Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on Netflix Movies: Action Up Front, Phones in Hand — But Rules Can Be Broken

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are no strangers to Hollywood trends, but during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, the longtime friends offered a refreshingly blunt take on how Netflix is reshaping the way movies are made.

The duo joined Joe Rogan to promote their upcoming Netflix film The Rip, and the conversation quickly turned to how streaming platforms influence storytelling — sometimes in surprising ways.

Action Sooner, Stories Repeated

Damon explained that Netflix approaches movies with a very different assumption about how people watch them. Unlike a theater, where audiences are focused and distraction-free, home viewing often means phones, pauses, and divided attention.

Because of that, Netflix frequently pushes filmmakers to hook viewers immediately.

“Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay,” Damon said.

Traditionally, action movies were built around three major set pieces, with the biggest and most expensive sequence saved for the third act. According to Damon, that model is changing. Streamers now prefer strong action early on and clearer storytelling throughout — sometimes even repeating key plot points multiple times in dialogue.

The reason? Many viewers are only half-watching.

Ben Affleck: “You Don’t Have to Do That”

Affleck agreed that this “streamer logic” exists but pushed back on the idea that it’s the only way to succeed. He pointed to Netflix’s recent limited series hit Adolescence as proof.

The show, which follows a father whose child is accused of murder, breaks many of the supposed Netflix rules. It’s slow, dark, emotionally heavy, and often quiet — with long shots, minimal dialogue, and no rush to explain everything.

“It didn’t do any of that stuff,” Affleck said. “And it’s fucking great.”

He described scenes where characters sit in silence, driving without speaking, letting tension build naturally. For Affleck, Adolescence shows that audiences are still willing to engage deeply when the storytelling is strong.

Exception or Evidence?

Damon acknowledged the show’s success but suggested it may be an exception rather than the norm. Affleck disagreed, arguing that it demonstrates filmmakers don’t always need to rely on front-loaded action or constant reminders to keep viewers interested.

The exchange highlights a growing debate in Hollywood:
Should movies adapt to distracted viewing habits — or challenge audiences to slow down and pay attention?

For now, Netflix seems to be doing both. And if Damon and Affleck’s conversation is any indication, the tension between art and algorithm isn’t going away anytime soon. 🎬