Matt Damon Slams Netflix for Dumbed-Down Movies: ‘Everyone’s on Their Phones’

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck recently joined Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience to promote their new Netflix film, The Rip, where the conversation took a deep dive into the changing landscape of Hollywood. Damon shared some blunt insights into how streaming giant Netflix approached the creative process, specifically regarding the attention span of modern audiences.

Damon explained that making movies for a streaming platform is a fundamentally different challenge compared to traditional theatrical releases. He noted that because viewers are watching from the comfort of their homes, they often fail to give the content their undivided attention.

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, Damon remarked. He explained that traditionally, the bulk of the budget is saved for the finale to ensure a big payoff for the audience.

However, Damon revealed that Netflix often pushes for a faster pace to prevent subscribers from clicking away. 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,” he said.

Affleck was quick to jump in, noting that while this formula exists, it is not a universal rule at the studio. He pointed to the recent critical hit limited series Adolescence as a prime example of a show that respects the viewer’s intelligence and patience.

But then you look at “Adolescence,” and it didn’t do any of that s***, Affleck said. And it’s f***** 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.

Damon admitted that while such high-quality storytelling exists on the platform, it is often the outlier rather than the norm. It’s the exception, he noted, highlighting the tension between artistic integrity and the data-driven algorithms used by streaming services to maintain engagement.

Aside from these critiques, both actors have been incredibly busy with their own production company, Artists Equity. Their latest project, The Rip, premiered on Netflix on January 16, and features a star-studded cast including Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, and Sasha Calle.

The film follows a team of Miami detectives who stumble upon a massive amount of cash, leading to a dangerous game of loyalty and betrayal. It has already seen high viewership numbers, despite Damon’s reservations about the platform’s specific creative “suggestions” during the production phase.

Damon is also preparing for a massive 2026 theatrical run, most notably starring in Christopher Nolan’s historical epic The Odyssey. In this retelling of the classic myth, he plays the legendary Odysseus alongside an ensemble that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya.

Ben Affleck is also staying behind the camera as a director for the upcoming crime thriller Animals, which will once again see him directing his lifelong friend Matt Damon. The film is part of their ongoing mission to provide fairer pay for film crews through their independent studio model.

The discussion on Rogan’s podcast has sparked a wider conversation online about the “Netflix-ification” of cinema. Many fans agree with Damon that movies are becoming more repetitive and simplified to accommodate distracted viewers, while others appreciate the fast-paced energy.

Do you think the streaming habit of checking your phone while watching has forced Hollywood to dumb down its scripts, or do you appreciate it when a movie reminds you of the plot every twenty minutes? Share your thoughts in the comments.