The True Story Behind Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s The Rip

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The house on 169th Terrace in Miami Lakes was located on a peaceful, tree-lined street of large, attractive homes. It seemed ordinary, giving no indication of what lay inside, until June 29, 2016. On that day, Officer Chris Casiano of the Miami-Dade Police and his narcotics team searched the property. What began as the culmination of a long-term drug investigation quickly turned into something far more unexpected when the team found something startling.

An old garden rake in the attic had a wire leading into the wall. When an officer picked it up, a section of drywall broke away, revealing a hidden room behind a false wall. Inside, they found 24 orange buckets—bought from Home Depot—filled with stacks of $100 bills. The total: $24 million. It was the largest single cash seizure ever made by the Miami-Dade Police Department, and officers had to use sledgehammers to get the buckets out.

The events of that night served as the basis for The Rip, a new crime thriller coming to Netflix on January 16th. Starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Kyle Chandler, the film—inspired by a true story—focuses not only on a high-stakes raid, but also on its aftermath. It explores how a large sum of money can challenge people’s morals, test friendships, and blur the lines between doing the right thing and giving in to temptation, especially when there’s no way out. The film portrays officers caught in a difficult situation, forced to count the money while realizing it’s made them vulnerable, and as suspicion grows among them.

According to writer-director Joe Carnahan, the film’s success hinges on the small, intricate aspects of the story. Ultimately, it’s a film about people and the importance of their relationships – the bonds with teammates, friends, and loved ones.

The real raid

A lengthy investigation into a large marijuana trafficking network—one that spanned from South Florida to Tennessee—finally resulted in a raid that would later become the basis for the story in The Rip. The investigation involved extensive surveillance, informants, wiretaps, and close cooperation between law enforcement agencies in multiple states.

In June 2016, Casiano and his team searched the Miami Lakes home of Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez, who owned Blossom Experience, a gardening supply store in North Miami. The store was popular with marijuana growers nationwide, and authorities suspected it was a cover for illegal activity. Hernandez-Gonzalez had been under investigation for several years.

Investigators often tracked customers after they visited his store. In 2005, the Drug Enforcement Administration monitored Hernandez-Gonzalez and reported he talked about selling marijuana, but no charges were filed. Five years later, an informant secretly recorded him talking about how to grow marijuana and offering to buy a future harvest, but he still wasn’t arrested.

Things shifted in 2016 when authorities overheard Hernandez-Gonzalez advising marijuana traffickers in South Florida who had been arrested by federal agents in Tennessee. Investigators then raided his business and followed up with a search of his home in Miami Lakes.

As the narcotics team approached the house, their drug-sniffing dog clearly signaled it had found something – it started to urinate, indicating a large amount of cash was close by. The officers knew their hunch was right.

Hidden in the attic, behind some wall panels and accessible only through a secret opening, investigators found twenty-four five-gallon buckets filled with stacks of $100 bills. They also discovered marijuana labeled “Chernobyl” and “Super Skunk,” four kinds of steroids, and a loaded TEC-9 pistol.

Official procedures required Miami-Dade police officers to manually count any seized cash twice, right at the location, before leaving—a measure intended to ensure everything was done correctly. However, this often meant Officer Casiano and his team were stuck inside a house for hours, easily seen by neighbors, and guarding a large amount of money that could easily attract unwanted attention. Security cameras recorded their activity, and Casiano immediately worried someone was observing them, and even worse, might try to steal the cash.

After more than a day of counting, the total came to $24 million—the largest amount ever seized by the department up to that point. Remarkably, not a single dollar was taken by anyone involved.

Hernandez-Gonzalez first faced state charges for drug and money laundering. However, after investigators discovered he was making small bank deposits to avoid raising suspicion, he was charged federally. In 2018, he received a 65-month prison sentence for these financial crimes related to the illegal operation.

Casiano never forgot that night, and the story eventually captivated Carnahan. Carnahan first heard it while working with Casiano on the 2020 film Bad Boys for Life. Though Carnahan later moved on from the project, both men remained friends, and the story continued to be shared.

I remember Carnahan telling me how Casiano perfectly captured the feeling of that night. He said, and it really stuck with me, that seeing that much money just…corrupts you. It does something awful to a person’s spirit.

When grief reshaped the story

When Casiano’s little boy, Jake, tragically passed away from cancer in 2021, it really shifted things for Carnahan and the whole movie. It made him rethink the script, and you can feel it on screen. Damon’s character, Lt. Dumars, now carries this heavy weight of losing a son himself. It transformed the film from just a crime thriller into something much more personal – a really moving story about grief and where do you even go with that kind of pain.

Carnahan wanted Casiano to feel comfortable with how the story was presented and would have respected his decision to stop the project if he’d asked. However, Casiano was deeply touched by the sensitive way his son’s story was told. Though hesitant to read the script due to its personal nature, he was incredibly impressed once he did. The film, The Rip, is dedicated to Jake, and his name appears first in the closing credits.

After Carnahan finalized the script in just five weeks, the project quickly gained momentum. He shared it with Dani Bernfeld at Artists Equity, the production company co-founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Damon read it first, and Affleck called the next day, both immediately signing on. The timing was ideal – Damon was free, and a delay on another of Affleck’s projects meant they could start production right away. As Carnahan puts it, everything fell perfectly into place – a rare and fortunate situation.

When adapting the true story for the film, Carnahan made some changes while staying true to the core events. Character names were altered, but the characters were still based on real people. The amount of money stolen was updated to $20 million. The real target of the robbery, Hernandez-Gonzalez, was reimagined as a young woman named Desi, portrayed by Sasha Calle. However, key details from the actual event were kept, including the hidden wall, the buckets used to carry the money, and the dog that initially detected the cash. Even a line spoken by the dog handler – “There has to be a lot more money inside” – was almost exactly as it was said that night.

What long history brings

The project worked so well because of the connection between its stars, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They’ve been friends since childhood, growing up together in Boston before becoming famous. That long history – something you can’t fake – shines through in their natural chemistry, the way they finish each other’s sentences, and the comfortable silences they share on screen.

Damon stars as Dumars, who’s just been made leader of the team, while Affleck plays Det. Sgt. Byrne, a veteran officer who now has to take orders from him. This new arrangement creates tension, raising questions about whether they can maintain their friendship and loyalty when their roles and power shift.

To make their performances realistic, both Damon and Affleck spent time with the Miami police, observing officers and learning about their jobs. Damon rode with the officer who served as the inspiration for his character, gaining insight into police procedures and the challenges of the job. Affleck’s research highlighted the close bonds and unique dynamics within high-pressure work environments. This direct experience then influenced how the actors behaved, interacted, and moved on set, adding authenticity to their portrayal.

Carnahan demonstrated his dedication through small but significant actions. For example, before filming one scene, he spent almost 40 minutes meticulously discussing it with Jason Damon and Steven Yeun, carefully considering every line of dialogue. This conversation completely changed the scene, reducing it from a lengthy page-and-a-half to just two words. As Carnahan remembers, it was a remarkable process to witness.

While filming, director Gavin O’Connor often let the cameras continue running even after the official scenes were finished, asking the actors to stay in character during breaks. Real police officers, who were often extras, also participated by continuing to act like a working team, chatting and using realistic police jargon. This technique helped the actors stay focused and feel more natural, even when not directly involved in the main action, creating a sense of ongoing realism when the cameras started rolling again.

A key scene with Taylor and Moreno perfectly illustrates the film’s take on temptation. Moreno’s character briefly considers keeping some of the recovered money, picturing how it could benefit her family. As director Carnahan explains, “You really see her imagining a better life for her children, and all the good things money could provide.”

What remains after the counting stops

I have to say, Carnahan really nailed the atmosphere in The Rip. It’s not a film filled with chases or explosions; instead, it’s a masterclass in building tension through incredibly uncomfortable waiting. The story puts these characters in a situation where a ton of money is just there, and the real drama isn’t about if someone will take it, but when, and what the consequences will be. It’s a slow burn that really gets under your skin as you watch loyalties get stretched to the breaking point and morals are constantly tested.

The film was deeply personal for Carnahan, going beyond just recounting an incredible night. It was a dedication to a friend who experienced every parent’s worst nightmare, a way to transform unimaginable pain into a lasting story. Ultimately, Carnahan realized that the financial success of the film was less important than the person he became through the experience.

At the heart of The Rip is a story about enduring friendships, personal values, and how true character isn’t built through ease, but shown during difficult times. It explores how choices matter and how their effects spread outwards, impacting everyone involved.

Carnahan wants viewers to leave the movie feeling thoughtful. He encourages them to consider their loved ones, those they’ve lost, and how precious and fleeting life can be. But he also wants to deliver pure entertainment. Ultimately, he hopes audiences will feel like they just watched a really fun, action-packed police thriller.

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2026-01-16 23:07