Written
and directed by Joe Carnahan, the action film The Rip was released on Netflix on January 16, 2026. Starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the film is said to be 'based' on the true story of Miami-Dade County Police Captain Chris Casiano. Now, two law enforcement officers in the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office named Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana have sued Affleck and Damon's company, Artists Equity, over their depiction in the film. The officers allege that the actors' portrayal in the film has harmed their professional and personal reputations, as it implies improper behaviour. Find out more below.
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon sued by Miami police officers over The Rip
As per a report in
Entertainment Weekly, officers Smith and Santana have stated that the characters
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon depicted in
The Rip have caused their personal and professional reputations 'substantial harm.' They allege that the movie advertises and implies 'misconduct, poor judgment and unethical behavior in connection with a real law enforcement operation.' The actors' production company, Artists Equity, has not responded to their claims yet.
The Netflix film opens with the claim that it was “inspired by true events.” The officers' lawsuit refers to a June 2016 case where over $21 million was seized during an operation. Despite the fact that Smith and Santana's names do not come up in the action film, their lawsuit states that the film using "unique, non-generic details of the June 29, 2016, investigation, combined with its Miami-Dade setting and portrayal of a narcotics team, creates a reasonable inference that the officers depicted are Plaintiffs.”
What are the police officers' demands?
In the film, Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumar and Affleck essays the role of Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck). Their characters engage in corrupt activities, and Byrne even kills a DEA agent. However, the report also reveals that the defendants responded to the plaintiffs’ attorneys after the film's release and shared their concerns were unfounded because they were not named. Also, they shared there was no implication that the plaintiffs had engaged in any misconduct in the feature.
Smith and Santana want "a public retraction and correction," which includes "a prominent disclaimer" added to the movie on Netflix. Additionally, they are also seeking “compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees."
More about The Rip
Dumar and Bryne are part of the Tactical Narcotics Team in Miami. When they find $20 million in cash on their latest assignment, the team, which also includes Detective Mike Ro (Steven Yeun), Detective Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor), and Detective Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandino Moreno), begins to have a few arguments. Kyle Chandler and Sasha Calle are also part of the cast. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
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