Joe Carnahan’s ‘The RIP’ Hits Netflix With $100M Budget and Review Embargo Still Not Lifted

After midnight tonight, at 3 a.m., Netflix will release a new film starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Teyana Taylor—without any reviews available.

“The RIP” is directed by Joe Carnahan, a filmmaker known for both hits and misses. The movie is an action-packed tale centered on drug cartels, though the review embargo remains firmly in place. I personally didn’t receive a screener from Netflix, despite having requested one.

In case you didn’t get the gist, “The RIP” will be skipping theaters entirely, opting instead for a straight-to-streaming launch. It’s not Oscar bait, following a group of Miami cops whose trust begins to unravel after they find millions in cash inside a derelict stash house.

Carnahan wrote the script and shopped it around before Affleck and Damon jumped on board, which, let’s face it, can definitely help get a project moving. Netflix came in shortly thereafter. All parties involved knew full well that this would go straight to streaming.

A recent The New York Times piece put the budget for “The RIP” at around $100 million in total expenses, making it a significant investment for Netflix and Artists Equity’s unique deal.

The good news for Affleck is that “The RIP” has led to a new Netflix partnership—the streamer is backing his next directorial effort, “Animals,” which is expected to hit in September.

As for Carnahan, his 2002 breakout “Narc” remains the best thing he’s done—raw, intense, and stylish in all the right ways. Everything since has lived in its shadow. He has leaned hard into pulpy, high-octane genre fare. His other notable directing credits include “The Grey,” “Smokin’ Aces,” “Copshop,” “Stretch,” “Boss Level,” and “The A-Team.”