Ben Affleck and Matt Damon debut matching beards for 28-year onscreen reunion

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have reunited for ‘The Rip,’ a gritty new Netflix crime thriller that drops January 16, 2026. In their latest project, the pair sport near-identical rugged beards, adding a new layer to their longtime on-screen chemistry.

It’s a reunion 28 years in the making since their breakout moment in ‘Good Will Hunting’, and fans are here for it. Affleck, 52, and Damon, 54, take on the roles of Miami cops caught in a tangled web of distrust, cash, and corruption.

Ben and Matt’s onscreen reunion after almost three decades

“Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question, including who they can rely on,” the official synopsis reads.

The film also stars Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Kyle Chandler, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, and Scott Adkins. It’s written and directed by Joe Carnahan (The A-Team, The Grey), who drew inspiration from personal ties to Miami narcotics officers and his love for ’70s-era police dramas.

“Every time I act with Matt is a humbling experience,” Ben said.

Ben and Matt’s reunion after almost three decades:

Damon recently reflected on a conversation sparked by Peter Jackson’s ‘Get Back’ documentary, which reminded him how fleeting creative collaborations can be.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have reunited for ‘The Rip,’ a gritty new Netflix crime thriller

“I started crying,” Damon told GQ. “I told Ben, ‘Who cares if we oversaturate the marketplace with movies we’re both in? We’re crazy if we don’t take advantage of the fact that we are both still here and able to do this.'”

The pair isn’t just starring, they’re producing the film through their joint production company, Artists Equity. Since launching the venture in 2022, the company has already produced several projects, including the Nike drama Air (2023), the Jennifer Lopez documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told (2024), and the Berlin-premiered Small Things Like These.

Affleck, 52, and Damon, 54, take on the roles of Miami cops

Luciana Damon, Matt’s wife, is also credited as a producer on ‘The Rip,’ having previously worked on ‘The Instigators,’ which starred Damon and Ben’s brother, Casey Affleck. She’s also attached to Ben’s upcoming film ‘Animals.’

Their dynamic in ‘The Rip’ plays to their familiar strengths. Affleck takes the louder, more forceful role, while Damon goes internal, subtle, restrained. “Well, someone’s gotta put the movie on their back,” Damon joked. “I don’t know, maybe he’s just a more versatile actor than I am. But I don’t think that’s intentional… We’ve got more movies to make together, so maybe we can switch it up a little more.”

Teyana Taylor, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Steven Yeun, and Catalina Sandino Moreno promoting their new movie during NETFLIX TUDUM 2025: THE LIVE EVENT

Affleck countered with a laugh, but added, “I bet Matt wouldn’t trade places with me. I think that started in some ways with the Good Will Hunting template and also frankly because Matt has probably always been considered a more bankable or reliable leading man, maybe?”

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

“Every time I act with Matt is a humbling experience because I learn to appreciate further just how good an actor he is,” he said. “He is so understated, so real and so honest, it’s the opposite of a ‘showy’ performance, and I think what he does is more difficult… It’s almost impossible to catch Matt acting. He is really a master of realism, and it’s something I deeply admire about him. One of many things.”

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon promoting their new movie during NETFLIX TUDUM 2025: THE LIVE EVENT

Affleck and Damon’s friendship dates back to high school, and their professional bond has remained solid through the years. ‘Good Will Hunting,’ which earned them their first Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1998, catapulted them into Hollywood’s A-list. At the time, Damon was 27, Affleck just 25, a record that still makes Ben the youngest-ever winner in that category.

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