Jennifer Garner has been a public figure for some time now and, as such, she’s more than familiar with the various elements that accompany fame. As a result, the veteran actress has had some less-than-ideal situations crop up in her personal life in which her privacy was invaded. Garner’s had plenty of run-ins with paparazzi over the years and, now, she’s opening up about how voraciously photographers pursued her (and ex-husband Ben Affleck). She even mentions red lights being run and preschoolers being knocked over.

During the 2000s, Garner and Affleck weren’t just two of the hottest stars working in Hollywood, as they also emerged as a celebrity couple and tied the knot in 2005. Garner recently reflected on the copious amount of attention she received from paps back in the early aughts. Calling the attention “totally ludicrous,” the beloved 13 Going on 30 star noted that the attention didn’t just impact her but others in proximity to her as well. While recalling traffic-related hazards, she said:

Garner is the mother of three children – Violet (20), Seraphina (17) and Samuel (13) – who she shares with Affleck. The Alias veteran also went on to detail on Netflix’s Shut Up Evan podcast how personal activities with the kids were hindered by paparazzi as well. This even came into play when one of the kids was aiming to play in a youth soccer league and during other personal moments:

Over the years, Garner has discussed some aspects of parenting her kids (who don’t tend to watch her movies). Both she and Affleck have also talked about the scrutiny they’ve faced while being in the public eye, which was particularly prominent when they began divorce proceedings in 2017. What Garner seems to care most about, though, is the way in which her kids are impacted by such attention and, amid her interview, she added this:

Many celebrities have spoken about the pitfalls of dealing with paparazzi during their daily lives. Actor Keira Knightley has spoken about obscene comments being shouted at her by photographers early in her career and, just a few years ago, Vanessa Hudgens had people snapping photos of her in the hospital after she gave birth to her first child. Many have also shared nuanced takes on constantly being captured in photos, including Michael B. Jordan, who admitted to being used to it and finding it “too quiet” when shutterbugs aren’t around.

Jennifer Garner, for her part, still understands how "privileged and lucky” she and her family are for what her fame has afforded them. Still, the entire situation, in her opinion, just became “silly.” It’s unfortunate that she and her loved ones (and others in their orbit) had to experience such pitfalls. At the very least, though, Garner seems to have a handle on it now and continues to protect her kids as she co-parents with Ben Affleck.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s relationship has long been a topic of public discussion, to say the least. When they finalized their divorce in early 2025, it seemed like JLo was ready to permanently shut that chapter of her life. The Marry Me actress claims there’s no chance of her and Affleck rekindling their romance, but their story is apparently still not over. The two are reportedly still in touch, with the Rip actor allegedly supporting his recent ex-wife from afar.

With their once-shared mansion now completely owned and vacated by JLo, you’d think there’s not much reason for the former power couple known as Bennifer to have much contact these days. Perhaps they might coordinate time to see each other’s kids, but that is allegedly not the main way Affleck has been supporting Lopez post-divorce. An inside source claimed to In Touch Weekly that the “On The Floor” actress has reportedly continued to seek out Affleck’s advice regarding her career, and the Boston native is allegedly happy to provide it:

Just before filing for divorce in August 2024, Lopez had expressed the strange dichotomy of working with Affleck as a producer on Kiss of the Spider Woman and then going home to marital problems with him. Despite that, Affleck has always been an open supporter and hype man when it comes to Lopez’s acting and, according to the source, they both purportedly missed their professional rapport:

Should this be true, it would make sense that JLo would trust her ex-husband’s opinion when it comes to her next moves in Hollywood. The Accountant actor has quite a resume, having successfully moved from unknown writer and actor to highly respected director with his own production company.

Affleck has also known JLo since the early years of her career. He starred opposite JLo in her 2002 “Jenny From The Block” music video and then again in their 2003 action-romance Gigli, which launched their whirlwind relationship the first time around.

When they reconnected in 2021, and finally tied the knot in 2022, Affleck seemingly became very invested in Lopez’s career, serving as a producer on multiple JLo movies in the past five years, including Kiss of the Spider Woman and Unstoppable. Though the two reportedly have varied thoughts about the dating scene right now, as long as they manage to only keep things professional, the Justice League actor reportedly thinks this new dynamic could last:

Maybe this was a fairytale romance after all, just one with a more realistic ending? Regardless, Bennifer’s marriage might have ended, but that doesn’t erase all their storied history together. If a person finds someone they really trust, it can surely be beneficial to have them in their life no matter what, and that allegedly seems to be Jennifer Lopez's logic.

To that point, everything's been working out for JLo as of late. The “Let’s Get Loud” singer wrapped up her Vegas residency in March, and Office Romance -- newest rom-com with Ted Lasso writer and actor Brett Goldstein -- hit No. 1 during its first week on Netflix. You can stream the film now with a Netflix subscription.

Jennifer Garner is starring on one of the buzziest new shows of the summer — The Five-Star Weekend, which hit the 2026 TV schedule earlier this month. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive for the ensemble that includes Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, D’Arcy Carden and Gemma Chan. It was Garner herself, though, who drew the most praise, and apparently we have her ex-husband Ben Affleck to partially thank for making it possible.

Over the years, Jennifer Garner has prioritized the three children she shares with Ben Affleck over her career, and that hasn’t really changed as they've gotten older, she told EW. However, thanks to her ex-husband being such a trustworthy co-parent (and some filming compromises that were made), she was able to accept the main role as Hollis in the Elin Hilderbrand book-to-screen adaptation. She said:

Producers must have really liked Jennifer Garner for the role, because they found a way to shoot mostly in Los Angeles. However, the actress would still have to do one month in Nantucket. Enter Ben Affleck, who was able to take in Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 13, to allow his ex to join The Five-Star Weekend. Garner said:

Jennifer Garner has been co-parenting with Ben Affleck for over a decade, since their 2015 split, and it’s lovely that the mom of three knows she can lean on him when she wants to do something for herself. That said, she doesn’t at all regret turning down jobs to focus on her kids. She said:

In addition to her great relationship with Ben Affleck — which we especially saw following his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, when Jennifer Garner brought Affleck care packages, and he spent holidays with his ex and three kids — the fact that Violet, Fin and Samuel are in their teens and early 20s helps as well:

The season of having young children to care for may be coming to an end for Jennifer Garner, and while that’s surely bittersweet, it does mean that options are opening up for her. That’s especially great news for her fans, who get to see her in projects like The Five-Star Weekend. The eight-episode series is available to stream in full with a Peacock subscription.

Flashback to 2021, and you couldn't find a bigger hater of the Snyderverse than me. Hell, I even danced on its grave when we received word that it was finally over.

However, flash-forward (DC pun not intended) to 2026, and I've actually come around on the failed DCEU. Maybe it's because I wasn't in love with James Gunn's Superman, or perhaps it’s because I have no interest whatsoever in Supergirl (and apparently, I'm not alone), but I've been giving Zack Snyder's DC movies another chance recently, and oh, man. I think I owe Zack Snyder yet ANOTHER apology.

You see, I already apologized for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and after rewatching the four hour long Zack Snyder's Justice League, I have to apologize again, because this movie is amazing. Here's why.

I Originally Thought This Movie Was Way Too Long. But Now, It Feels Just Right When It Comes To Pacing

You want to know what's crazy? Not too long ago, I rewatched Joss Whedon's version of Justice League, which is only two hours long, and it's so bad that it actually feels LONGER than Snyder's version, which is literally double the runtime. I think this is because Whedon's Justice League feels aimless and dull, whereas Snyder's version has direction and vision. And look, no offense to Whedon, as he was given the impossible task of reshooting aspects of Snyder's movie into something feasible for the big screen, but his version just does not work.

However, after rewatching Zack Snyder's Justice League, I am in awe at how he was able to take all of these characters and still have it all make sense. For example, in his version, Batman and Wonder Woman's quest to assemble a team really feels cohesive and organic, whereas in Whedon’s version, it all feels like a hurried mess, which is strange because it also feels plodding.

We get more backstory for all of the characters in Snyder’s version, as well as a true villain in Darkseid, who I'll get into later. Snyder's version is also (surprise, surprise) way darker in tone than Whedon's version, which is also something I now appreciate over the more upbeat Superman from James Gunn.

Honestly, it's really weird that all of the things that I once hated about the Snyderverse – the overseriousness, the darker tone, etc – I now view as pluses. However, I think there's one reason in particular why I love this movie now.

Cyborg's Story Is The Heart Of This Movie

One character who I always thought never got his time to shine when it came to the Snyderverse was Cyborg. Played by Ray Fisher, you could tell that he had a bigger role in Whedon's Justice League, but there was just something…missing.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League, however, almost the entire plot hinges on Cyborg’s role in the story. The fact that his role was truncated so much in Whedon’s version just goes to show you why that film felt like such a mess, because Victor Stone's (Cyborg) role is absolutely vital in Snyder's cut.

Stone's father, Silas (Joe Morton), is kidnapped, and Cyborg joins the team. He was a former athlete and had to be reconstructed after a horrible car accident, so his journey as a broken man to one of the saviors of the world is thoughtful and surprisingly heartfelt.

Also, being that Cyborg has such a connection to this film's Macguffin in the Mother Boxes, he’s essentially the most important character in the entire film, and I really appreciate that when watching this a second time.

I Also Find All Of The Characters-Even The Flash-To Be Interesting In This Film

You know, when I first saw Zack Snyder's Justice League, I still very much loathed all of the scenes involving Ezra Miller's The Flash. Upon a second viewing, I find that I actually like him, as well as pretty much every other member of the Justice League this time around. It might be because I, like others, actually enjoyed the eventual Flash movie that came out in 2023 (I even wrote about how it annoyed me that it didn't do better at the box office).

The Flash is incredibly important in this film. When the world starts to be destroyed, The Flash has to reverse the flow of time using the Speed Force, which allows Superman (Henry Cavill) and Cyborg to get the job done.

And, what about Aquaman? I liked Jason Momoa's first Aquaman movie - to a certain extent - but I found him super annoying in Justice League. However, I guess adding more screen time for him makes him more interesting this time around. I also think that learning more about the other metahumans and the Atlanteans makes him feel more at home here.

Not only that, but this movie has freaking Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix) in it. I mean, it's at the end, and it's pretty much just a cameo, but at least he's here. What's not to love?

I Also Love This Version Of Darkseid

I know I keep harping on Joss Whedon's Justice League, but a big reason why I feel that movie failed was that its main antagonist, Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), was super lame. It's just that he didn't seem like a worthy opponent for the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, or The Flash.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League…well, he's still pretty lame, but much better since you don't feel like he's the REAL final boss. The main boss would be Ray Porter's Darkseid, who is a way more terrifying villain and an existential threat to humanity.

Darkseid is all about that Anti-Life Equation, and we learn that he's been a threat to Earth for millennia, what with the Old Gods waging war against him to prevent him from taking over the planet. All of this backstory really elevates the danger he presents, making him feel like a truly worthy adversary.

Unfortunately, since this was pretty much the end of the DCEU, we never got to see Darkseid get his own movie where he got to be the central villain, but I really appreciate what we got in this movie. He’s absolutely horrifying.

In The End, The Further We Get Away From The Snyderverse, The More I Find That I Miss It

When looking at the upcoming slate of DC films (and TV–let's not forget about TV), I think there's a lot to look forward to (Especially when it comes to Clayface, which I can't wait for!) Yet…I kind of now miss the Snyderverse.

I don't know what it is. It might be because I used to pledge allegiance to the MCU, and I think I viewed the DCEU as a pathetic alternative. After getting off the Marvel hype train quite a while ago, I've since been reevaluating the Snyderverse, and I think I had it all wrong.

Was it too dark and broody? Maybe, but upon reflection, it was actually a novel alternative to the overly cheery MCU. I now find that I get nothing out of movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Guardians of the Galaxy upon a rewatch, and I view them more as artifacts than anything else.

Movies like Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Batman v. Superman? They just seem to get better with age. So, if you happen to be reading this, Mr. Snyder. I’m sorry! Your fans were right all along, and I’m happy that the powers that be eventually RELEASED THE SNYDER CUT!

It’s been over a decade since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck split up, but given how much the actress supported her ex during his divorce from Jennifer Lopez — and the fact that they share three children — we know that the two remain close. Sources claim that they’re even close enough for Garner to have opinions about Affleck’s dating life. To that point, one insider is spilling the tea about why the Yes Day star allegedly thinks her ex-husband should stay single for a bit.

Bennifer 2.0 — aka Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s second attempt — ended in August 2024 when JLo filed for divorce on their second wedding anniversary. In the aftermath, Affleck seemed to be spending a lot of time with his ex-wife, their three kids and Jennifer Garner’s partner John Miller, even joining them for Thanksgiving and Christmas (I wonder how Miller feels about that?). Affleck has not dated anyone publicly, and sources for Page Six allege that’s how Garner thinks it should be:

Jennifer Garner reportedly helped Ben Affleck with health post-divorce by putting together care packages of food, reminding him about doctor and dentist appointments and sending him vitamins. She wasn’t the only one looking after him, though, as Matt Damon also allegedly encouraged Affleck to focus on his work during the tough times.

Ben Affleck may have a good support system, but Matt Damon and Jennifer Garner’s advice will only go so far, and Garner allegedly understands that. The source continued:

Lopez formally filed for divorce from Affleck in 2024 and, by early 2025, their split was finalized. In the aftermath, rumors swirled around the former partners' love lives and, as of late, Lopez has been open about enjoying the single life. Meanwhile, Ben Affleck may be casually dating, but that doesn’t appear to be his main priority, sources have said, and this insider concurs, saying:

In addition to The Rip, which stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and can be streamed with a Netflix subscription, he’s got another project in the works for the 2026 movie schedule. Animals is a crime thriller on which Affleck serves as director, producer, co-writer and star. It is expected to be a part of Netflix’s calendar this year.

Stay tuned for that as we wait to see if Ben Affleck will follow the alleged wishes of Jennifer Garner when it comes to dating.

Quentin Tarantino has never been shy about turning a movie opinion into a small controlled explosion. This is the same filmmaker who has criticized the “Marvelization” of Hollywood, questioned George Clooney’s movie-star status and set off a whole discourse grenade when he called Paul Dano “weak sauce” in There Will Be Blood. That take got enough attention that Yorgos Lanthimos later weighed in, saying people didn’t need to “pile on” the director because Dano’s work speaks for itself. So when he actually praises a new movie, it's somewhat surprising. And I didn't see him loving a recent Ben Affleck streaming movie.

According to Variety, Tarantino wrote for Sight & Sound magazine about his frustration with modern Hollywood, saying it has become “almost impossible” for him to watch a 2026 movie calendar release without picking it “to death.” So naturally, I did not expect the movie to break through his wall of grumpiness to be The Rip, a recent Netflix cop thriller starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. He wrote:

From Tarantino, that glowing review is practically a parade with a brass section. Part of what makes this so funny is that his modern movie complaints have become their own genre of entertainment news. For instance, he has taken shots at new superhero movie actors, saying they're not the real stars of Marvel movies.

So, yes, the Django Unchained director/writer praising The Rip feels surprising. The movie, directed by Joe Carnahan, follows two Miami-Dade law enforcement officers who uncover corruption tied to $20 million in cartel cash. Along with Affleck and Damon, the cast includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle and Kyle Chandler. It also sounds like exactly the kind of genre setup he might enjoy, as the filmmaker touched on similar subject matter in some of Tarantino's best movies.

Tarantino did not just toss out a vague compliment and move on. He praised the movie’s whole construction. The opinionated moviemaker can roast modern Hollywood all he wants, but he is still a screenplay guy. Give him structure, tension and characters trapped inside a premise with teeth and apparently even a new Netflix movie can get past the gate.

It also helps explain why The Rip landed for him in a way so many new movies apparently do not. It’s not a film built to feed a franchise spreadsheet, as it is a lean, mean cop thriller with enough craft to remind the Jackie Brown director why he likes those movies in the first place.

So, no, I did not have Quentin Tarantino becoming one of the loudest recent supporters of a Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Netflix crime drama on my bingo card. But maybe that is what makes the praise so interesting. For a filmmaker who sounds exhausted by almost everything new, The Rip did the one thing that still matters: it held his attention.

The Rip is now streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Jennifer Lopez may be a rom-com queen with a new one called Office Romance among 2026's movie releases, but in her personal life she’s putting the brakes on relationships. These days, the actress and singer is happily single post her divorce from Ben Affleck, but allegedly one of her famous exes is checking in.

JLo Is Happy To Be Single

Lopez has been turning the page on her life as of late, as she recently moved out of the home she and Affleck shared and is living in her “very own Barbie dreamhouse.” When she was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week, she said this about her single era:

Lopez hasn’t gone too long without being in a relationship for much of her life, but these days she’s not seeking out a partnership. Kimmel suggested she be the next The Bachelorette, but she scoffed at the idea, saying this about finding love again:

It sounds like JLo has a good mindset about dating going forward. She’s not rushing into anything, or feeling like she needs a relationship but is open to finding love again if the other person is “good enough” for her. You go girl!

The Ex That's Allegedly Reaching Out

Amidst Jennifer Lopez’s comments about being single, scooper Rob Shuter also reported this week that one of the 56-year-old’s exes, retired baseball player Alex Rodriguez, has tried to get back into contact with her after his own recent breakup. Rodriguez was dating internet personality Jaclyn Cordeiro for more than three years, but they recently split up. According to one “insider”:

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez dated from 2017 to 2021. The couple was engaged back in 2019 and ended up postponing their planned destination wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately splitting up. Apparently, Rodriguez tried to reconnect with JLo in order to “rebuild at least some form of connection.” Per one source:

It wasn’t long after JLo and Rodriguez’s split that she reconnected with Ben Affleck, perhaps completely severing any contact she and Alex Rodriguez might have had post-breakup. But now that they both find themselves single, it certainly sounds like a more convenient time for both of the celebrities to talk again, should these reports be true. But if the baseball player is hoping for another shot with Lopez, it doesn’t sound like the kind of thing she’s entertaining right now.

While JLo might be anti-romance right now, she certainly isn’t in her new movie. She stars in Office Romance with Brett Goldstein, which will be available to stream with a Netflix subscription on June 5.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have made countless headlines over the years, thanks to both versions of their A-list relationship. They broke the internet upon getting back together years ago, even more so after getting married in Vegas. Since their split, they've been tied thanks to the mansion they bought together, but now the "Let's Get Loud" singer has officially moved out. And reports claim she's super happy as a result.

Despite JLo filing for divorce in August of 2024, the two superstars have continued to turn heads. As she and Affleck struggled to get their mansion sold, fans noticed Lopez was still living there as her new bachelorette pad was renovated. A new report by The Daily Mail claims she's moved into the new place and is loving it. As an alleged insider claimed:

Honestly, what's not to love? JLo's reported happiness makes even more sense when you consider she's been renovating the place for a year... living in her married home in the process. We'll just have to wait and see if she does any photoshoots in the new place so fans can see the "Barbie dreamhouse" vibes for themselves.

Of course, the public will still be paying attention to see if/when they manage to sell the mansion. Back in April, Affleck gifted his share of their married home to Lopez, presumably in order to make their split less complicated. The same anonymous insider spoke more about how much the actress/pop star is enjoying the new digs, claiming:

Who doesn't want Hamptons vibes... even if JLo's new home is on the other side of the country? It sounds like the global pop star is really feeling the vibes of her new place, and after the years of divorce-related issues, she's certainly earned the right to feel comfortable in her home. We'll just have to see if she manages to actually get that mansion sold or not. On top of the over $60 million price tag, it's also got wildly high insurance. Plus, there's the money they lost when renovating the place.

Jennifer Lopez will return to our screens with Office Romance, which arrives for those with a Netflix subscription on June 5th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

It’s always nice to see two women in Hollywood become best friends and, for a long time, Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini were among the industry's most high-profile besties. However, in recent years, the pair of Second Act stars allegedly have become distant – particularly after JLo’s renewed romance with Ben Affleck from 2021 to 2024. As for what's going on with them now, an insider is now dropping claims.

JLo and Remini go way back! They met in 2004 when Lopez’s husband at the time, Marc Anthony, introduced them. Lopez previously said she and her gal pal “fell in love” immediately after meeting, and the rest was history. And then they got to work together in 2018’s Second Act. A source for Page Six now alleges that the dynamics between the two stars have changed in a few key ways:

According to the source, JLo and Leah Remini actually became more distant after working on Second Act. Lopez reportedly felt “overwhelmed by the dynamic and started pulling back” because she needed “more space from the friendship” after spending “so much constant time together during filming”. Remini’s feelings were also allegedly “hurt” by this, and they purportedly haven’t been as close since. The insider also said this:

One thing that Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini have reportedly bonded over lately are their respective divorces. Remini filed for divorce from Angelo Pagán in August 2024 after 21 years of marriage – the same month that Lopez filed from Ben Affleck. Their shared divorce experiences supposedly got them to reconnect after Affleck was allegedly another reason they pulled back from each other. Per the source:

A year after their divorces, Remini said that she and JLo would “text each other loving messages of support”. The King of Queens star also said at the time that “friendships ebb and flow” and distance doesn’t automatically mean that a pair of friends are “at odds.”

On that note, Leah Remini didn’t attend JLo and Affleck’s wedding, and instead, had dinner with her daughter before she went off to college. It's hard not to wonder if the friends will connect more now that JLo’s twins recently turned 18 and will soon be heading off to college, leaving the multihyphenate with an empty nest.

Her personal relationships aside, Jennifer Lopez has a new romantic comedy called Office Romance, and it'll soon be available to anyone with a Netflix subscription. The film sees Lopez and Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein play coworkers who fall in love. Lopez has said that her co-star surprised her by being “totally different” than she expected.

Viewers can see Office Romance on Netflix starting on June 5 and, if this insider's recent comments are any indication, fans probably shouldn't expect to see Leah Remini at the premiere.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon currently find themselves embroiled in a legal situation linked to one of their more recent films, The Rip. As part of a defamation lawsuit filed by two police officers, Damon and Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity, is being sued for its portrayal of law enforcement officials. Neither the actors nor their company have formally addressed the suit, as of this writing. All the while, though, resurfaced comments that Affleck made about working with cops ahead of the film’s release have resurfaced.

The two officers at the center of this case – Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana – are members of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Department, and Affleck apparently shadowed cops with the organization while prepping for the film. In the aftermath of the lawsuit, Entertainment Weekly shared quotes from an interview it did with Affleck that was shared earlier this year. Based on the comments the Oscar winner shared with EW at the time, he was ecstatic to be collaborating with the cops and to have some appear in the film:

Directed by Joe Carnahan, The Rip centers on a group of Florida narcotics detectives, who come into conflict with each other after discovering $20 million during a raid. The result is a movie filled with a ton of twists and Carnahan’s signature action sensibilities. What should be mentioned is that while the characters work for Miami-Dade, there are no real names of actual cops used in the film. Despite that, Affleck also previously explained just how much work he and his collaborators were doing to channel to those real-life civil servants:

Santana and Smith are now accusing The Rip and its promotional campaign of suggesting “misconduct, poor judgment, and unethical behavior in connection with a real law enforcement operation.” And, although the film is touted as being “inspired by a true story,” the two officers allege that other than “the fact that a large seizure occurred, the events portrayed in the film did not happen.” Smith and Santos also claimed they sent a legal request in December 2025 to ask that the film not be released as it was. The pair alleged that the defendants responded and argued that their concerns were “unfounded.”

In addition to Artists Equity, Falco Productions has also been named a defendant in the suit. Netflix – which is the distributor of the film – has not been included in the legal filing. Santana and Smith are currently seeking punitive and compensatory damages as well as legal fees. Additionally, they want a “public retraction and correction” and a “prominent disclaimer” to be added to the movie.

The Rip garnered buzz following its release as part of the 2026 movie schedule on January 16, and critics also shared mostly positive reviews on Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s movie. As far as the legal situation goes, it’s unclear as to when further developments on the case might arise. In the meantime, the Damon and Affleck-fronted flick remains available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

The 2026 movie calendar brought Ben Affleck and Matt Damon back together in a big way with Netflix's The Rip, their recent crime thriller about Miami cops, cartel cash and trust slowly melting under pressure. The Damon-Affleck partnership has felt like one of Hollywood’s constants for decades, going back to their Good Will Hunting Oscar win and stretching through everything from Air to their work together at Artists Equity. But now, their latest collaboration has landed the two A-listers in the middle of a defamation case.

Per Entertainment Weekly, two officers from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, are suing Affleck and Damon’s company, Artists Equity, over how law enforcement characters are portrayed in the 2026 Netflix release. The lawsuit also names Falco Productions, Damon’s LLC production company, while Netflix, which distributed the movie, is not named as a defendant (and declined to comment).

The officers are not named in the film, but that appears to be the heart of the complaint. Smith and Santana argue that The Rip includes enough specific details from a real 2016 Miami-Dade investigation that viewers could reasonably connect the fictional characters to the real investigation.

The lawsuit claims the movie and its advertising imply “misconduct, poor judgment, and unethical behavior in connection with a real law enforcement operation.” The complaint says the portrayal has caused “substantial harm to their personal and professional reputations.” That is where the “inspired by true events” label starts doing some heavy lifting.

In The Rip, Damon plays Lt. Dane Dumars, and Affleck plays Detective Sgt. J.D. Byrne. The story follows the two after their unit discovers $20 million in cartel cash, which quickly opens the door to suspicion and corruption inside the Miami-Dade Police Department. The officers’ complaint claims the real-life inspiration was a June 2016 case in which Smith and Santana seized more than $21 million. The lawsuit argues that the film’s use of “unique, non-generic details” from that investigation, combined with the Miami-Dade setting and narcotics-team focus, creates a reasonable inference that the officers in the movie are meant to represent them.

Smith and Santana’s attorneys also point to specific fictional moments in the movie where characters bend police procedure, including a scene where Affleck’s character kills a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. The complaint says that aside from the large seizure itself, the events portrayed in The Rip did not happen.

The lawsuit also claims the fallout has reached the officers personally. According to the complaint, family members and colleagues allegedly made comments suggesting the officers must have used seized funds for home improvements, vehicles, boats and private schooling. Their attorneys argue those remarks show viewers are associating the real Miami-Dade officers with the movie’s corrupt portrayals.

The complaint says the officers’ lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter before The Rip was released in January 2026, asking the companies behind the film not to release it. After the movie came out, the defendants allegedly responded that the concerns were unfounded because the film did not expressly name Smith and did not imply either plaintiff engaged in misconduct.

Smith and Santana are seeking a public retraction and correction, including, as their lawyers describe, a prominent disclaimer added to the movie, per reports. They are also seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees.

Representatives for Affleck, Damon and Artists Equity have not responded publicly as of this writing. And for now, The Rip is still available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

Although Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck settled their divorce well over a year ago, one piece of business kept them bound together after the split. The former couple was left with the task of having to unload the $60 million mansion they purchased together during their marriage. For a while, they saw their share of starts and stops while trying to sell the house and, just weeks ago, the saga took an interesting turn when Affleck (53) sold his stake to Lopez (56). Now, JLo has re-listed the property, but how’s she doing it this time around?

The Beverly Hills mansion formerly inhabited by “Bennifer” was just put back on the market this past Tuesday, according to TMZ. However, it seems JLo is taking a different approach this time around, as she’s apparently reduced the price tag. Instead of selling the house for $60 million, the 38,000-square-foot home is now being offered for $49,995,000. This marks a significant reduction in the asking price, especially considering there was a time at which Lopez and Affleck were seeking to sell the mansion for $68 million.

At this point, regardless of the fact that the Hustlers star has since cut down the price on the home, she’s still set to rake in all of the profits, thanks to her ex gifting her his stake. That move on Affleck’s part seemed quite surprising from the outside looking in, especially considering it was previously reported that Affleck and JLo disagreed on how to sell the mansion. Affleck, of course, hasn’t explained his decision to give up his share, but it’s alleged that he made the “grand gesture” to alleviate tension between him and his ex.

Lopez and Affleck originally purchased the mansion in May 2023 and, at that point, they reportedly paid $60.85 million. Following the couple’s separation in mid-2024, they listed the house for the aforementioned $68 million sum, but they later reduced the price to $52 million. The listing was eventually taken down, and the house was eventually put back on the market around July 2025. Still, the mansion was ultimately delisted again by the start of 2026.

When it comes to why the two stars apparently had a tough time unloading their property, reports have pointed to more than a few possible variables. One of the obvious reasons was the initial asking price, which was apparently viewed as being steep by some analysts. It was also reported that the home was subject to sky-high insurance costs, with the mansion reportedly costing around $500,000 to keep the place insured on a yearly basis.

It, of course, remains to be seen if the mansion — which has 24 bathrooms – will actually sell now that the price has been slashed. Should that happen, though, it would mark yet another step forward for both Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who’ve been moving into new chapters in their lives. Affleck remains busy work-wise and is supposedly only considering casual relationships right now. As for Lopez, she’s reportedly focused on getting ready for her kids to go to college, and she revealed she wasn’t interested in dating anytime soon.

As for the potential sale of the mansion, The Beverly Hills Estates is currently the holder of the listing. Theoretically, a sale would translate to a solid chunk of change for Lopez and, simultaneously, it would further signify the end of one era in her life. We’ll just have to wait and see how everything pans out with this real estate saga.

When we, as TV and movie lovers, buy into a fictional portrayal of the real world, it means a lot when we can identify in some way with the characters we’re seeing on screen. That means representing people of all ages, backgrounds, body types, races, disabilities, personalities, etc. As awareness has increased about Autism Spectrum Disorder, I love that we’ve also seen it more prevalently portrayed on our screens.

In addition to reality shows like Love on the Spectrum that challenge stereotypes that autistic people may face, there are several movies and series that include characters who have autism. Because the spectrum is so broad, no singular portrayal can be accurate of the entire community, and that’s why it’s so important that so many of these characters exist. Below I’ve listed 8 characters from TV shows and movies who are on the autism spectrum.

Christian Wolff (The Accountant)

Both The Accountant (2016) and The Accountant 2 (2025) star Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff, an accountant with savant-level math skills who is also a lethal assassin. The movies show how his autism helps him to quickly and easily “assist” criminals with their finances, but also how he struggles with social interactions. The sequel digs into his upbringing and relationship with his brother, and there are some fun scenes where Christian tries line dancing and even speed-dating.

Shane Hollander (Heated Rivalry)

Heated Rivalry was a spicy smash hit for HBO Max when it came out in 2025, with Hudson Williams portraying Shane Hollander, a hockey player who engages in a relationship with rival Ilya Rozanov. While autism is never mentioned in the first season of the book-to-screen adaptation, author Rachel Reid has confirmed Shane is on the spectrum.

Hudson Williams told THR his father has autism, and he drew inspiration from him on how to play Shane. I think it’s a great portrayal because it doesn’t lean on extreme stereotypes, it’s not made to be Shane’s defining character trait, and still, fans are able to recognize and identify with his neurodivergence. Be sure to check out this authentic performance, but be warned — Heated Rivalry is one of HBO Max’s most sexually explicit shows.

Temple Grandin (Temple Grandin)

This biographical drama, Temple Grandin from 2010, stars Claire Danes as the titular character, who fought speech and sensory issues and grew up to make revolutionary changes to the cattle ranching industry. The TV movie is based on Temple Grandin’s memoirs and seeks to give people a broader understanding of Grandin and autism. It won several Primetime Emmy Awards — including Outstanding Lead Actress for Danes, who also won the Golden Globe for the role.

Sam Gardner (Atypical)

Another example of autistic characters on TV is Atypical’s Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist). The Netflix series is centered around an 18-year-old trying to navigate life as a teenager, including social situations like dating, but it also looks at his family. Through four seasons, it shows — sometimes casually and sometimes in heightened situations — how Sam’s autism affects everyone in the family and how they make accommodations to try to make things easier for him. Atypical is one we think everyone should check out.

Max Braverman (Parenthood)

Max Burkholder portrays Max Braverman, whose autism becomes a main storyline in Parenthood right from the start of what would go on to be six emotional seasons. This series gives us a good look inside the minds of Max’s parents, particularly as they learn to establish routines, navigate behavioral issues, and find Max the help he needs at school. As Max grows up, we also see how his feelings about autism change over time.

Parenthood also features another possible autistic character in Ray Romano’s Hank Rizzoli. Hank discovers that he might be on the spectrum after reading a book about autism to try to better understand Max. He finds that he relates to a lot of what is being described in the book, and autism would explain a lot of what he’s been through in his life. His character seemingly represents the people who don’t realize they’re on the spectrum until adulthood; however, Hank was never formally diagnosed at neurodiverse.

Wendy Welcott (Please Stand By)

Dakota Fanning has been praised for her performance in 2018’s Please Stand By as Wendy Welcott, an autistic woman living in a group home, where she spends her days working on a Star Trek script. After missing the mail-in deadline to submit her script for a screenwriting contest, she flees home to deliver it in person — thus proving she’s more independent than her sister thinks. Her journey is sometimes harrowing, but Fanning portrays Wendy as confident, competent, creative and complex, and it’s beautiful to see her fight for something she cares deeply about.

Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor)

Despite displaying some stereotypical characteristics of autism — including savant syndrome — Freddie Highmore’s role as Dr. Shaun Murphy on The Good Doctor is generally considered a positive representation. While Shaun struggles with eye contact, can interpret things super literally, and exhibits sensory sensitivity, many fans of the medical drama enjoy seeing him respected in his profession as he navigates workplace dynamics and relationships.

Woo Young-woo (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a fascinating look at one way autism is portrayed in South Korean entertainment. The series (available to stream with a Netflix subscription) stars Park Eun-bin as autistic rookie attorney Woo Young-woo. It’s impossible not to be charmed by the attorney and her special interest in whales, as she navigates plenty of bias regarding her autism, as well as professional rivalries and budding romance.

These are only a handful of characters on the autism spectrum that can be found on TV and in movies. Many children’s shows have come to feature autistic characters, including Sesame Street and Carl the Collector. There are also many characters who seem to display characteristics of neurodiversity but whose diagnoses have not been confirmed, including The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper, Community’s Abed Nadir, Criminal Minds’ Spencer Reid and more.

It’s great to see so many facets of autism represented in entertainment. Hopefully, it will only continue to broaden people’s understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity.

While it’s been over a year since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez finalized their divorce, the pair still remained linked in several respects. One of the biggest pieces of unresolved business between the former couple is the pricey mansion they purchased while they were still together. Lopez and Affleck have reportedly had a tough time selling the property, which is currently valued at $60 million. Interestingly enough, Affleck recently gifted his stake in the house to Lopez, and an insider is now dropping claims about the reason for that.

Reports of the decision made by Affleck (53) began to surface near the end of last week. It was specified that the Rip star gave away his equity in the Beverly Hills home with no strings attached. Official court records refer to that move as a “transfer of property among spouses.” Reps from neither Affleck nor JLo (56) have spoken out about the latter’s decision, as of this writing. However, if a source for In Touch Weekly is to be believed, this choice reportedly takes a major weight off Affleck’s shoulders:

It has indeed been a long road for “Bennifer” regarding the process of unloading the house they purchased together in May 2023 for $60.85 million. Even before Lopez and Affleck’s divorce was confirmed in August 2024, their 38,000-square-foot mansion was listed in July of that same year. The couple originally sought $68 million for the house but, by September 2025, they reduced that price to $52 million. In July 2025, the house was taken off the market but was put back on, only to be delisted again in January 2026.

The mansion’s massive price tag and high insurance costs are said to have contributed to the couple’s inability to sell it. Earlier this year, sources alleged that JLo and Affleck were not on the same page about how they wanted to handle the property. However, In Touch’s insider goes on to allege that Affleck also chose to give up his stake as a way of making further amends with his former spouse:

This “grand gesture” arrives following months of reports about the Gigli stars moving into different chapters of their lives both personally and professionally. Lopez, who recently finished up a string of shows in Las Vegas, was recently asked if she was “dating up a storm” and quipped that she was not because she didn’t “want to ruin anything” in her life right now. Affleck, for his part, has historically opted not to speak much about his love life, though it’s been alleged that he’s open to a casual relationship and not a long-term one.

When it comes to Ben Affleck giving up his stake in the mansion, that move would seemingly lend credibility to the reports that he and Jennifer Lopez are still on good terms. The last several months have even seen insiders report that Affleck remains a supportive figure in the lives of Lopez’s near-college-aged kids. All the while, though, time will tell if that house will eventually be sold.

Celebrity couples have a penchant for making headlines, just look at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce or (of course) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. The latter might have settled their divorce outside of court, but there's one big asset that's continued to connect them: the mansion they bought as a married couple. And the Batman v Superman actor recently gave her a major gift in relation to the home.

Back in 2023, Bennifer purchased a mansion for their blended family to live in. But after their split, Affleck and Lopez have struggled to sell the place, listing it for $60 million before taking it off the market. TMZ has offered another update, namely that he's handed over his shares of interest in the house to JLo. Given its price tag, that's millions of dollars.

The outlet reportedly accessed court records, including a "transfer of property among spouses." Insiders also allege that Ben Affleck signed over his half of the mansion completely for free. So it looks like the asset now completely belongs to JLo, who has been living there as she renovated another home she had purchased. We'll just have to see if she has any luck actually getting the property sold.

This mansion seemed to be the main thing tying the former couple together, aside from their kids continuing to have a relationship. The mansion was bought for tens of millions of dollars, and it remains to be seen if/when someone actually buys the place. Although now it looks like that's completely Lopez's issue, as Affleck has seemingly washed his hands clean of it all.

News of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's reunion absolutely broke the internet, due to their previous relationship, which also made countless headlines. Bennifer eventually got married in Las Vegas in 2022, before having a weekend-long party with their loved ones. Folks were back to shipping the pair of A-listers, but just a few years later, rumors started swirling that they were living separately. JLo filed for divorce in August of 2024, and they settled their split without going to court. Although the mansion has been something that's continued to tie them together post-split.

It should be interesting to see what happens with this house and if Jennifer Lopez is finally able to sell the place. It was originally listed for $60 million, but was eventually lowered to $52m. Unfortunately, there still hasn't been any forward movement regarding a sale. The price tag is presumably a big factor, as well as the insurance, which reportedly costs a whopping $500k yearly.

We'll have to see what happens with the house, but both Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck continue to have thriving careers. They've got projects on the 2026 movie release list and beyond, as the "Lets Get Loud" singer keeps paying for that mansion until it's sold.

The DC side of the superhero genre has been going through changes recently, courtesy of co-CEO James Gunn. A new shared universe has come with the DCU, which is releasing content in theaters and streaming with an HBO Max subscription. While we're a few titles into the first slate of projects called Gods and Monsters, there are plenty who are still looking back at the previous DCEU. Zack Snyder has been fanning those flames with some cool throwbacks, the latest of which makes Ben Affleck look absolutely huge as Batman.

Folks who watched the DC movies in order will recall how Snyder helped kickstart the DCEU, before departing after Justice League. And while audiences are looking forward to upcoming DC movies, others are still hoping that Warner Bros. relents to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse. The 300 director took to Instagram to share an epic picture of Batfleck, check it out below:

Seriously, this guy looks huge. Ben Affleck already stands at a whopping 6'4, and he put on a ton of muscle to play Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman and Justice League. It made the character physically intimidating, especially when breaking Batman's no-kill rule and taking out enemies. And while we wait to see who will be the Dark Knight in the DCU, it's easy to understand why Snyder chose Affleck.

Zack Snyder shared this image with his 714K followers on Instagram, a number that's been steadily building since he joined the social media outlet and posted a photo of Henry Cavill's Superman in the process. The comments section is filled with fans who want to see more of the filmmaker's vision for all things DC, especially the two scrapped Justice League sequels. Some responses read:

• I just rewatched BVS, its such a masterpiece. Incredible film. - btdjokes
• pls bring him back he is an excellent Batman - kingdiamonddotcom
• Restore the snyderverse - pulidop48
• I love the texture on the suit. Also you were the only one to comic accurate adapt the gray suit - joeyfierrodmd
• Still my favourite Batman! - shane.r.lowrie

Unfortunately, Ben Affleck only got to take center stage for two DCEU movies. Although he did have cameos in Suicide Squad and The Flash, helping the former shared universe feel more interconnected. Affleck also did reshoots for Zack Snyder's Justice League, bringing together the new Knightmare scene and the Martian Manhunter sequence in the process.

The DCEU is streaming now on HBO Max. The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. But with Snyder regularly posting throwbacks, smart money says calls to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse aren't going to slow anytime soon.

Earlier this year, when The Rip premiered on Netflix’s 2026 schedule, Matt Damon made a comment about the streamer giving notes about the benefit of reiterating plot points. Then, as the 2026 Oscar winners were announced, Conan O’Brien and Sterling K. Brown made a joke about it. Now, the streamer has responded to the claim, calling it “offensive” as executives turned down the notion of asking creators to do something like this.

In the days after O’Brien and Brown did a Casablanca themed-bit where they joked about streaming movies repeating plot points because viewers are on their phones, Netflix’s film chief, Dan Lin, reacted. He turned down claims that they do such a thing, telling reporters (via Deadline):

So, according to Netflix, they do not give notes asking filmmakers to repeat important points of the story.

However, earlier this year, Matt Damon claimed that they did. This came up as Ocean’s Eleven star was promoting his movie, The Rip, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription. He explained a couple of examples of possible notes they could get from the streamer, which included having a big action set piece in the first five minutes of the movie. He also said this about reiterating important points of the story:

Ever since Damon’s comment about this, Netflix potentially giving notes about repeating dialogue has been a major point of conversation this year. It came right as The Rip, which has some fun twists and got middling-to-positive reviews, was released on the streamer. So, it certainly got folks talking, and the Oscars joke brought it back into the spotlight.

However, some of Netflix’s top people are insisting that they don’t give notes like this. Along with Lin’s comment, Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said:

So, it’s clear that, according to these Netflix execs, they do not give notes like the ones that were joked about at the Oscars and explained by Damon.

Along with Bajaria’s comment, Jinny Howe, the Head of UCAN (U.S.-Canada) Scripted Series, said that Netflix is very aware of “how savvy the audiences are.” Speaking more to that point, she said:

Fans sure aren’t shy about calling things out and sharing their reactions, especially when it comes to big Netflix projects like Stranger Things or Bridgerton, for example. And according to the streamer, they know that and do not ask creators to reiterate points.

Now, it will be interesting to see how this conversation continues as more projects, and specifically movies, are released on Netflix. Clearly, the streamer does not agree with the claims and jokes that people were making. So we’ll have to wait and see if more creators and executives speak up about the notes the company gives regarding how films are made and how stories are explained to the audience.

The year is still relatively young, but Ben Affleck has already been incredibly busy. He spent a considerable amount of time promoting his 2026 movie schedule entry, The Rip, alongside co-star and good buddy Matt Damon and the rest of the cast. And, of course, Affleck also headlined that viral Super Bowl ad. While the A-lister’s career continues to flourish, there are still questions regarding the next steps in his romantic life over a year after the finalization of his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. Now, a source is weighing in on that front.

Lopez and Affleck’s split was made official (from a legal standpoint) back in January 2025. About a month or so later, it was reported that the Air director had been “casually dating” but was not getting into anything serious. An insider recently made claims about Ben Affleck’s love life while speaking with inTouch Weekly. If this person is to be believed, there’s one thing the Oscar winner definitely is not aiming for when it comes to romance:

This claim should be taken with a grain of salt though, as mentioned earlier, Ben Affleck is a busy man these days. According to this unnamed insider, though, there’s still something Affleck isn’t opposed to when it comes to dating:

Affleck has dated and married women of varying ages over the years. Of course, he was most notably married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, and the couple share three kids – Violet (20), Seraphina (17) and Samuel (13). (Garner and Affleck remain close while co-parenting.) There’s also Affleck’s relationship with Lopez, who he was originally engaged to between 2002 and 2004 and married in Las Vegas in 2022 after reconciling. By April 2024, the pair had separated, and Lopez filed for divorce in August of that year.

Since then, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have seemingly maintained a friendly relationship and have even still provided support for each other’s kids at varying times. The pair were all smiles when they appeared at the red carpet premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman last fall. However, insiders said that the lovely meetup wouldn’t signify a romantic reconciliation for “Bennifer.” While they were friendly, that was also a business outing, as Affleck was an EP on the movie and, per this source, Affleck is focused on his career:

[He] seems totally immune to falling in love, or at least totally disinterested in that at the moment. Ben is trying to build an empire with his new studio [Artists Equity] and walking that path alone or with just [Matt Damon] at his side, works for him right now. He has his eyes on the real prize, not the next random hot actress that catches his eye.

So, all in all, it’s being alleged that Ben Affleck is keeping his eyes focused on work while also leaving the door open for casual relationships. If that is true, it’s hard to say whether the public will become privy to any details regarding any of the ladies Affleck sees in the near future. Regardless, given Affleck’s persona, I’d imagine he’d have no problem finding a partner should he seek one.

Naming Robin Williams' greatest role is a nearly impossible task. He was in so many wonderful movies, and he put forth numerous outstanding performances, but by at least one metric, the answer to the question is easy. Williams best role was in Good Will Hunting, as that was the movie that won him his (long overdue) Academy Award. Now, one of his co-stars from that film, Stellan Skarsgård, has opened up about the comedic legend and why he had to be "funny to survive."

Many have spoken in the past about the incredible impact that Williams had on making Good Will Hunting the movie it became. During a recent screening of the film (via EW), Stellan Skarsgård talked about his experience off camera with Williams, which was apparently very different depending on how many people were around. The actor explained…

“Had to be funny to survive” is a pretty rough statement to hear, honestly. Most fans probably never saw Robin Williams as anything other than “on” as his interviews and talk show appearances frequently became a stream of consciousness madness as Williams fired off every joke he could think of. It often made for hilarious television. However, the way Stellan Skarsgård describes it makes it sound like Williams felt like he didn’t have a choice but to perform when people were around. He either wasn't able to turn it off or simply felt an obligation.

Williams' lack of “choice” in performing did lead to some interesting work on the set, however. Skarsgård indicates that if his co-star had a great idea for a scene, he felt compelled to try it, just to get it out. He also had a desire to do many more takes of any given scene, and the differences could be quite stark. He continued…

Williams' desire to do multiple takes is well known. It's what led to a fabled, though not entirely accurately reported, NC-17 cut of Mrs. Doubtfire. He would throw every joke he had to see what worked.

Traditionally, multiple takes of a scene are done just to make sure that all bases are covered or that the best possible performance gets captured. The Dead Poets Society star, however, would drastically change his performance between takes, which in turn forced his co-stars to react differently as well. Williams, who was as good at dark roles as he was comedy, would sometimes try wildly different takes on his own performance. Skarsgård indicates that director Gus Van Sant (who was also at the screening) had so many very different Williams performances that the role could have been edited together in any number of ways.

Good Will Hunting didn’t win an Oscar in 1998 for Best Film Editing (though it was nominated), but perhaps it should have, considering the movie had so many scenes to choose from, and found the right ones to make Good Will Hunting a fantastic film.

I went to Argentina a few years ago and quickly learned I wouldn’t survive without trying to use at least a little bit of Spanish. I’m good enough now that I’m not laughed out of the room when attempting to pronounce foods like flanchoco, but no one would accuse me of being good at Spanish. You know who is good, though? Ben Affleck. The actor is excellent at speaking Spanish, and some recent comments as The Rip hit the 2026 Netflix schedule actually started a mini Internet trend.

There are a lot of fun words in Spanish, but according to what Ben Affleck told his The Rip co-stars Matt Damon and Sasha Calle, his favorite has to be a word with innocuous origin that sounds like a "swear" if you are just hearing it without knowing what it means for the first time. Yes, I’m talking about the crowd pleaser “sacapuntas.” It may really mean “pencil sharpener,” but Affleck thinks it sounds hyper insulting.

His The Rip co-star Sasha Calle went on to remark in a Netflix interview that “it could be a great swear, though,” prompting Affleck to just shout the word more fervently in the interview. He says sometimes he loves hollering “sacapuntas, tu madre” out like it is a really insult, and an amused Matt Damon, whom he has reunited with, and Calle told him maybe he’ll make that into a trend.

Turns out, the real trend he started was getting other people to share innocuous Spanish words they are also obsessed with. In fact, there are plenty of other fun words in Spanish some fans of the Batfleck are all over. Here’s a smattering of fun response comments on the post, many of which have literally thousands of likes (and we kept the answers PG here).

• My favorite word in Spanish is pantuflas. 😂
• Yes!! That one, along with panqueques, and azafata are my top 3.
• My favorite Spanish word is Allllllbondigasss. 😆
• My favorite is Rompecabezas (Puzzles).

The sad thing is, he may never know he started that fun trend, as Ben Affleck is firmly off of social media.

Still, it's a cute moment, and as I noted prior, Ben Affleck is excellent at speaking Spanish. He went viral a couple of years ago after doing an interview in Spanish promoting Air in which fans marveled over how solid his pronunciation actually is. He’s gone viral several times since for excellent back-and-forth exchanges in español, which he learned as a kid. You can see this latest one for yourself, below.

One viral comment in the post that garnered over 9,500 likes simply noted, “I like Ben Affleck better in Spanish,” and it’s a sentiment I think most of us would agree with. No more Sadfleck memes, please, instead let’s bring in more Spanishfleck.

In just three years, Ben Affleck’s partnership with Dunkin’ went from a curious oddity to a rich source of bafflingly loony Super Bowl commercials. (The DunKings are forever.) For this year’s ad, Affleck & Co. threw back to the era in which he rose to fame — the high-fashion ‘90s — as well as his award-winning breakout success, Good Will Hunting. The ad reimagines the Matt Damon-starring film with Affleck as the lead, and the result is pure Sliding Doors-esque fantasy, complete with A-list cameos from Jennifer Aniston and more.

The version of the commercial that aired during the Super Bowl was half of the full ad, though it does appear to be a lot of what was actually filmed. As seen below, Affleck’s heavily de-oldified Will is surrounded by comedy stars who crushed the ‘90s: Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Alfonso Ribeiro (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Jaleel White (Family Matters), Ted Danson (Cheers), Jasmine Guy (A Different World), and Friends vets Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc. (The “Jen and Matt” referenced in the pre-Bowl ad.)

The lone anachronistic appearance came from Tom Brady, which I was less into. He was 13 in 1990. I don’t think Rachel Greene would have been going in for him 4 years later when Friends started. But whatever.

I’ll shamelessly say that I loved the majority of it, and I may cut some kind of soundbite out of Affleck’s stretched-out version of Joey Tribbiani’s pick-up line “How you doin’?” It’s too good to only exist in one form. I’m also grateful that White wasn’t relegated to reverting back into Steve Urkel mode, and was allowed to just be a cornball character without any nerd-flourish.

But again, that was only half of the ad, so check out the full version below to hear the spot-on theme song that was hinted at near the end of the ad.

I wish they were able to film different character moments for the opening sequence, akin to the non-sequitur moments seen in Full House and Family Matters' openings, to name just a couple. But I guess when you have all of these legends in one spot, time is way more limited than the makeup and digital trickery.

The Latest Dunkin' Ad Got Lots Of Love Online

Over on Instagram, the ad was shared by Dunkin', Danson, LeBlanc and Ribeiro (which sounds like either a hardcore legal firm or a whimsical '70s supergroup), and drew a slew of positive reactions from fans and other brands. Check out some of the highlights below.

• VICTORIA'S SECRET: Well played, friends.
• T-MOBILE: That Tom guy looks familiar.
• SEPHORA: seeing The Rachel haircut in 2026 🤧❤️
• HOMEGOODS: THIS ONE WAS FOR BOSTON 👏🗣️
• OLIPOP: THIS CAST MEANT A LOT TO ME. THANK YOU
• CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE: This is a crew we want to hang with 👏
• GOLDFISH: this is how you nostalgiamaxx 👏👏
• JETBLUE: you did your big one
• CARL'S JR: a crossover i didn't know i needed
• CHEEZIT: Ive had dreams like this

I'm not sure where Ben Affleck and Dunkin' will go with next year's ad, but I can only hope it involves Kevin Smith and a bunch of Dogma reunions. The movie shares the same first two letters as "donut," so that's half of the ad right there, I think.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been friends since they were kids, with the same dream to make it big in Hollywood. It’s a remarkable achievement that they both succeeded so well, and yet, the pair have taken very different paths since sharing the Oscar for Good Will Hunting.

One of the biggest differences between the pair is that Affleck has become a director, and a fairly accomplished one, while Damon has yet to lead a production behind the camera. In a conversation with GQ, the friends talked about why Damon has yet to direct, and Affleck believes the reason is that the reason is that is friend has had more consistent and bigger acting opportunities over his career. The Gone Girl star said…

While both actors are big stars with plenty of big roles under their belts, it’s hard to argue that Damon is the bigger “movie star” of the two. He led the Jason Bourne movies, a significant franchise. He’s also worked with top directors, like Christopher Nolan, as he does in the upcoming The Odyssey.

When you have those opportunities, Ben Affleck says it's hard to decide to focus on directing, which is a tough gig at the best of times. Affleck directed Best Picture winner Argo, and has also directed Matt Damon in Air, the story of the Air Jordan sneaker.

Damon also has growing kids. It seems he’s been unwilling to devote the time that directing would require, since it would mean more time away from family. Affleck continued…

It’s interesting that Affleck says he has actively tried to help Matt Damon find a project to direct, and yet we have yet to see something materialize. Still, he's clear that he thinks if we ever get a Matt Damon-directed film, it will be great…

Damon himself mentions that his kids are getting older, so we’re probably only a few years away from the actor having more time to pursue additional opportunities. Maybe a Matt Damon directed film isn’t too far away.

Few celebrities are as hilariously connected to the brands they advertise for as Ben Affleck is to Dunkin’. He and the ever-popular donut franchise are now several years into their partnership, which has turned the Oscar winner’s real love of the restaurant into a series of viral ads and sold out merch. As Affleck does in the 2026 movie, The Rip, he shared the screen in the popular DunKings ad in 2024 with his bestie, Matt Damon. It now looks like this year’s Dunkin’ Super Bowl campaign won’t include his frequent co-star, but fans won’t even really need it after seeing how Damon can perfectly recite Affleck’s preferred order.

What Did Matt Damon Say Is Ben Affleck’s Dunkin’ Order?

We all know that one of the preeminent bromances of Hollywood is that of “bizarrely close” lifelong friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who’ve worked together multiple times over the years, along with growing up together. It’s been a couple of years now since the Good Will Hunting duo starred in an enormously popular Dunkin’ ad together (with Tom Brady, Jennifer Lopez and other celebs), and with the Argo director/star’s latest Super Bowl commercial appearing to focus on a different Matt and Jen, fans might be feenin’ for them to share some Dunkin’ time on screen.

Luckily, when they participated in a recent friendship quiz for GQ they were able to deliver some of the delightful feels we got from their joint commercial when The Odyssey actor was asked if he knew his friend’s Dunkin’ order, and quickly nailed it:

You heard it, folks. Affleck chooses a large regular coffee, hot or iced, depending on the weather. While that offers a good basic caffeine jolt that could, theoretically, be found at any number of coffee shops, the star has made no secret of the fact that Dunkin’ holds a special place in his heart. He even admitted in 2019 that he went to the chain daily in search of his coffee/treat fix, and there’s been no reason for him to significantly dial that back in more recent years, especially since he’s become the restaurant’s (incredibly well-paid) go-to spokesman.

The chain is well over 70 years old at this point, and was also founded in Massachusetts, so it makes sense that Affleck would be a fan, and has likely been one for most if not all of his life. And, considering how close he and Damon have been for pretty much the entirety of their lives, it also naturally follows that his friend would remember his very simple order of choice when he heads to Dunkin’ for his daily dose of don't-murder-stupid-people juice. ( I can't be the only one who calls coffee that, can I?)

All that’s really left to say is that I hope we all have someone who’s close enough to us to know exactly what our coffee order is and where to get it if we can’t do it ourselves.

We live in an era where social media has become one of the driving forces in all of popular culture. Big stars like Dwayne Johnson make a significant part of their income from social posts, and it’s rare for a major celebrity not to have a social media presence. And yet, Ben Affleck has none.

The actor, who can currently be seen in The Rip with a Netflix subscription, recently appeared on the All The Smoke YouTube channel, where he was asked why he wasn’t on social media at all. He gave an honestly pretty solid reason why out of the gate, saying that he was confident that if he said what he thought often, he’d eventually get in trouble for it. He explained…

As reasons to stay off social media go, this may be the single best reason to just say forget it. If Affleck weighed in on politics or some controversial issue, it doesn’t even matter what he said; it would likely upset somebody. We’ve frequently seen celebrities on social media get in trouble with the public for what their statements are interpreted as meaning, even if it’s not really what they said.

It's also been argued that actors shouldn't have social media because follower counts have reportedly been used to decide what actors get roles.

It’s not that Ben Affleck doesn’t have opinions. He’s very open about the fact that he does, and perhaps if you knew him well and were just talking, he’d be happy to tell you what he thinks. But he knows there are plenty of people who simply wouldn’t care what he has to say. He continued…

In the end, it seems Ben Affleck just understands that social media is basically a full-time job in itself, and he can’t imagine piling on the work that goes with it on top of everything else he does. Affleck said…

One has to wonder if one of the people that Ben Affleck is talking about is Jennifer Lopez. She absolutely has a major social media presence, and while she handles it well, it’s been suggested that the way the two of them handled their private life may have been part of what caused their eventual split.

Since 2023, Ben Affleck has been working with Dunkin’ on Super Bowl ads that have kept TV viewers amused and confused, and the Oscar winner’s latest effort will no doubt match up with past merch-inspiring efforts like the DunKings. The company unveiled a video setting up what we’ll see on February 8, with Affleck rocking a thick-as-fahck Boston accent to pitch an idea to “Jen and Matt,” two names he’s quite used to saying. But it’s not what you think.

Guzzle whatever coffee you have near and check out the new ad teaser below. Anyone who can make it through the whole thing without impersonating Affleck’s accent either gets a free box of donuts or my temporary respect; whichever is cheaper to ship.

“Jen, Matt: I got a pitch for ya.” The ad kicks off with those two names but without ever showing anyone on-screen beyond Ben Affleck. Already that should have sent off warning bells that expectations would be upended here. Plus, the pitch here is about looking back to the past for something new, and that...

Well, I guess Affleck and JLo did go through two distinct relationship eras that would play into the Dunkin' ad's theme. As well, he and Matt Damon did just share the screen again in Netflix's action romp The Rip, and they do tend to reteam every so often. But let's refer to the biggest piece of evidence pointing to who else will actually be seen in the new ad.

Why I Don't Think Ben Affleck Is Referring To Jlo And Matt Damon

Back in November, word spread that Ben Affleck and Dunkin' would once again attempt to break the Internet, this time with a curated selection of sitcom stars whose runs took place during the very VHS era thats' being called back to in the ad above. Some of those cameos will come from stars of past NBC megahits like Cheers, Seinfeld, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and...Friends.

If that last show starting ringing connection bells, it's likely because two of its hugely popular stars include JENnifer Aniston and MATT LeBlanc, and we'll almost definitely discover that they're the two people Affleck is pitching to.

At the time, it was rumored that Aniston and LeBlanc would be joined by Jason Alexander, Ted Danson and Alfonso Ribeiro (as well as DunKing Tom Brady), and that the ads would center on a Good Will Hunting riff called "Good Will Dunkin'." Nobody saw that pun coming. In the initial report, it was stated that Ted Danson would be portraying Sam Malone, but it sounds like the fictional representation won't carry over to the Friends co-stars.

To be sure, however, just because Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc are allegedly in this ad technically doesn't make a JLo or Matt Damon cameo impossible. What better way to throw everyone off than by featuring other celebs with the same first names? I guess it depends on how much this creative team is prioritizing fan befuddlement.

Now if it were up to me...

My Wish For Who "Jen And Matt" Would Actually Be

• Mattrick Pahomes, a Bizarro universe version of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
• Jenson Ackles

It's unclear whether or not Ben Affleck & Co. reinlisted the efforts of John Candy's son Chris Candy to direct the latest batch of ads, after previously bringing him into the mix without being aware of his parentage. But we'll hopefully find out more around the time when we see more of the ads on Super Bowl Sunday, which is happening on February 8 this year.

Don't forget to tune into NBC (or stream via Peacock subscription) to watch the game, or more importantly to anyone who has zero interest in this year's faceoff, the celebrity-filled ads.

Just last week, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners became not only the most decorated movie among 2026 Oscar nominees, but the most nominated movie of all time. It sweetens a landmark deal that the writer/director made prior to filming the vampire flick, which gives him complete ownership of Sinners in 25 years. A lot of Hollywood has been talking about Coogler’s deal lately, including Ben Affleck, who got honest about his thoughts on the move.

Along with being a big star in Hollywood, Ben Affleck is an accomplished writer, director and producer too, having been behind the scenes on movies like Good Will Hunting, The Town, Argo and more. Here’s what he had to say about Coogler’s Sinners deal:

Affleck definitely isn’t the first big name to applaud Coogler for his deal with Warner Bros, which was made in 2024, prior to the movie starting production. Spike Lee also called it a “smart move,” citing that the only movie he owns from his filmography is She’s Gotta Have It.

Tyler Perry has also said that he actually called Coogler following Black Panther and walked him through how to make the kind of deal he eventually made with Sinners.

Speaking a bit more about this deal, Affleck continued:

Coogler will be in his sixties once Sinners gets handed over to him, which could make for a nice retirement for the visionary filmmaker, depending on the value of the movie by that time. Affleck, who has been in the movie business for 45 years, certainly thinks he made a solid deal that could make him quite a bit of money down the line while on the All The Smoke podcast. He also said this:

Time will certainly tell, but as one veteran entertainment and technology attorney, Jonathan Handel, commented before on the deal, Coogler is “rolling the dice” regarding the deal. As far as things have gone so far between its commercial appeal and critical praise, the filmmaker's bet on himself certainly seems like it will be worthwhile.

Perhaps the next question regarding this conversation is whether more big filmmakers with original ideas will try to walk in his footsteps and succeed, or not. Currently, Coogler’s deal is a rather rare one in Hollywood, but it could really shake the industry up.

The Rip is currently one of the most-watched movies on Netflix. That’s not particularly shocking considering it’s a pretty high-profile affair, marking the latest collaboration between Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The movie got a solid critical response in general, but one group of viewers is taking issue with it, not for anything that the cast does, but rather how the movie presents itself to the audience.

Somebody Called The Rip 'A Parody' Of Netflix Movies, And Viewers Have Thoughts

A recent post on Reddit has blown up with comments after it called The Rip “a parody” of Netflix movies. It basically suggests that The Rip is nothing except two major plot points, surrounded by dialogue discussing those plot points over and over again. It goes further to suggest this was all done intentionally, as a sort of subversive act. A lot of the replies aren’t giving the movie that much credit, but are still taking issue with what the film does. Comments include...

• Pretty sure it wasn’t intentional. It’s just what Netflix does. And it’s pathetic - ianjcm55
• I'm pretty sure the budget was 100 million. Matt got 50, Ben got 50. Then the crew had a whipround and the movie was shot for $10 and a bag of weed. - flopisit32
• Netflix is a cancer to art - JayKay8787
• I have a feeling Netflix told them to make it a certain way (which Matt Damon mentioned in that Joe Rogan interview), and these guys decided to do their version of "malicious compliance". - Outrageous_Lock_9313

The last comment is an interesting one, as it references the fact that Matt Damon had already spoken about the fact that Netflix absolutely did make changes to The Rip specifically to help it cater to the “normal” streaming audience.

Matt Damon Spoke Directly About How Netflix Influenced The Rip

In an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast before the release of The Rip, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck appeared together, and Damon specifically mentioned that Netflix had notes for The Rip to make it streaming-friendly. Damon said...

See, Damon himself was critical of the way that streaming could potentially change filmmaking going forward.

That said, there is, of course, no indication that The Rip is somesort of subversive masterpiece that is critical of Netflix’s production strategy while appearing on Netflix. Of course, if somebody did attempt to do that, perhaps it wouldn’t look that different from The Rip.

For most movie fans, the Matt Damon–Ben Affleck partnership feels like a constant. They came up together, won an Oscar together, and have remained publicly inseparable for decades. But what’s easy to forget is just how long they intentionally avoided working side by side. That distance was a strategy they employed after getting some “well-intentioned advice.” And now, thanks to a surprisingly emotional, Beatles-inspired story The Departed star recently shared, it’s clear why reuniting later in life and continuing to work together ended up meaning so much more.

Kyle Chandler, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck recently appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show to promote their 2026 movie release, The Rip. In a clip shared on the show’s Instagram, Damon opened up about the long gap between collaborations, offering an unexpectedly tender explanation for why the partnership endured. As he put it:

But that was only the beginning of the story. According to The Martian star, the real turning point came while watching Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back documentary, streaming with a Disney+ subscription, with his daughter. The moment the doc ended quietly reframed how the Talented Mr. Ripley actor thought about creative partnerships and the finite nature of time. He explained:

Seeing those young, joyful artists still bursting with ideas hit The Odyssey performer harder than he expected. What stayed with him wasn’t just the performance, but the realization of how much creative time was left on the table, and how easily it can slip away. It was a reminder that even the strongest collaborations don’t last forever unless you choose to keep them alive. He continued:

What started as a plan to build a small studio and work together again ultimately became something far more emotional than strategic. In hindsight, the advice that once pushed Damon and Affleck to keep their careers separate wasn’t wrong, as it gave them room to grow, stumble, and succeed on their own terms. But choosing to reunite now feels just as deliberate, and maybe even more meaningful. It just goes to show you that even if you’re Hollywood's biggest stars, sometimes, all you need is love… from your best bud.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s most recent collaboration, The Rip, is now available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are arguably one of the greatest Hollywood pairings of all time. With them being long-time friends, it's always a treat to see these two together again, and their latest offering, The Rip, has a ton of twists. However, out of all of the films that Damon and Affleck starred in together, my favorite is probably one of their most overlooked, 2021's The Last Duel.

Directed by Ridley Scott, who’s made his fair share of historical dramas and sci-fi movies (with Alien often considered one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time), The Last Duel, which is based off of a true story, is pretty much Rashomon with knights. The trouble is, it absolutely flopped at the box office. That said, here’s why it’s still worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet.

Matt Damon Plays A Complete Oaf… But That’s Not How He Sees It

Now, if you’re only familiar with Akira Kurosawa’s samurai movies, you might not know what Rashomon even is. Well, in a nutshell, Rashomon is a movie where its plot device is that it’s the same story, but told from different perspectives. Oftentimes, characters will see the same event entirely differently, and you may start to wonder who’s even telling the truth.

Well, in The Last Duel, we see the same story told from three different perspectives, one being Matt Damon’s as the knight, Sir Jean de Carrouges; another being Adam Driver’s knight character, Sir Jacques le Gris; and the last being Jodie Comer, who plays the wife of Sir Jean, Marguerite. The “last duel” in question revolves around Marguerite’s honor, as she was raped by Sir Jacques in her husband’s absence, and the two knights fight to the death over it.

However, here’s the thing. In Damon’s chapter, he seems like a noble knight in every sense of the word. He’s respected by all, including his wife.

That said, it’s only through subsequent chapters where we learn that he’s viewed as a bit of an oaf by pretty much everybody, including said wife. It’s fascinating watching Damon be valiant in one chapter, and a total dope in others. While we didn’t include The Last Duel on our list of the best Matt Damon movies, I'd certainly put it up there.

Ben Affleck Also Stars As A Libertine Count

Out of all of the performances in The Last Duel, I think Ben Affleck’s might be the most interesting. He doesn’t get his own chapter, but rather hangs on the fringes of each of them.

He plays the real-life Count Pierre d’Alencon, who acts as the overlord to Damon’s character. However, the Count is more on Driver’s side than Damon’s, as the Count - as I mentioned earlier - sees Damon’s character as a bit of an oaf. With that mindset, the Count has no problem with gifting a lucrative estate, which should rightfully be owned by Damon’s character, to Driver’s character, whom he much prefers.

What’s most interesting about Affleck’s character, though, is just how modern he feels in this historical world. With his bleach blonde hair, and his sense of ennui (when he’s not getting laid), he feels like a man out of time, and it really works. In our review of Gladiator II, we highlighted Denzel Washington’s performance, and I think the same could be said for Ben Affleck’s performance here. It’s an absolute highlight in an already phenomenal film.

Plus, it’s just funny seeing Affleck treat Matt Damon so poorly in this movie, given what good friends they are in real life.

Adam Driver Plays An Absolute Scoundrel In This Picture

Adam Driver is another fascinating actor, as he can play a misguided villain, like he did in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy; a martyr, like he portrayed in one of my favorite Scorsese movies, Silence; and an absolute rogue, like he plays in this film.

I mean it, you might love Adam Driver, but you’re going to absolutely loathe him in this movie. In his chapter, we see things entirely differently. Instead of a rapist, it seems like Comer’s character (who I’ll get into next) led him on. We see a noble knight who puts his life on the line in battle, and in his eyes, Damon’s character likes to hog all the credit. But the sun shines heavily upon Driver, and he really makes it seem like he’s the hero in this story.

But even in his own chapter, you can tell just how smarmy he is. And you know he’s smarmy because Affleck’s character takes a liking to him, and Count Pierre d’Alencon is a Libertine scumbag. It really shows just how good Ridley Scott’s direction is, and how excellent Adam Driver is as an actor, as we can see him believing he’s a genuinely worthy individual when even the audience can tell that he’s full of himself.

It’s only in the final chapter though that we really see how despicable he truly is.

Jodie Comer Rounds It Out As The Film’s Mistreated Moral Compass

In the final chapter of the film, we get the actual truth of the story, and it comes from Jodie Comer’s character, Marguerite de Carrouges, who is wronged by pretty much everybody in her life. We see that she’s the one who actually handles all of the finances, whereas Damon’s character made it seem like he had it all under control (so like a man). We also see that Driver’s character wasn’t seduced by her, but rather he forced himself upon her and assaulted her viciously.

Despite the subject matter pertaining to sexual abuse, it doesn’t seem that way until we actually see Comer’s side, as she’s the victim of every man in this movie. She’s a victim of her husband, who leaves her unsatisfied. She’s a victim of her husband’s friend, who rapes her. And she’s a victim of society as a whole, which chooses not to believe her… at first.

However, Comer’s character was raped, and she stands behind her truth, because it’s all she has. When even the women in her life advise her not to make a big deal of it, she won’t back down. The duel happens because she knows that what was done to her was wrong, and she won’t let that slide.

In truth, Marguerite de Carrouges is the only noble one in the entire film.

In Short, The Last Duel Is A Criminally Underappreciated Gem, And My Favorite Damon/Affleck Collaboration

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been in 15 movies together, and I like a great many of them. However, while most people will probably always bring up movies like Air, Dogma and, of course, Good Will Hunting (and maybe even one of my favorite romantic comedies, Chasing Amy, though Damon had a much smaller role in that one), I think more people should talk about The Last Duel.

For one thing, the structure of the film is fascinating. Sure, it could have been told from just one perspective, but that would have been very limited. It could have also been a lot more straightforward, but the three-chapter structure really makes this film.

Plus, it’s just great to see pals Affleck and Damon be on such wildly different sides of the spectrum. In the end, Affleck’s character remains unaffected by the events and acts more as a patient observer. Meanwhile, Damon’s character is a total bruiser and used more like a pawn. It works!

Which is why I think you should watch The Last Duel if you haven’t already. I think it’s their finest work together to date!

Celebrity couples have a habit of making headlines, and few pairs know this quite as well as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. The two times they've been in a relationship it's captured the attention of the public, and they continue to drive the news despite Jennifer Lopez filing for divorce back in August of 2024. One way that they remain connected is through the mansion they purchased together as a married couple. And according to a new report, they're not on the same page about how to proceed.

After Bennifer got married in Vegas, they shopped around and brought a huge, $60.85 mansion for their families blend and live in. After their split, they put it on the market, but struggled to get any real bids. Now TMZ is reporting that Ben is ready to drop the number and get the house sold, while Lopez is still hoping to sell for $68 million (a number that includes the renovations they put on the home together).

If this report is to be believed, the two A-listers can't get on the same page about the price tag for that home. In addition to that sum, the home's insurance reportedly costs a whopping $500k per year. This only makes it more expensive, which is seemingly why Affleck wants to lower the price.

The mansion in question reportedly didn't get any real offers, leading Affleck and Lopez to take it off the market in July. And since then, JLo has taken up residence there as she renovates the new home she purchased. They're stuck paying for the crib, so why not use it?

It should be fascinating to see if the pair of A-lister actually put the mansion back on the market, what price they actually list it. Given how long it sat there without any bids at $68 million, it might make sense to lower the price. Although considering the money they put into redoing the place, it seems like Lopez and Affleck might be taking a major financial loss regardless.

While the report by TMZ claims that the two celebrities can't agree on how much to list their married home for, that does seem to be the extent of the drama between the former couple. They hired a fancy divorce lawyer and settled without going to court, despite not having a prenup in place. This stands in stark juxtaposition to messier Hollywood splits like Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Affleck and Lopez also attended various premiers together post-divorce, showing there are seemingly no hard feelings.

Only time will tell exactly how things shake out with the potential sale of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's mansion. It's got a wild price tag, so we'll have to wait for someone with deep pockets to purchase the place.

This week, it's safe to say many people are checking out The Rip with a Netflix subscription, as it's currently rolling at No. 1 on the streamer's Top 10 list. While the big headline is people are thrilled to see Ben Affleck and Matt Damon together again, a mayor whose city serves as the setting to the story is none too pleased about the flick.

The mayor of Hialeah, Bryan Calvo, doesn't seem too thrilled to see the real-life city portrayed as a town in which a drug cartel might stash millions of dollars, and where police officers would fight amongst themselves over doing the right thing or taking the goods. In a statement shared to Instagram, Calvo shared that the Netflix movie based on a true story isn't accurate, to the city he knows. He'd also like to point out the story in question didn't actually take place in Hialeah:

Apparently, the mayor of Hialeah wasn't as thrilled as others by the big twist of The Rip, and good cops winning the day wasn't enough for him to proudly claim the movie. There seems to be a big worry the movie may promote Hialeah as an unsafe city, and Calvo is passionate about speaking out against that narrative.

So passionate, in fact, there's a chance the city may go after The Rip and Netflix for the portrayal. Bryan Calvo actually threatened legal action just weeks after being sworn into office as the city's official mayor. Here's what he said on social media about the city he's in charge of:

This might be one of the biggest controversies of the 2026 movie schedule I've seen so far. Granted, it's early days, but you just don't think about the sometimes big feelings involved when fictional movies are set in real-life places.

Again, I'm sure that more people who watch are more focused on seeing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon pal around than they are looking for the skinny on crime in Hialeah. Still, I can understand the complaint of the mayor not wanting it to be the thing that the world remembers about the city, especially when the story didn't even happen there.

It is worth noting, per Newsweek, that while The Rip is "based on a true story," it's more accurate to say it's a fictional story inspired by truth. While there was a group of officers who found $22 million in money and counted it on site, it took 42 hours to do, and there were no corrupt cops trying to kill their own to get it for themselves. The cartel was also not involved in the real-life incident, but a single business owner who was alleged to have a role in a marijuana growing ring. He was sentenced to 65 months in prison after agreeing to forfeit $18 million of the seizure.

We'll see if The Rip's potential issues with a city could impact upcoming Netflix movies, and continue to enjoy other elements about the movie in the meantime. I'm just loving all the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck headlines surrounding it, especially after the former's daughter ripped on their red carpet poses.

Ben Affleck and his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, have led successful careers in acting. Affleck’s got his 2026 Netflix movie The Rip, and Garner’s got Season 2’s The Last Thing He Told Me coming in February on the 2026 TV schedule. However, how do the actors feel about the idea of their kids one day following in their footsteps? The Argo director was quick to share his honest take.

Throughout Hollywood history, the children of actors and actresses have followed in their parents’ footsteps into acting and even starred in movies and TV shows together. Celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Nicolas Cage, Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, and more came from acting family dynasties. However, does Ben Affleck want his and Jennifer Garner’s three kids to do that or branch off on a different path? The Good Will Hunting actor/co-writer shared his honest take to E! News:

I can see Ben Affleck’s perspective in wanting to shield his kids from the public life of a celebrity. After all, divorce rumors between him and Jennifer Lopez circulated for months before the official split announcement came about. Not to mention the times the paparazzi captured Affleck looking miserable or his battles with alcoholism being publicized. Even telling his then-teenage son to work for his $6K shoes had people thinking the actor was grumpy.

Moments like these are typically private, but being a celebrity can easily make you an open target to juicy rumors and speculation. While Affleck has previously expressed he’s happy that being a celebrity means providing a lot for his children, he’s still had worries about what fame has done to them. So, I can only imagine the fear the Dazed and Confused actor could have about his children being caught in the public eye.

It appears that Ben Affleck would fall under the “Gatekeepers” who want to keep their kids away from Hollywood life. At least until they’re older. Jason Momoa would fall under this category for not wanting his kids to act, so they can escape the pressures of stardom. It was the same deal with Matthew McConaughey, who “never” wanted his kids to become actors.

Funnily enough, the sons of the two aforementioned A-listers still followed in their fathers’ footsteps. Momoa’s son, Nakoa-Wolf, ended up acting alongside his dad in Dune: Part 3, and McConaughey’s son, Levi, acted with his dad in the Apple TV movie, The Lost Bus. It proves that some kids don’t need a push from their parents to find their purpose, but may still arrive at the same path anyway.

Ben Affleck doesn’t have to worry about his kids pursuing acting careers at the moment, as teenagers Samuel and Seraphina focus on school, and 20-year-old Violet delves into activism. She recently delivered a speech at the United Nations about mask mandates and clean air endeavors following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clearly, the only push Affleck and Garner impose on their kids is to create their own footsteps instead of walking in their parents’ shadows.

Everybody knows that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were friends long before they became famous for Good Will Hunting, and in fact, their chemistry is one of the big things critics liked about The Rip, their latest project together. These guys have been by each other’s sides for decades — personally and professionally — so it’s no surprise that Affleck would have all the glowing things to say about his bestie. Damon showing no love in return, however, was a little unexpected (and a lot amusing).

In promoting The Rip — which hit the 2026 movie calendar January 16 and can be streamed with a Netflix subscription — the BFFs paid a visit to The Today Show, where Ben Affleck was asked his favorite thing about Matt Damon. The Gone Girl star seemed hesitant to get too “schmaltzy” but gave a sincere response all the same, saying:

I mean, there really are few things more beautiful than seeing a man be able to express such pure love to a friend like that. Matt Damon has supported Ben Affleck with his sobriety journey, as well as during his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, with the Saving Private Ryan star reportedly encouraging Affleck to focus on his work.

Ben Affleck even acknowledged this last year when he said he knew how “lucky” he was to have a friend like Matt Damon. So, given all the compliments being lobbed his way, how did Damon respond to the same question regarding his favorite trait of Affleck's? With a straight face, he said:

The answer shocked and delighted Ben Affleck, as both men erupted into laughter that made it clear that it couldn’t be further from the truth. You can see their full exchange below:

There’s no questioning the bond that these two pals have, and of course, that comes with a healthy dose of ribbing from both parties. Ben Affleck roasted Matt Damon last year for flexing his abs for the paparazzi while shooting The Odyssey — even if Affleck did follow that up with a compliment on how great his pal looked. Affleck does, however, seem to stand by his belief that he has superior facial hair to The Bourne Identity star.

All the jokes probably help to keep the actors humble, and if the two of them don’t have that covered — laughing at their hilariously disorganized Oscars acceptance speech, talking about their “dad bods” in The Rip, and Matt Damon admitting that his wife thought Ben Affleck was the cute one in Good Will Hunting — there’s always Damon’s daughter to pick up the slack with jokes about their red carpet poses.

Obviously, these two love working together — both in front of and behind the camera with their production company — and we can only hope there’s no end in sight to their projects, despite Matt Damon staying hilariously mum regarding his feelings for his buddy. You can see them both in The Rip, a wonderfully twisty action thriller, which is on Netflix now.

We’re only a few weeks into the new year, and the 2026 movie schedule has already given us a great action movie with The Rip. The new Netflix original, which stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as two cops who discover $20 million in cash hidden in a house, has some wild twists and turns along the way, as well as some killer action sequences. If you were a fan, then I have another collaboration between Affleck and director Joe Carnahan that you must check out.

One of the best action movies of the 21st century, at least in my opinion, Smokin’ Aces remains one of the wildest, loudest, and most thrilling cinematic experiences I’ve ever had, and one I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Here’s why I think that everyone should give this 2007 action thriller a spin, either for the first time in a long time or entirely.

Smokin’ Aces Is A Wild-As-Hell Action Thriller Set In Lake Tahoe, Of All Places

Far more over-the-top than The Rip, or most of Joe Carnahan’s films in between, Smokin’ Aces is a wild-as-hell action thriller that follows a pair of FBI agents attempting to reach a Las Vegas magician and would-be gangster before an assortment of bounty hunters, mercenaries, and mysterious contract killers can find him. Oh, and the whole thing takes place in a casino on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

I’m not going to give anything away for those who haven’t seen this movie before, but if you thought The Rip had big twists and explosive set pieces, then wait until you see what Carnahan and company were pulling off nearly 20 years ago. Seriously, this one keeps you guessing until the credits roll. It’s one of those movies.

Ben Affleck Is Just One Member Of An Absurdly Stacked Cast

Ben Affleck shows up in Smokin’ Aces as Jack Dupree, a bail bondsman hired to track down and capture (alive) Buddy “Aces” Israel (Jeremy Piven), the magician-turned-crook who’s made one too many enemies. However, he’s just one member of a cast that is absurdly stacked, it should be a crime. You’ve got musicians-turned-actors like Alicia Keys and Common, there’s Ryan Reynolds and Andy Garcia, as well as an unrecognizable Chris Pine as a methhead neo-Nazi, Jason Bateman, Joel Edgerton, Ray Liotta, and a dozen other stars.

Oddly enough, each of these actors gets time to shine in the movie's 109-minute runtime without taking anything away from anyone else. Everyone in this seems to be having the time of their lives, especially Piven as the titular “Aces.” But don’t get attached, as a lot of these folks die in spectacular fashion. Don’t worry, I’m not naming names!

Though Smokin’ Aces does appear on various streaming services from time to time (it’s been available with a Netflix subscription in the past), it’s currently only available as a digital rental or purchase for now. That said, this is a bonkers and often overlooked action flick with a whole lot of twists, turns, and heart. If you want more Ben Affleck and Joe Carnahan after going through The Rip, this is the way to go!

Warning, there are spoilers ahead for The Rip, so if you haven’t used your Netflix subscription to check it out, now’s your chance to escape!

I’ll admit that I don’t always love the action movies that Netflix releases, but The Rip, produced by and starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, is a… rip-roarin’ good time. Ugh, I can’t believe I wrote that, but here we are. Anyway, the movie is super fun, with great performances from the leads and all the supporting actors, including Kyle Chandler, Steven Yeun, and recent Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor, among others.

The movie is full of twists, but there was one that never happened. Out of the $20 million and change that the team found in the house, they didn’t keep any of it? That really surprised me.

The Good Guys All The Way To The End

Maybe I’m too cynical, or maybe modern movies and the evolution of anti-heroes in pop culture has become too mainstream, but I fully expected one final twist at the end to reveal that the Tactical Narcotics Team led by Damon’s character, Dane Dumars took a little taste of the literally buckets of drug cartel money they discovered in the house that is the center of the action in the movie.

The film plays up the whole “will they or won’t they” aspect throughout, on top of the mystery as to who is actually trying to steal the massive amount of cash stashed in the house. The Rip is intense, did a great job of keeping me guessing the whole time, and right up until the end, I still wasn’t completely sure who the dirty cops were and who wasn’t. Dane and his team are on the up and up (well, all but Yeun's Mike Ro). They are so on the straight and narrow that they don’t steal one dime. I don’t think it would have made them bad guys if they had lifted a little.

Does Not Stealing Some Money Make It A Better Movie?

Let’s say that in the end, the final little twist is that each of the remaining members of the team took a little taste. Nothing crazy, like $100 grand or something. Would that have made them bad guys? Technically, sure, but it’s not like anyone would be mad about it. I wouldn’t be. Plus, it’s not like the team was a bunch of Boy Scouts. They all were a little shady, and they all were dealing with the trauma of losing their commanding officer.

I think it makes it a better movie, not to mention more realistic. Dane and his crew are still heroes for recovering 20 million bucks and ferreting out the real crooks, plus they get a little something for themselves to make their lives a little better. It’s the least they deserved after all the trouble the massive amount of money caused them.

The Rip isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s a great kickoff to the 2026 movie schedule. I hope the streamer finds more ways to make big action movies with huge movie stars like this one.

Ben Affleck has accumulated a long list of movie credits and even two Academy Awards over the course of his career, but for better or worse, he may be best known in pop culture nowadays for two things: his friendship with Matt Damon and his association with Dunkin' Donuts. The two friends and collaborators opened up about a "genius" idea for a Dunkin' commercial that never made it to air, and not just because he wasn't wearing a signature orange jump suit in it. After how Damon and Affleck described it, though, I wish we could have at least seen an outtake like we did for his 2023 Super Bowl commercial!

The two pals spoke with Capital UK about Ben Affleck's performance in Dunkin' Donuts commercials, which have reportedly been very lucrative for the actor beyond any perks like "Dunking"-inspired march. Matt Damon chimed in to share with the world a commercial that Affleck filmed when he was doubling as a drive-through employee, but will likely never see the light of day:

Dunkin' Donuts may have a sweet treat in the franchise name, but a lot of people go to stores for coffee rather than confectionary. Depending on how early this was in the day, I can imagine that there were plenty of confused customers! That is, if the Batman v Superman star taking fast food orders wasn't already confusing enough. Affleck went on to clarify where he was when he tried to deny people coffee:

It's no surprise that Ben Affleck was filming commercials in Massachusetts; not only is that where the company was founded and he (and Matt Damon) grew up, but (according to data from Dunkin' Donuts' locations listing and the United States Census Bureau) the state has an astonishing ratio of people per Dunkin' location with a total of 7.136 million people and 1032 locations. To compare, New York comes in behind with 1453 locations for the 19,867 million people.

In case you were curious – and why wouldn't you be? – that amounts to just over 6.9k people/1 Dunkin' in MA vs. just under 13.7k people/1 Dunkin' in NY. Specific to the location that the Argo star/director visited: Bedford, Massachusetts has an even lower ratio of around 5k people/Dunkin' location with a population of just below 15k for three stores.

Matt Damon went on to explain why Ben Affleck's approach of claiming the Bedford, MA store didn't have coffee didn't exactly fly with the company.

Having been in a train station in Boston (about 45 minutes from Bedford) with not one but two Dunkin' locations, a third across the street and a fourth around the corner, I wasn't surprised by the Massachusetts location for the commercial even before I channeled my inner Matt Damon from Good Will Hunting to crunch the numbers. Affleck chimed it to say that he "thought it was genius," and added:

Alas, we'll likely never get any footage of Ben Affleck denying Dunkin' customers any of their usual pick-me-ups, but there's a good chance he'll be back in his uniform to represent the company in the not-too-distant future. A new Super Bowl commercial is reportedly in the works, with big names like Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Jason Alexander, and Tom Brady rumored to be involved.

Considering that I have a far more vivid memories of recent years' Dunkin' ads than I do the actual football games that were played, I'd be surprised not to have Ben Affleck trying to sell me donuts and (maybe) coffee on Super Bowl Sunday by this point.

Michael Bay movies are often crowd pleasers, but near the top of any list of Bay’s best movies has to be his outer space disaster movie, Armageddon. The film has some incredible action, as well as some truly emotional moments. Interestingly, it turns out one of the most powerful scenes was aided by co-star Ben Affleck being incredibly sick.

If the ending of Armageddon can make a tough guy like Michael B. Jordan cry, you know it’s going to be something else. The scene, in which Bruce Willis’ character, Harry Stamper, trades places with Ben Affleck’s A.J. Frost, saving the younger man from certain death, is one of the all-time tear-jerkers. While speaking with Jake Hamilton of Jake's Takes, Affleck revealed that the scene was shot while he was ill, because the actor didn’t realize he was allowed to call in sick. He explained…

Affleck mentions talking to Steve Buscemi at the premiere of his new movie, The Rip, which is available with a Netflix subscription. He says one of the elements that made the movie interesting was the way most of the actors were better known for smaller independent films, save for star Bruce Willis, who was an action movie vet. Clearly, Armageddon was a new experience for most of the cast.

On the one hand, the work that goes into setting up different scenes can be quite significant. In most cases, a production team can’t just change its mind and shoot a different scene that day because somebody called in sick. So it’s maybe understandable why Affleck didn’t think calling in sick was an option.

At the same time, being sick happens, and sometimes you are just too ill to work, no matter what else is going on. Affleck was so ill that he was apparently throwing up in between takes. However, in the end, he thinks the scene actually benefited from him being less than 100%. He joked…

Ben Affleck may be more famous for his Armageddon commentary track than for the movie itself. Despite the way he ribbed his own film, though, he clearly put the work in to make the movie as good as he could. He does look absolutely physically wrecked in the dramatic scene, which can be seen below. He’s sweating and looks like he’s having trouble getting his words out. Maybe it’s acting. Maybe it’s just that he feels like hell.

I suppose we can thank Ben Affleck’s relative inexperience for helping make the scene more powerful. Many a moviegoer has admitted to tearing up during that moment, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment for a film about blowing up asteroids. That's not bad for a movie Michael Bay once apologized for.

In an era where the way people are watching movies is changing, and theatrical distribution continues to shrink, streaming platforms like Netflix have been seen as both a threat and a savior. Movies that used to get released in theaters are now finding a new home on streaming platforms, but the way those movies are being produced is also changing, thanks to the way people watch movies at home.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s newest movie The Rip is exactly the sort of film, a character-focused drama about corrupt cops fighting over money, that once would have been released in theaters, but is now available with a Netflix subscription instead. The pair recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. And while they were both very complimentary of streaming (and Netflix specifically) for being a place where a movie like The Rip could exist, Damon indicated the streamer had some notes on the film. He said…

We’d heard various rumors and comments to this effect, but this really spells out a lot about the world of streaming. It may give movies that ca’t find a home theatrically a place to be made, but it won’t do so without having a material impact on the film itself. The idea of adding an action sequence or changing the script in ways specifically to cater to a person who isn’t paying complete attention may be understandable. Still, it’s also more than a little depressing.

I mean, I get it. Sometimes when we’re watching something at home, we’re doing other things. Even before we had phones, we might be making dinner or folding laundry while watching a movie on TV. We’ve never been entirely free of distraction. That said, the idea of adapting the content for that distracted audience is new, and for anybody who is paying full attention, having characters explain the plot four times is going to make the movie worse, not better.

Ben Affleck points out that these aren’t hard and fast rules at Netflix. Adolescence, one of the streamer’s most critically acclaimed and popular projects, doesn’t have any of this, so it’s not like this is required make a project for Netflix. However, Damon thinks that as streamers only become a bigger part of the media landscape, it’s going to have an impact. He adds...

It’s not hard to see how Matt Damon could be right, and how it could all become much more prevalent. If and when Netflix takes control of Warner Bros., could we even see movies that start their lives theatrically include elements designed to make them work better once they do arrive on the streaming platform? It’s certainly not impossible.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck star in a new movie this weekend that you can watch if you have a Netflix subscription. The Rip is one of their many collaborations over the years, ever since their first movie together, Good Will Hunting, won them and Robin Williams Oscars.

The acceptance speech that Damon and Affleck gave that night in 1997 is one of the all-time great Oscar speeches, as the two young actors were clearly blown away by the experience and had absolutely no idea what to say. Speaking about the speech on The Howard Stern Show (via EW), Affleck joked about it and the way he might have overdone it a little at that year's Academy Awards ceremony, saying…

To be fair to Affleck and Damon, the former only thanked Boston once, though he did so immediately after the latter had done it, so the city gets thanked twice. As all over the place as the speech is, that’s part of what makes it all quite endearing. Check out the win below.

The pair of stars are clearly like deer in headlights. The look on both their faces is one of astonishment. When they start trying to thank people, it’s just a random list of disorganized names of whoever either of them can think of as they try to list everybody. They mention all the key players in Good Will Hunting, they even thank their friend Cole Hauser. The only bad part about it is that the first person they mention is a name that hasn't aged well.

Damon says the reason the speech ended up like that is that the duo had never even talked about writing a speech. They felt that if they had, and then lost, they’d have felt silly for thinking they might win. He explained…

It's not shocking they didn't really expect to win. The entire story of how Good Will Hunting happened is a series of unlikely events. How would they have the audacity to think they could win an Oscar too?

In the clip above, you actually can see Damon nudge Affleck in front of the microphone, giving him the majority of the speaking time, just as he says. Of course, this makes him look the most unprepared. Affleck says he now wishes they had done at least a little pre-planning…

Honestly, I think the off-the-cuff Oscar speeches are usually the best. You can tell when people are truly shocked to have won and are just trying to come to terms with it. It’s possibly only overshadowed by Robin Williams Oscar win for the same film, as he took home Bet Supporting Actor for his performance as Dr. Sean Maguire.

In the 2026 Netflix release The Rip, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are ready to face off as they play Miami cops who discover millions in cash. While actors are known for getting into shape to play tough, no-nonsense roles, the long-time pals decided to keep their “dad bods” to portray the officers. Affleck even has a brief shirtless scene, and he recently explained why it was necessary for the movie. At the same time, Affleck also humorously discussed his weakness for bread.

Matt Damon definitely got in shape for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey as evidenced by those blaring abs. At the same time, though, his buddy, Ben Affleck, deserves credit for showing some skin himself forThe Rip. While sitting with his pal/costar on ET, Affleck shared a somewhat jokey (but legitimate) argument for his shirtless scene, which takes place in a bathroom:

This is very true. It would be pretty gross if Affleck's character, Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, didn't change his shirt after a hard day's work. Also, let's be real, as the also gives audiences an opportunity to see a shirtless Affleck with his “dad bod” and shoulder tattoos in their full glory.

I love how Damon jokes with his buddy about the film crew tweaking the lighting to make sure his body looked “just perfect” for that scene! Fans have come to expect such playful jabs from these guys. After all, these are the same two friends who've joshed each other over who had more “superior” facial hair for the streaming flick. It's hard not to love them.

As for physiques, the secret to the Bourne Identity actor losing weight for The Odyssey was keeping a gluten-free diet that helped him shed over 30 pounds. Ben Affleck, on the other hand, got real about never being able to have the discipline to cut out gluten, and his reason is so relatable:

I know what the Chasing Amy actor means. To have to stay away from dinner rolls, sandwich bread or desserts I’m used to eating would be very hard for me, too. Plus, the gluten-free food I’ve tried before has a distinctive taste and texture, where you know there’s something different. With that said, I’m sure many of us would be able to lose weight and live a healthier life without gluten. However, that doesn’t mean that particular diet is for everyone.

Oh, for the love of bread, Ben Affleck clearly has no shame in showing off that “dad bod,” and I'm here for it. With gluten as his vice and plenty of confidence to boot, who are we to argue with his rationale in any respect? You can watch Affleck’s shirtless physique in his and Matt Damon’s The Rip, which is streaming now with a Netflix subscription.

Ever since Good Will Hunting in 1997, movie fans have been kind of obsessed with the bromance between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who were friends long before they were famous. In their latest project together — Joe Carnahan’s The Rip, which hit the 2026 Netflix schedule on January 16 — they play members of the Miami Police Department, where suspicions rise amongst the officers after $20 million is recovered from a stash house.

In addition to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, The Rip also stars several other recognizable names, including Steven Yeun, Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler and Teyana Taylor — whom we just saw give an inspiring acceptance speech at the Golden Globes. Critics were able to screen the new movie release, and Jake Cole of Slant rates it 3 stars out of 4, calling it a meat-and-potatoes action thriller that offers no real surprises, but makes for an enjoyably retro diversion. The critic writes:

Eric Francisco of Esquire loves absolutely everything about The Rip — except for the fact that a killer Affleck/Damon movie is being dumped to only Netflix subscription holders in the middle of January. The nerve! Francisco continues:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY gives the upcoming action movie 3 out of 4 stars, saying the decades-long history between the lead actors adds nuance to their friendship and friction in The Rip. Truitt continues:

Jerrod Jones of AV Club gives the movie a B, writing that it functions comfortably as a mid-tier action movie, with grizzled performances, plenty of twists and enough excitement to keep Dad from dozing off. The real-life friendship between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon adds a charge when they share the screen. In Jones’ words:

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert rates The Rip 3 stars out of 4, saying Matt Damon and Ben Affleck lean into their dad bods a little more than usual to portray world-weary cops. Tallerico praises director Joe Carnahan for delivering the rare Netflix original that plays like something you’d want to see on the big screen. The critic continues:

Overall the critics seem more than satisfied with the action flick, as it’s garnered an 84% on the Tomatometer so far. While expectations for January streaming originals may not be very high, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck definitely have a lot of people looking forward to this one. If you want to check out The Rip, it is available now to stream on Netflix.

You can always count on kids to humble you, and that’s exactly what happened to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as they promoted the release of The Rip on Netflix’s 2026 schedule. At the New York premiere for the upcoming flick, the friends posed together on the carpet. However, said poses weren’t up to par with Matt Damon’s daughter’s standards, and she hilariously let him know that by roasting him.

You can see footage of Damon and Affleck posing similarly to how they are in the image below in a video uploaded by ET. To break it down, the Gone Girl actor is standing with his hands together right in front of him, and the Ocean’s Eleven actor is standing right next to him, with his hands at his side. Personally, I wouldn’t say this is awkward; it seems pretty normal to me. However, Damon’s 17-year-old daughter had other thoughts.

Yeah, The Odyssey star’s kid absolutely roasted him after the photo session. In the clip following the footage of the two actors posing, you can hear Gia Damon tell her dad:

As she said the line above, she (and you can see this in the video) dramatically put her arms out to her sides to create an exaggerated version of her dad’s pose. Matt then seemingly recreated the look for her and got a laugh out of the situation.

Overall, this whole event was a family affair. Along with The Rip being led by two lifelong best friends, Damon’s family showed up to support it. This included his wife Luciana Damon, and their kids, Gia Damon, Isabella Damon (19) and Stella Damon (15).

It was honestly really sweet to see them all together, and the little roast made it even better. It also shouldn’t come as a surprise, either, seeing as Matt Damon and Ben Affleck roast each other consistently. I guess it runs in the family.

Speaking of the two friends, their latest movie, The Rip, marks another collaboration together, and it seems like a lot of fun. In the thriller, the Good Will Hunting writers play cops on a team who discover a ton of money in a stash house, and as the night progresses, they start to question each other, and things get intense.

Alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, this movie also stars Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins and Kyle Chandler, making for a brilliant ensemble.

Now, to see the movie that the Damon family was celebrating, you can stream The Rip with a Netflix subscription on January 16. Meanwhile, I’ll be wondering if Matt and his daughter had a longer conversation about his and Affleck’s poses, and if they’ll try to up their game the next time they appear on the red carpet together.

One of Hollywood’s most entertaining BFF duos is back at it, as Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are hyping audiences up for their 2026 movie release The Rip, which is one of Netflix’s big 2026 premieres early in the year. Fan can expect to see a ton of action, as evidenced by The Rip’s latest trailer, but don’t expect to see the two dad-bod-boasting stars scuffling in real life, not even when it was addressed that Damon’s wife originally had eyes for Affleck.

The Dogma co-stars popped up on The Howard Stern Show, a place where only the most wholesome and innocent conversations happen. When the esteemed host asked Affleck if he was present when Damon and future-spouse Luciana Barroso met, the Oscar winner joked that history would have been changed if he had, sparking Damon to share the following anecdote.

Anecdote? More like a-necking-dote, amirite? Well no, not really, since there wasn’t any necking involved. But I stand by that pun.

Stern commented on how much that detail from their relationship history must still stick around in Damon’s head, sparking the Bourne franchise actor to respond with:

That’s downright hilarious, especially since it involves the duo's breakout smash Good Will Hunting, in which their characters are more or less competing for the affection of the same woman. Damon's Will won out in that project, and he was also chosen as the victor in real life.

Still, I have zero doubts that Affleck has humorously waved that detail over Damon’s head every time they get together to make a new movie, or to get coffee, or in the middle of the night when Damon is sleeping. This smile is all one needs to see to be convinced. That ol' rascal.

Ben Affleck's Relationship With Matt Damon's Wife Is Largely Professional

Considering how closely Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have worked together in the past three decades, it's understandable that Luciana Barroso and Affleck are also friends, as that would be make for quite a few sitcom-worthy scenarios if Damon had to balance his life while keeping the two apart. No, they're definitely close, and he pointed out that she's even been a boon to his career as of late, saying:

Damon and Barroso marked their 20-year anniversary last year, and have been married since 2005. Meanwhile, Affleck's romantic life has been tabloid fodder for essentially that entire stretch, highlighted by his 2005-2018 marriage to Jennifer Garner and his tumultuous 2022-2025 marriage to Jennifer Lopez.

Howard Stern jokingly inquired if it would be a change for Damon if Luciana suddenly ran away with Affleck. The actor laughed, saying:

Hopefully nothing about The Rip sucks, though. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the movie follows a group of Miami cops whose professional dynamic and trust implode after they come across a huge stash of cash and have to report it. Sounds like somebody will have sticky fingers, and that it won't go well for all involved.

One of many high-octance action movies we can't wait to see in 2026,The Rip debuts on Netflix starting on Friday, January 16.

The story of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, two friends from Boston who broke into Hollywood together, is one of the great modern Hollywood stories. The pair have been through a lot together, and this week (if you have a Netflix subscription) you can see them together again in the new drama, The Rip. One place you apparently won’t see them together, however, is the gym.

In a new video for Netflix, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck answered questions about their friendship, their careers, and their new film. One asked them about how often the two, who play cops in The Rip, hit the gym. While we’re used to actors having to get in a particular shape to play certain roles, it turns out this was not one of those roles, as Affleck said…

In The Rip, Affleck and Damon play two members of a team of Miami cops who find a large stash of cash and decide to keep it for themselves. One might expect that a role like that would mean working with personal trainers, but hey, not all cops are in great shape.

Of course, Affleck’s comment that they “didn’t really” go to the gym might indicate that they did go to the gym a little. Matt Damon followed up with a much more declarative statement that it just did not happen. He said…

It was probably nice for Matt Damon that he didn’t have to go to the gym for The Rip, because he went through a much more significant transformation for his upcoming movie with Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey. Damon says he slimmed down to a lean but strong weight that he hasn’t seen since high school, and while personal trainers were involved, the actor credits cutting gluten out of his diet for a big part of his weight loss.

Affleck has also done his share of working out for movies. In Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Affleck had to do some pretty incredible workouts on screen. He really had to be in great shape to pull that off.

Honestly, both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon look to be in pretty decent shape, though this video was likely filmed fairly recently, after Damon’s Odyssey prep. Still, Ben Affleck had the perfect joke to reference the shape he and his friend were in during filming. It’s a new twist on the “dad bod” that many celebrities are known for. I hope we all start using. Affleck quipped…

As somebody else who also has a “father figure,” I appreciate this comment and will now be using this term whenever the topic arises.

While I’ve never really compared Tom Cruise and Matt Damon, I do recognize the commonalities, specifically seeing as they’re both known for starring in action franchises. However, their approach to the action is so different that the Good Will Hunting actor called himself the “anti-Tom Cruise.” And I have to say, I get why he calls himself that.

You know it, and I know it, Tom Cruise does his own stunts, and he loves it. Meanwhile, Matt Damon made it very clear that he’d rather have stuntmen do the action for him. In fact, ahead of the premiere of his new movie, The Rip, on Netflix’s 2026 schedule, he made it very clear to Ben Affleck during an interview with Still Watching Netflix that he’s the “anti-Tom Cruise” when it comes to stunts, saying:

Of course, I love that Cruise does his own stunts and pulls off wild moments like the bi-plane sequence in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. I also appreciate when other actors, like Glen Powell, commit to doing stunts themselves.

However, I also greatly appreciate the other side of this coin. Sunt people are incredible artists, and they put their lives on the line to do this remarkable work. In some cases, the actors can pull it off (like Cruise can). However, in many others, it's best to let the stunt double take over. That’s the mentality Damon clearly has when it comes to action, and he made that clear in the following back-and-forth with Ben Affleck:

• Ben Affleck: Your stuntman has done more interesting stuff.
• Matt Damon: My stuntman has done fantastic work.
• Ben Affleck: On the Bourne movies...the action in those movies is so good. There's a great shot where the camera is behind you when you jump into a window or something? That was amazing.
• Matt Damon: Yeah, that's a guy named Kai [Martin].

This is all reminding me of a story Matt Damon told a while back about a conversation he had with Cruise. They were discussing meetings they've had with safety people on sets and trying to get things approved by them. The Mission: Impossible actor said that if the safety person tells him “no,” he’ll “get a new safety guy.” If the Bourne Identity star got that response, he would just walk away from the stunt and move on.

Both mentalities have their merits; however, there’s no denying that they are totally different. So, I see why Damon calls himself the “anti-Tom Cruise.” The Odyssey actor will transform physically for a role, and he’s very committed to his performances; however, when it comes to stunts, he’ll leave that to his stuntman.

Now, to see Matt Damon (and probably his stuntman) in action, his next movie, The Rip, will be available for those with a Netflix subscription on January 16, and then you can see him on the big screen this summer in The Odyssey. And to see his action opposite, Tom Cruise, you can catch his project on the 2026 movie schedule, Digger, in theaters on October 2.

Since Ben Affleck’s high-profile rekindling and divorce with Jennifer Lopez, the actor’s personal life has been a constant hot subject in the tabloids, which then also puts his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, in the spotlight, too. Since Affleck and Garner share three kids, they often spend time together (including sharing this past Thanksgiving), but Garner just made some rare comments about what her relationship is like with her ex-husband.

The 53-year-old exes have been navigating raising kids without being in a marriage since 2015, and it sounds like they’ve really got the hang of it. In an interview with Marie Claire, first Garner reacted to having “the whole internet” root for her happiness by saying this:

While there are a lot of celebrities the public is happy to tear down, that’s not the case for Garner, and she seems to be thriving nowadays. The Alias actor said her current high priorities are being there for her kids, her advocacy work for Save The Children US, being the co-founder of Once Upon A Farm, and, of course, her acting career.

Now, as for her relationship with Affleck, here’s what Garner said:

There are tons of parents out there who have to deal with going through a divorce while also sharing kids, and it’s not an easy situation to navigate. When it comes to Garner and Affleck, she calls the father of her kids a friend whom she feels like she can have a partnership full of “peace and equanimity.” Plus, she’s in a relationship with businessman John Miller, who has reportedly “embraced Jen’s family life.”

During the interview, Garner also got honest about it being “hard” to break up her family and “lose a true partnership and friendship.” She also spoke about it being rather “tricky” for there to be public interest in her kids and her relationships as they continue to grow older. Garner said she refuses to engage in tabloid coverage because it “doesn’t serve” her.

This month marks a year since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez finalized their divorce. The pair of actors reunited in 2021 before getting married in Vegas in 2022 and having a second wedding with family and friends in Georgia a couple of months later. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out between them, and Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck in the summer of 2024.

As far as Affleck and Garner’s acting careers go, Affleck has a new movie with Matt Damon called The Rip coming out on the 2026 Netflix schedule next week on January 16! Garner leads The Last Thing He Told Me Season 2, which premieres on Apple TV+ on April 14.

The comic book genre is showing no signs of slowing down, although things on the DC side of things have shifted thanks to co-CEO James Gunn. He dropped the DCEU and brought a new shared universe to life, with the first slate of projects titled Gods and Monsters. Meanwhile, Zack Snyder has been posting photos from his DC movies, with the latest image of Ben Affleck's Batman seemingly adding fuel to the campaign to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse.

There are a number of upcoming DC movies coming down the line, but some fans are still caught up on the previous shared universe (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription). Snyder isn't discouraging them, recently posting a photo of Affleck from the Knightmare Universe. Check it out below:

Honestly, this is a pretty cool image. Ben Affleck looks awesome in this Batman suit... even if the character is uncharacteristically using a gun. We first got a glimpse of the Knightmare in Batman v Superman, before that bleak apocalyptic universe was expanded thanks to the Snyder Cut's reshoots. And fans are definitely freaking out over this BTS image of The Dark Knight.

Shortly after Zack Snyder's Justice League was released, the filmmaker's fans started campaigning for Warner Bros. to #RestoreTheSnyderVerse. The studio has given no indication of this plan happening, and it seemed even more unlikely once the entire DCEU was scrapped. But that hasn't dissuaded fans from making their voices known, as you can see in the comments section of the director's most recent post. Select responses read:

• I speak for ALL of us when I say WE (yes WE) want to see this story continue - maketherichieverse
• We need Zack Snyder's Justice League Part 2 #RestoreTheSnyderVerse! - snyderqueen_
• Sequel. Now! - realmanofdcinema
• Man, I need this. I haven't been excited for a DC movie since the Snyder Cut. - huang_jun_art
• We won’t get any better this, the amount of work, love and dedication to this set the bar to high. #RestoreTheSnyderVerse - thestonedrabbit

Clearly there are folks who still want to see Zack Snyder's two Justice League sequels, finally completing his original five-film plan for the DCEU. The Knightmare scene in the Snyder Cut teased what was coming, which is why some moviegoers are still so passionate about what might have been. Alas, it still feels like a pipe dream for Warner Bros. to actually restore the SnyderVerse.

In addition to buoying fan investment in this campaign, Zack Snyder consistently posting images from the DCEU has helped the filmmaker to grow his Instagram following in a very short time. At the time of writing this story he's got 626k followers, and I have to assume he'll hit the one million mark soon... especially if the DC photos keep coming.

The next DC movie heading to theaters is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Additionally, fans can re-watch the DCEU in its entirety over on HBO Max.

Good Will Hunting wasn’t the first movie for co-writers and co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, but it was the film that catapulted them into Hollywood stardom. It’s been nearly 30 years since the Academy Award-winning movie was released, but Damon says he still thinks about the way it felt when he realized the project they’d worked so hard on was actually happening. He also opened up about why he felt like Rocky making it.

Matt Damon was a guest on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, and during the show, he was asked what his “Welcome to Hollywood” moment was, when he realized he had truly arrived professionally. Damon calls back to when Good Will Hunting first started shooting, which began production with a scene he wasn’t in, but it still meant everything to him. Damon said…

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon grew up as friends with dreams of Hollywood, and while they were already working actors by the time they were shopping around Good Will Hunting, one imagines that getting somebody to buy a script from two unknowns was a difficult task. So many screenplays never become movies; it wouldn’t have been unusual if Good Will Hunting had just never been made.

One imagines that Damon and Affleck wouldn’t even fully believe the movie was happening until filming got underway, but once it did, and with the likes of Stellan Skarsgard and Robin Williams involved, it finally felt real. It’s not a shock that it was an emotional moment. Damon likens the whole thing to feeling like Rocky Balboa in Sylvester Stallone’s original movie. Rocky was never trying to win; he only ever wanted to go the distance, and so did they. Damon continued…

The Rocky comparison makes sense. Not only was the experience of getting Good Will Hunting made like the character's journey, but it was also similar to the story of Stallone attempting to get Rocky made, having written the movie and then fighting to make it real, and be able to star in it.

In the end, Good Will Hunting did happen, and far more than “nothing” happened with it. The movie would be nominated for nine Oscars, winning two, a Best Supporting Actor award for Robin Williams, and the Best Original Screenplay prize for Affleck and Damon. The movie was so successful that there have apparently been attempts at making a sequel, though, like Rocky did, that seems unlikely. However, the comparison still stands, and it really helps me understand just how much Good Will Hunting means to the people who made it.

Some people cry during movies. It’s just a thing that happens. Some people get emotional during films all the time, others only have that happen in a few cases. Michael B. Jordan is man enough to admit that he has cried during movies before, but I have to say I wasn’t expecting the one that got him.

There’s a halfway decent chance that the last time you cried at a movie, it was during Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners. Jordan tells W Magazine that he also cried at Sinners. It says a lot about that movie that the guy who was in it still cried when he saw it. But what’s even more interesting are the other times Jordan mentions crying while watching something. He said…

I won’t lie, I did not expect Michael B. Jordan to drop Armageddon as a movie that made him cry. To be sure, I know Armageddon made audiences emotional. I have my own distinct memory of seeing the film on opening night and standing by the theater door as the previous showing ended and dozens of people filtered out, many of them sobbing. I knew going in that something was going to happen.

Clearly, Armageddon had quite an impression on Michael B. Jordan. The movie itself is nearly 30 years old, and it’s the one that he mentions when asked what movies make him cry. He’s seen the film multiple times, and it makes him cry “every time.”

The scene in question that almost certainly made Jordan cry, if you’ve never seen Armageddon, comes in the finale when the team, trying to drill a hole in an asteroid, discovers that the bomb to destroy the planet-killer rock will have to be triggered by a member of the team. Initially, Ben Affleck’s character pulls the short straw, but then Bruce Willis takes his place, so that his daughter and the man she loves will be together. Then he says goodbye to his daughter, and there isn't a dry eye in the house.

Today, this movie is maybe better known for Ben Affleck's hilarious DVD commentary than the film itself, but this makes me realize I really need to rewatch Armageddon. It's one of Michael Bay's best movies, with some incredible action, and some truly heartbreaking moments. Next time you need a good cry, maybe give this one a try.

When it comes to Ben Affleck, there are several key details to know about him. He’s a Boston native, he enjoys his fair share of Dunkin’ products and he’s also a passionate fan of the sports teams native to his hometown. In fact, he’s so devoted to his Boston Red Sox that he declined to wear a New York Yankees hat for a scene in 2014’s Gone Girl. That decision led to some behind-the-scenes issues on the set of the David Fincher-helmed flick. Even now, Affleck is still humorously defending his refusal to don the cap, and I get it.

The Gone Girl situation came up while Ben Affleck was promoting his 2026 movie schedule entry, The Rip, alongside frequent collaborator Matt Damon and their co-stars, Sasha Calle and Catalina Sandino Moreno. All four actors took part in a game in which they were prompted with a question of whether something applied more heavily towards Affleck or Damon. Affleck was dubbed the better Red Sox fan and, from there, came the question, “Who refused to wear a Yankees cap for a movie role?”

In the Instagram video, Damon began to joke about passing on a movie before Affleck interjected, and Damon then mused that his longtime buddy “actually shut production down because you wouldn't work.” Affleck, who said the story has since been “exaggerated,” also shared the following assessment:

Gone Girl sees Ben Affleck play the role of teacher Nick Dunne (a role originally snagged by Jon Hamm), who must contend with the sudden disappearance of his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike). It’s established within the narrative that Amy and Nick previously lived in New York before moving back to his native state of Missouri, hence the need for the character to wear a Yankees cap. When Affleck refused, David Fincher shut down production for a little while. Check out Affleck’s recollection of what happened in the video below:

As a sports fan myself, I’m fully aware that loyalty can run deep and, given the long-running rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox, it’s not surprising to me that Affleck would refuse to wear that cap. He and Fincher eventually settled on a compromise, which saw Affleck, while in character, sport a New York Mets hat. So I don’t think any further evidence of the Oscar winner’s devotion to the Red Sox is necessary. Though I could also mention that he and ex-wife Jennifer Garner took their kids to a game just last year.

When it comes to Gone Girl, it remains one of David Fincher’s most acclaimed films, and the making of the film arguably remains a point of interest for cinephiles. Just in 2025, Rosamund Pike recalled being nervous about taking on her role, and she received encouragement from Tom Cruise. Pike eventually received praise for her performance and even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

I’m glad the Yankees hat snafu was ultimately resolved, and this now-funny anecdote really hits home the point that a person’s allegiance to a sports team shouldn’t be taken lightly. Funny enough, I myself am a big fan of the Boston Celtics, and I’d personally have a hard time wearing any Los Angeles Lakers gear if required to do so.

Check out Ben Affleck – sans a New York-based sports team hat – in The Rip, which will be available for Netflix subscription holders starting on January 16. In the meantime, Gone Girl is also available to buy or rent on digital platforms.