Even Netflix had to bow out of their standard practice when it came to joining forces with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Artists Equity for The Rip!
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Netflix went out of its way to work alongside Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and their production company, Artists Equity, for The Rip. The streaming giant went out of its way and essentially made an exception to their rule just so that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon could keep their own promises.
As per the NY Times, Affleck said in a statement that every cast and crew member of The Rip will be given a one-time bonus after the release of The Rip, if the film performs well on the streaming giant.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon pushed Netflix to make a deal that would reward their production crew with bonuses if their new film ‘THE RIP’ performs well on the platform.
(Source: https://t.co/fwnecXHRtw) pic.twitter.com/dLsPqFRlgG
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 9, 2026
This was a sharp deviation from what Netflix is usually accustomed to, since its fee structure only covers everything before the release of a movie, with no bonus in sight, no matter how big the series becomes.
Netflix Has an Upfront Fee Structure for Its Projects
With streaming changing the way movies and shows work, Netflix introduced a game-changing fee structure. Paying a fee upfront with a profit capped at a certain percentage, shows like Squid Game are the biggest examples of how the cast and crew members weren’t entitled to compensation despite their success.
According to a report by CNBC, Squid Game was made with a production budget of $21.4 million, but the success that the show amassed is equivalent to $900 million!
Even Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed to The Guardian that he is “not that rich.”
But I do have enough. I have enough to put food on the table. And it’s not like Netflix is paying me a bonus. Netflix paid me according to the original contract.
However, with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company challenging the norms of Hollywood, it seems that even the mighty Netflix might have to bow in front of them.
How Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Are Challenging Hollywood Norms
Well, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are challenging standard norms after forming their production company Artists Equity. After producing Air and The Accountant 2, the company has produced The Rip.
In an interview with the New York Times, Ben Affleck revealed the reason why he and Matt Damon started Artists Equity.
We wanted to institute fairness and address some of the real issues that are present and urgent for our business. This deal is fundamental, philosophically, to the ideas we had in starting this company.
Of course, The Rip is only the beginning for Netflix and Artists Equity, and it seems that the standard pay practices might also change after a few films.
| Key Facts About: | The Rip |
| Directed By: | Joe Carnahan |
| Cast: | Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Steven Yeun |
| Release Date: | January 16, 2026 |
| Production House: | Artists Equity |
Are you happy about Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The Rip will release on Netflix on January 16, 2026.
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