Netflix and Artists Equity, the production company founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, have expanded their partnership with a multi-year first-seem deal, solidifying a relationship that began with the recent success of the action thriller The Rip. The agreement covers film projects, building on a model that allows Artists Equity to retain creative control while leveraging Netflix’s global streaming reach.
The Rip, released January 16, 2026, spent three weeks as the number one film on Netflix’s Top 10 chart, according to the streaming service. The film, directed by Joe Carnahan, stars Damon and Affleck as police officers in the Miami-Dade Police Department narcotics unit, alongside Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor and Kyle Chandler. The movie is inspired by the true story of Miami-Dade County Police Captain Chris Casiano and centers on a narcotics team investigating a potential theft during a raid.
The new deal exists alongside a separate three-year agreement Artists Equity forged with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the Sony pact, the studio will globally distribute Artists Equity’s theatrical films, providing financing and handling ancillary distribution, with Artists Equity retaining the option to co-finance projects. This dual-track strategy allows the company to assess the optimal release strategy – streaming or theatrical – on a project-by-project basis.
“Here’s an incredible milestone for Artists Equity and one that validates the vision we’ve been working towards since 2022. From the jump, we’ve seen this growing need for an independent supplier comfortable across the entire creative process, from development to final cut. Netflix is a great match for our work. [Netflix film chairman] Dan [Lin] and his team have a unique connection with the modern viewer and the ability to unite audiences over a shared cultural moment,” Affleck and Damon said in a joint statement.
Dan Lin, Chairman of Netflix Film, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’re expanding our partnership with Artists Equity since they share our mission — to create bold, original films. Ben and Matt don’t wait for opportunities, they create them: from making and starring in ambitious, original films, to building an innovative studio model.”
Netflix is also preparing to release Affleck’s next directorial effort, Animals, starring Affleck, Kerry Washington, and Gillian Anderson, later this year. The arrangement with Artists Equity signals Netflix’s continued investment in creator-driven projects and its willingness to collaborate with independent production companies that offer a distinct creative voice.
