation. That being said, a safe, not-so-memorable film that its so-called “second screen viewing” fans will enjoy for what it is before moving on to the next thing the Netflix algorithm suggests to them.

It’s certainly not the worst movie I’ve seen on the world’s best streaming service – far from it, in fact. But, whether because of my heightened expectations for the latest Damon/Affleck project, or for a myriad of other reasons, it just didn’t work for me – and that’s a crime in itself.

RIP launches worldwide on Netflix on Friday, January 16.