Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Call Out Netflix’s Approach to Filmmaking: “Reiterated Plot for People on Their Phones”
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are back together on screen in the new Netflix crime thriller The Rip, but along with the reunion came some eye-opening behind-the-scenes revelations about the way Netflix approaches storytelling, and it’s not quite what they’re used to.
During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Damon offered some insight on what it’s like developing a film for Netflix.
The Oscar-winning actor explained how the traditional playbook for action films didn’t exactly apply when it came to working with the streaming giant.
“The standard way to make an action movie that we learned was, you usually have three set pieces.
“One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third. You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That’s your finale.
“And now they’re like, ‘Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.’”
The idea of building a story around viewers who might only be half paying attention speaks to a shift in how some streaming content is being made.
Instead of slow burns or carefully constructed narratives, there’s now pressure to frontload excitement and constantly re-explain things just in case someone missed it while scrolling.
Affleck was quick to point out that not every Netflix film follows this model. He gave props to another recent release, Adolescence, for doing the complete opposite and still managing to leave a powerful impact.
“But then you look at Adolescence, and it didn’t do any of that shit,” Affleck said. “And it’s f*cking great. And it’s dark too.
“It’s tragic and intense. [It’s about] this guy who finds out his kid is accused of murder. There are long shots of the back of their heads. They get in the car, nobody says anything.”
In a time where streaming often favors speed and instant gratification, Affleck and Damon’s comments offer a candid look at the evolving landscape of digital filmmaking, where attention spans shape creative decisions.