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Netflix Hit ‘The Rip’ Fuels Damon, Affleck Critique of Phone-Era Storytelling

Damon says Netflix’s engagement rules are reshaping scripts for phone-first viewing.

Overview

  • The Rip sits at No. 1 on Netflix’s charts as the film’s success drives a wider conversation about streaming-era craft.
  • On the Joe Rogan podcast, Matt Damon said Netflix pushes for a major hook in the first five minutes and for key plot points to be repeated three or four times to accommodate distracted viewers.
  • Damon contrasted theatergoing as a focused, communal ritual with at-home viewing where phones, kids and pets fracture attention.
  • Ben Affleck pointed to the British miniseries Adolescence as a counterexample that avoids early action and heavy exposition yet still drew strong audience response, with one outlet reporting 97 million views in three weeks.
  • Damon and Affleck secured success-based bonuses for their crew on The Rip, a rare departure from Netflix’s typical upfront-only pay model reported by industry outlets.