Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Face Federal Lawsuit Over Real Cops Depicted in Netflix Film

When The Rip landed on Netflix in January 2026, it was one of the most talked-about films on the platform — a crime thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Miami narcotics officers who discover $20 million in cartel cash hidden behind a false wall. Advertised as "inspired by true events," the film drew millions of viewers and strong reviews. It also drew a lawsuit.

Two Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office sergeants — Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana — have filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Artists Equity, the production company founded by Damon and Affleck, alleging the film used enough real-world details to make them identifiable as the basis for the film's characters while simultaneously portraying those characters engaging in serious criminal misconduct that never happened.

The Real Case Behind the Film

The true story that inspired The Rip is not in dispute. In 2016, Smith and Santana were involved in a historic Miami-Dade narcotics investigation that resulted in the seizure of $21.9 million in cash linked to a suspected marijuana trafficker — found hidden behind a false wall in a Miami Lakes home. Smith was the supervising sergeant. Santana was the lead detective. It was one of the largest drug money seizures in the department's history.

The film recreates several specific details from that real bust: the Miami-Dade setting, the false wall, the cash hidden in orange buckets, and a loaded Tech-9 firearm found with the money. Those details, the lawsuit argues, are specific enough to identify Smith and Santana as the real officers behind the fictional characters Damon and Affleck portray on screen — even though their names are never used in the film.

What the Film Does With Those Details

Here is where the lawsuit's core argument lives. The Rip is not a straightforward retelling of the 2016 bust. The film's plot involves the officers discovering corruption within their own department and — in at least one scene — Affleck's character killing a DEA agent. It's the corruption and misconduct that Smith and Santana say has destroyed their professional reputations.

"The movie and its advertisements imply misconduct, poor judgment and unethical behavior in connection with a real law enforcement operation," their attorneys said in court filings. The lawsuit alleges the film caused them "substantial harm to their personal and professional reputations." As one particularly damaging data point, the complaint quotes a county prosecutor who reportedly told one of the plaintiffs after the movie came out: "I can't believe you killed another cop."

The officers are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, a public retraction and correction, and the addition of a prominent disclaimer to the film.

The Defense's Position

Artists Equity has not commented publicly on the lawsuit. But in a March 19 response to the plaintiffs' demand letter — sent before the lawsuit was filed — attorney Leita Walker wrote that the film "does not purport to tell the true story of that incident or portray real people," pointing to a disclaimer in the film's credits.

The production company also told the officers' attorneys after the film's release that their "concerns are unfounded because the film did not expressly name Sergeant Smith and there was no implication that the Plaintiffs engaged in any misconduct in the film."

That response, the plaintiffs' attorneys argue, is exactly the kind of dismissiveness that made a lawsuit necessary. The production company knew who the real officers were. The specific details connecting the fictional story to the real bust were deliberate choices. And the officers had no opportunity to consent to — or object to — how their real investigation would be used as the foundation for a story about corrupt cops.

The Technical Advisor Complication

Damon and Affleck have said publicly — including in a January interview promoting the film — that The Rip was loosely based on accounts from Miami-Dade Police Captain Chris Casiano, who served as a technical advisor on the production. Damon told the Associated Press he and Affleck spent time with Casiano and other narcotics officers to understand the dynamics of undercover work.

The lawsuit adds a wrinkle to that narrative. According to the complaint, the film credited a department member who had no actual connection to the real investigation and was paid for his consulting role — a detail the plaintiffs' attorneys appear to be using to suggest the production deliberately worked around the actual officers involved.

The Broader Argument in the Lawsuit

The lawsuit goes beyond Smith and Santana's individual claims. It accuses Hollywood broadly of negatively depicting police officers on screen, arguing that such portrayals contribute to the hiring and retention problems facing police departments across the country. The irony the complaint points to explicitly: Damon and Affleck themselves have said in interviews — including on Howard Stern — that they believe police are "underappreciated" and "underfunded."

Netflix is not named in the lawsuit. The film remains on the platform.

The case raises a question that Hollywood has wrestled with repeatedly: how much real-world detail can a film borrow from actual events before "inspired by true events" becomes something closer to defamation? Smith and Santana's attorneys believe The Rip crossed that line. A federal court in Miami will eventually decide if they're right.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.