Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are back together, and this time they are trading classroom angst for night shift danger. The lifelong friends and “Good Will Hunting” duo reunite in “The Rip,” a gritty Netflix action thriller that plants them in the middle of a high-stakes moral mess. They play Miami cops who stumble upon millions of dollars hidden inside a rundown warehouse, a discovery that turns one chaotic night into a pressure cooker of violence, loyalty, and hard choices.
Directed by Joe Carnahan, “The Rip” blends psychological conflict with adrenaline-fueled shootouts, positioning itself as Netflix’s first major big-budget movie release of the year. The film taps into the long tradition of Miami cop stories, standing shoulder to shoulder with classics like “Miami Vice” and “Bad Boys.” Yet this is not a glossy postcard version of the city. “The Rip” leans into shadows, sweat, and moral ambiguity, offering a darker and more grounded take on law enforcement in the Magic City.
A Gritty One-Night Thriller in the Miami Cop Canon
What makes “The Rip” compelling is its tight timeline and escalating tension. The story unfolds over a single night, following Affleck and Damon’s characters as they navigate corrupt colleagues, DEA pressure, and the haunting question of what they are willing to sacrifice for survival. The action comes fast and loud, but the real tension lives in the quiet moments, where trust frays and long-held values are tested.
Carnahan’s direction favors raw energy over spectacle. Shootouts feel claustrophobic, decisions feel irreversible, and the city itself becomes an oppressive presence rather than a glamorous backdrop. This approach places "The Rip" firmly within the Miami cop canon while carving out its own identity as a lean, character-driven thriller.
Where Was ‘The Rip’ Filmed?
Despite its unmistakable Miami setting, “The Rip” was not filmed primarily in Florida. In a move that will surprise even seasoned film location fans, most of the production took place far from South Beach sunshine. The filmmakers instead relied on New Jersey and Los Angeles to recreate a rougher, less romanticized version of Miami.
The choice makes sense. “The Rip” is not interested in beaches, pastel suits, or nightlife excess. It is about warehouses, industrial zones, and streets that feel dangerous after dark. These environments were easier and more practical to control outside Florida, while still capturing the right mood.
Hudson County, New Jersey, Takes Center Stage
Hudson County, New Jersey, plays a major role in “The Rip,” with several of its cities transformed to double as Miami neighborhoods. During late 2024, when filming was underway, the cast and crew were spotted shooting scenes across Bayonne. The city is no stranger to Hollywood attention. Previous productions filmed there include Ron Howard’s “A Beautiful Mind” and Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” making it a familiar stand-in for gritty urban landscapes.
Production also moved north to Moonachie, another New Jersey borough that provided industrial backdrops ideal for the film’s warehouse scenes and nighttime action. These locations helped sell the illusion of a tougher Miami, one defined by concrete, shadows, and tension rather than palm trees.
Hoboken’s Cinematic Legacy Continues
Matt Damon also filmed scenes in Hoboken, a riverside city with deep cinematic roots. Hoboken famously appeared in the Marlon Brando classic “On the Waterfront” and more recently in the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” “In The Rip,” Hoboken’s streets and waterfront areas were redressed to match the film’s Miami aesthetic, proving once again how adaptable the city is for filmmakers.
Los Angeles Steps In as Miami
Los Angeles rounds out the film’s primary shooting locations. Various LA neighborhoods were carefully redressed to stand in for Miami streets, particularly for action-heavy sequences. Some of the film’s drone shots were captured in California as well, using the city’s sprawling landscapes to heighten the scale of explosions, chases, and shootouts that surround the late-shift cops at the story’s center.
While principal photography did not take place in Miami, the city was not absent. A handful of establishing shots and exterior footage were filmed on location to ground the story in reality. Viewers can spot recognizable Miami landmarks such as the Kaseya Centre, the Port of Miami, and the striking One Thousand Museum building. These moments act as visual anchors, reminding audiences exactly where the story is meant to unfold.