Netflix’s new action-thriller movie got 41 million viewers in a single weekend — and it deserves every single one

Less than a week after its debut, Netflix’s new action-thriller original is a rip-roaring success. “The Rip” not only shot to the No. 1 spot in the streaming service’s top 10 most-watched list in less than 24 hours, but in just a single weekend, it pulled in a colossal 41.6 million views (per Netflix's own data).

The Matt Damon and Ben Affleck-fronted thriller is now an early frontrunner for the biggest Netflix movie of 2026, and it’s only January. For the sake of comparison, Netflix’s other tentpole original film of the year so far, glossy rom-com “People We Meet on Vacation,” pulled in less than half the viewers, 17.2 million views in its opening weekend. “The Rip” looks to be a juggernaut.

I’m not usually one to get invested in streaming figures. While I do enjoy tracking the theatrical box office (I’m an unashamed movie nerd), how many Netflix subscribers watch a new movie or TV show isn’t typically of significant interest to me. However, in the case of “The Rip,” I believe this impressive early success is a big boon not just for Netflix itself, but also for the movie’s cast and crew, as well as potentially a very good thing for us regular viewers.

I’m thrilled 'The Rip' has been so successful on Netflix already

The Rip | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

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To set out my stable, I really enjoyed “The Rip.” It’s a tight-wound and deliciously tense thriller that focuses on a group of Miami cops who stumble upon an eye-watering stash of cash while searching a derelict house. This leads to growing paranoia as they attempt to figure out whose money they’ve just found, and are forced to question if their squadmates can be trusted.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are frequent collaborators and work supremely well as an on-screen partnership. Plus, the supporting cast is strong with Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler. It’s not perfect; the big twist is telegraphed a little too much, and the third act, which switches the focus to action over thriller-style tension, is rather cookie-cutter, but overall “The Rip” is well worth your time, and it deserves its ranking as Netflix's current No. 1.

I’ve bemoaned Netflix’s lack of quality when it comes to original movies plenty over the recent years. I felt that 2025 was a particularly weak year for its slate. However, I’m hoping the success of “The Rip” will serve as a reminder to the platform’s bigwigs that when you invest in a quality product, you are often rewarded with high subscriber interest. Granted, this idea is blunted by the many subpar Netflix movies with high viewing figures. But still, I’ve got my fingers crossed that the streamer takes the right lessons from “The Rip.”

Moreover, “The Rip” represents a new way of Netflix doing business. Earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Damon and Affleck had thrashed out an agreement with Netflix that will see the cast and crew rewarded with a one-time financial bonus if the movie reaches certain performance metrics. With more than 41 million views in just a single weekend, I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t well on course to meet its target.

As somebody who cares deeply about the movie-making business and has serious concerns about how the rise of streaming and decline of movie theaters are impacting the Hollywood machine, this unexpected agreement could signal a new way forward for the industry.

It ensures that creatives and crew are still adequately compensated for their effort even without a theatrical release. “We wanted to institute fairness and address some of the real issues that are present and urgent for our business,” said Affleck of the agreement in an interview with The New York Times.

So, from top to bottom, it really does feel like everybody is winning with “The Rip.” Netflix gets a great piece of original content (with a solid 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes), the cast and crew are rightfully rewarded for their hard work, and we, the Netflix viewers, get a gripping action-thriller movie to enjoy from the comfort of our homes. Consider me happy.

Watch "The Rip" on Netflix now

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