{"id":2239804,"date":"2026-01-18T16:46:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T16:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2239804"},"modified":"2026-01-18T16:46:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T16:46:12","slug":"the-rip-matt-damon-and-ben-affleck-confirm-bleak-bizarre-rumour-about-netflix-original-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-rip-matt-damon-and-ben-affleck-confirm-bleak-bizarre-rumour-about-netflix-original-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rip: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck confirm bleak, bizarre rumour about Netflix original movies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-y4bm30-0 jwWhkK newsletter-component sc-1ge0fwe-0\" data-newsletter-key=\"receiveIndyArtsAndEntertainmentNews\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM fafQAy\">Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM fvWmZq\">Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM hkVmms\">Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hKcUSR sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1ix0cah-0 PYnPb sc-y4bm30-10 fUEDPX\"><use href=\"#600f53465147d717\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/indyArts1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"IndependentCulture\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ever notice that characters in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/netflix\">Netflix<\/a> original movies seem to reiterate the film\u2019s plot over and over again? Or that they always seem to say out loud what they are doing or planning on doing? It turns out it\u2019s intentional \u2013 and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/matt-damon\">Matt Damon<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/ben-affleck\">Ben Affleck<\/a> have just confirmed it.<\/p>\n<p>For years it has been speculated that Netflix <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/features\/3-body-problem-netflix-explained-b2516932.html\" title=\"Netflix\u2019s 3 Body Problem made me feel incredibly stupid \u2013 what a relief\">asks its hired screenwriters to cater to \u201ccasual viewers\u201d<\/a>, meaning those who are scrolling on their phones or performing other activities while watching. This, as suggested by journalist Will Tavlin in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nplusonemag.com\/issue-49\/essays\/casual-viewing\/\"><em>n+1<\/em><\/a> in 2025, is exemplified by characters who \u201cannounce what they\u2019re doing so that viewers who have this programme on in the background can follow along\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>While Netflix has never officially commented on these rumours, the truth may have just been outed by Damon and Affleck, the stars of the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/films\/reviews\/the-rip-movie-review-netflix-matt-damon-ben-affleck-b2901632.html\" title=\"The Rip review \u2013 What were Ben Affleck and Matt Damon thinking with this charmless Netflix dud?\">new Netflix original film<\/a> <em>The Rip<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Making an appearance on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AVEZBy1uAk8\">Joe Rogan\u2019s podcast this week<\/a>, and during a discussion about the evaporation of cinemas and the dominance of phone usage in public life, Damon said that <em>The Rip<\/em> had to abide by numerous Netflix storytelling rules.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe standard way to make an action movie, we learnt [years ago], is you usually have three set pieces,\u201d Damon explained. \u201cOne in the first act, one in the second, one in the third. You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That\u2019s your finale. And now [Netflix] are like, \u2018Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He continued, quoting Netflix: \u201c\u2018And it wouldn\u2019t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they\u2019re watching\u2019. It\u2019s really going to start to infringe on telling stories.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 FqQzY\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/01\/15\/15\/53\/RIP_20241205_WP_06997_R.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/01\/15\/15\/53\/RIP_20241205_WP_06997_R.jpeg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/01\/15\/15\/53\/RIP_20241205_WP_06997_R.jpeg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in \u2018The Rip\u2019\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in \u2018The Rip\u2019<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 exGSyR\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Netflix<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Affleck then interjected, suggesting that not all Netflix storytelling follows said rules.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut then you look at <em>Adolescence<\/em> and it didn\u2019t do any of that s***,\u201d Affleck said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s f***ing great.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat feels like more the exception though,\u201d Damon added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy feeling is that it demonstrates that you don\u2019t need to do any of that s***,\u201d concluded Affleck.<\/p>\n<p>Somewhat ironically, <em>The Rip<\/em> \u2013 which star the pair as members of a squad of Miami cops who stumble upon stolen cash \u2013 was described by <em>The Independent<\/em>\u2019s film critic Clarisse Loughrey as a movie <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/films\/reviews\/the-rip-movie-review-netflix-matt-damon-ben-affleck-b2901632.html\" title=\"The Rip review \u2013 What were Ben Affleck and Matt Damon thinking with this charmless Netflix dud?\">spoilt by some of these now-confirmed Netflix \u201crules\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She wrote: \u201cIt\u2019s a character piece that does very little with its characters, since it\u2019s been afflicted with the Netflix curse of dialogue written exclusively for people who are busy scrolling on their phones.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-0 ijrISW\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-10\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-3 bnPMtb\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-4 hqeEpq\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/mobile-stores\/Apple_TV_Plus.png\" width=\"112\" height=\"52\" alt=\"Apple TV+ logo\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-5 erkCqL\">\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-6 fwMNvw\">Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-7 euVGoL\">New subscribers only. \u00a39.99\/mo. after free trial. 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If you sign up to this service we will earn commission.<span class=\"disclaimer-break\"> This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-1 bfZJxf\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-10\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-3 bnPMtb\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-4 hqeEpq\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/mobile-stores\/Apple_TV_Plus.png\" width=\"112\" height=\"52\" alt=\"Apple TV+ logo\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-5 erkCqL\">\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-6 fwMNvw\">Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-7 euVGoL\">New subscribers only. \u00a39.99\/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-1aus1tj-1 jseGHe sc-118zqaw-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tv.apple.com\/gb\/channel\/tvs.sbd.4000?itscg=30200&amp;itsct=independent_tv&amp;ct=offer&amp;at=1000l3akK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Try for free<svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 kjmIzh sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1aus1tj-2 cChEZI\"><use href=\"#baddbaa17d236bd5\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-8 jIxPoZ\">ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission.<span class=\"disclaimer-break\"> This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While on the promotional trail for the film, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/films\/news\/matt-damon-joe-rogan-cancel-culture-b2902370.html\" title=\"Matt Damon says some people would have preferred jail to \u2018cancellation\u2019\">Damon also told Joe Rogan his thoughts on \u201ccancel culture\u201d<\/a>, which left some raising eyebrows.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.independent.co.uk \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Ever notice that characters in Netflix original movies seem to reiterate the film\u2019s plot over and over again? Or that they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1948653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2239804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Strictly-2025-BBC-loses-professional-competitor-for-new-series.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2239804"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2239805,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239804\/revisions\/2239805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1948653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2239804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2239804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2239804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}