The Rip is a crime thriller movie that premiered on Netflix in 2026. It centers on a team of Miami police officers from the Tactical Narcotics Team who raid a stash house expecting drugs but instead uncover over $20 million in cartel cash. As the team counts the money on-site due to local rules, external threats and internal suspicions emerge, testing loyalties and revealing hidden betrayals.
The story, inspired by real events, follows Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Detective Sergeant JD Byrne as they navigate corruption within their ranks following the murder of their captain, Jackie Velez. Directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the film blends action with moral questions about trust in law enforcement. Viewers can watch The Rip exclusively on Netflix, where it was released on January 16, 2026, and remains available for streaming worldwide.
With a runtime of 113 minutes, it has garnered attention for its twists and character-driven plot, drawing from a 2016 real-life drug bust in Miami. The narrative builds suspense through a confined setting, leading to a climactic resolution that clarifies the final decision amid chaos.
The Rip: Plot overview
The movie opens with the murder of Captain Jackie Velez by masked gunmen, setting off an FBI investigation into possible corruption in the Miami police. Lieutenant Dane Dumars receives an anonymous tip about a stash house in Hialeah, leading his team—including JD Byrne, Mike Ro, Numa Baptiste, and Lolo Salazar—to the location. They discover buckets of cash hidden in the attic, totaling more than $20 million, belonging to a cartel. Desi, the homeowner’s granddaughter, explains she stored it for the cartel to pay off debts but cooperates with the police.
Due to Florida regulations, the money must be counted on-site, and no backup can be called, heightening isolation. Threats arrive via phone, warning the team to leave, and gunfire erupts outside. Dumars confiscates phones to prevent leaks, but tensions escalate as team members accuse each other of planning a theft, known as a “rip.” A cartel lookout confirms the cartel is not attacking, pointing to internal betrayal.
The group arms up, and a fire breaks out, forcing them to load the money into an armored DEA truck driven by Agent Matty Nix. Throughout, Dumars feeds different cash estimates to each member to identify a mole. The plot culminates in a chase, exposing the true plan behind the raid.
Uncovering the traitor’s identity
As suspicions mount, Dumars’ strategy to reveal the traitor involves telling each team member a different amount for the seized cash: $300,000 to Byrne, $250,000 to Baptiste, $75,000 to Salazar, and $150,000 to Ro. A threatening call mentions “no one needs to die over $150,000,” directly matching what Ro was told, confirming him as the leaker. Ro uses a hidden burner phone to coordinate, and when confronted in the armored truck, he redials a number that connects to DEA Agent Matty Nix, exposing their partnership.
Nix and Ro form a corrupt “heist team” that targets cartel stash houses for personal gain. Their involvement becomes clear during the transport when Nix opens fire after realizing the plan is a setup. Byrne, having alerted his FBI brother Del, leads to a blockade. Ro flees on foot but is arrested by Dumars, while Nix is killed in a shootout. This revelation clears the loyal members, as Baptiste and Salazar remain uninvolved. The traitors’ actions stem from greed, contrasting the team’s protocol adherence. Desi’s cooperation as an informant aids in piecing together the betrayal
The truth behind Jackie’s death
Captain Jackie Velez is killed in the film’s opening by masked assailants, who are later revealed as Mike Ro and Matty Nix. Velez had tipped off the stash house as bait to expose the corrupt heist team within the police, having learned of their operations through her informant, Desi. Ro and Nix murdered her to silence the threat, as she was close to reporting their thefts from crime scenes. This act sparks the FBI probe into the Tactical Narcotics Team. Dumars, Velez’s second-in-command, uses her final text about the Hialeah house to continue the trap.
During the raid, flashbacks and confrontations show Velez was not corrupt but dedicated to cleaning up the force. Byrne, in a relationship with her, seeks vengeance, ultimately shooting Nix. The murder ties into broader corruption, where killing a cop protects their rip schemes. Desi confirms Velez warned her not to trust other officers. The resolution honors Velez, with the team removing memorial bands from their shields. Her death drives the narrative, emphasizing the cost of integrity in law enforcement. The cartel denies involvement, focusing suspicion inward.
The final twist with the money
The central twist reveals that the $20 million in cartel cash was never loaded onto the DEA truck for transport. Instead, the bags contained decoys like phone books or Yellow Pages from the stash house. Dumars and Byrne orchestrated this to bait the traitors without risking the actual funds. After the shootout and arrests, Baptiste, Salazar, and Desi deliver the real money to federal authorities for counting. The DEA verifies the exact amount—$20,650,480, with no discrepancies, clearing the team of theft suspicions.
Desi, as the cooperating informant, receives a 20% cut, amounting to about $4 million, plus FBI protection from cartel retaliation. The cartel abandons the cash, stating it’s not worth the bloodshed. This outcome upholds protocol, as Miami rules require on-site counting and independent reporting to prevent skimming. The twist underscores the fake rip plan’s success in exposing corruption while securing the seizure. It ties back to real-life inspirations, where precise tallies prevent fraud. No team members profit illicitly.
Symbolism in the ending and beach scene
The film The Rip closes with Dumars and Byrne on a Miami beach at sunrise, toasting to Jackie Velez and watching a young girl named Jackie dance, interpreted as a possible sign from beyond. This scene symbolizes renewal and closure after betrayal, echoing Velez’s phrase “live to see another sunrise.” Dumars’ hand tattoos—”A.W.T.G.G.” (Are We The Good Guys?) on the left and “W.A.A.W.B.” (We Are And Always Will Be) on the right—represent his final exchange with his dying son, highlighting themes of morality and legacy amid grief. The sunrise reflects redemption, contrasting the night’s chaos.
The child’s name evokes Velez’s memory, suggesting her influence persists. Broader symbolism includes the confined stash house as a pressure cooker for trust, and the empty truck as deception’s tool for justice. These elements blend personal loss with professional duty, questioning ethics in policing without resolving all ambiguities. The beach provides emotional resolution, affirming the protagonists’ integrity despite temptations. Grief shapes character motivations.
Real-life inspiration and dedication
The Rip draws from a 2016 Miami drug bust where officer Chris Casiano uncovered $24 million in cash, inspiring the stash house raid and precise counting protocols. Casiano served as technical advisor, ensuring authenticity. The film fictionalizes corruption elements but incorporates Casiano’s personal tragedy: his son Jake William Casiano died of leukemia in 2021 at age 11. This informs Dumars’ backstory, where his son asks “Are we the good guys?” before passing, mirrored in the tattoos.
The end credits dedicate the movie “In Loving Memory of Jake William Casiano,” placed first to honor him as the story’s emotional core. Director Joe Carnahan obtained Casiano’s permission to include this, viewing it as a “living monument” to Jake rather than exploitation. The tribute elevates the thriller by grounding it in real human loss, blending fiction with tribute. Production details include filming in Los Angeles and New Jersey, with a $100 million budget.
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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