The Rip Cast & Characters: Full Guide to the Miami Unit
Meet Netflix’s “The Rip” Miami Unit: Cast & Character Guide
Looking for The Rip cast & characters in one place? Here’s a full, easy-to-scan guide to the Miami Unit at the heart of Netflix’s crime thriller The Rip—plus the key outsiders who raise the stakes when a cash seizure turns into a pressure cooker.
Quick facts (spoiler-light)
- Title: The Rip
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Premiere date: January 16, 2026
- Logline: A team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash at a stash house, and trust collapses as outside forces close in.
- Why it’s called “The Rip”: Miami cop slang for “taking the bad guy’s stuff” in a seizure.
Official trailer
The Miami Unit (core team)
At the center of The Rip is a specialized Miami-Dade narcotics unit operating in tight formation—until a massive seizure forces everyone to ask the question the movie keeps circling: who do you trust?
Lt. Dane Dumars (Matt Damon)
Dumars is the unit’s lieutenant—an experienced leader whose decisions shape how the team handles the seizure, the scene, and each other. If you’re tracking power dynamics in the Miami Unit, start here.
Det. Sgt. J.D. Byrne (Ben Affleck)
Byrne is a detective sergeant and Dumars’ partner. Their long-time bond becomes the emotional engine of the film: when greed enters the room, even “brotherhood” becomes a liability.
Detective Mike Ro (Steven Yeun)
Ro is one of the unit detectives working the stash-house discovery. In a story built on mistrust, his choices (and what he knows) matter.
Detective Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor)
Baptiste is a unit detective who becomes central to the “count-it-now” pressure of the bust. She adds intensity, edge, and a sharp read on the room.
Detective Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
Salazar is another core detective in the Miami Unit. When the team’s cohesion cracks, she’s positioned right in the blast radius.
Desiree “Desi” Molina (Sasha Calle)
Desi isn’t just “a character who shows up.” She’s tied directly to the stash-house discovery and becomes a key variable in how the unit navigates the aftermath.
Command staff & outside agencies (the pressure from above)
The Miami Unit doesn’t exist in a vacuum. As soon as the seizure gets big enough, it attracts command-level attention and federal involvement. That outside gravity changes what “the right move” even looks like.
Captain Jackie Velez (Lina Esco)
Captain Velez is part of the unit’s leadership and a crucial presence in the story’s larger context.
Major Thom Vallejo (Néstor Carbonell)
Major Vallejo sits higher in the chain of command, representing institutional authority and the consequences of going off-book.
DEA Agent Mateo “Matty” Nix (Kyle Chandler)
When the DEA enters the picture, it raises the stakes and complicates loyalties. Nix is one of the most important “outsider” players around the unit.
FBI Agent Del Byrne (Scott Adkins)
The FBI angle adds another layer of conflict—especially when relationships overlap with professional duties.
Additional supporting characters
- DEA Agent Dayo Reyes (Jose Pablo Cantillo)
- Officer Junger (Cliff Chamberlain)
- Officer Warwick (Alex Hernandez)
- FBI Agent Logan Casiano (Daisuke Tsuji)
Full cast & character table (fast reference)
| Actor | Character | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Damon | Lieutenant Dane Dumars | Miami-Dade narcotics unit (Miami Unit) |
| Ben Affleck | Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne | Miami-Dade narcotics unit (Miami Unit) |
| Steven Yeun | Detective Mike Ro | Miami-Dade narcotics unit (Miami Unit) |
| Teyana Taylor | Detective Numa Baptiste | Miami-Dade narcotics unit (Miami Unit) |
| Catalina Sandino Moreno | Detective Lolo Salazar | Miami-Dade narcotics unit (Miami Unit) |
| Sasha Calle | Desiree “Desi” Molina | Civilians tied to the stash-house discovery |
| Kyle Chandler | DEA Agent Mateo “Matty” Nix | DEA |
| Scott Adkins | FBI Agent Del Byrne | FBI |
| Néstor Carbonell | Major Thom Vallejo | Command staff |
| Lina Esco | Captain Jackie Velez | Command staff |
| Jose Pablo Cantillo | DEA Agent Dayo Reyes | DEA |
| Cliff Chamberlain | Officer Junger | Law enforcement (supporting) |
| Alex Hernandez | Officer Warwick | Law enforcement (supporting) |
| Daisuke Tsuji | FBI Agent Logan Casiano | FBI |
What Reddit Theories Say About this
As soon as The Rip hit Netflix, viewers started arguing over what’s “realistic” in a cash seizure and what’s movie logic. One recurring Reddit angle: if the unit had unsupervised control of the money for any amount of time, could the final number really prove anything?
Reddit spoiler talk (open at your own risk)
A popular Reddit interpretation suggests that a “matching total” doesn’t necessarily prove nobody skimmed the stash—because a clever team could potentially manipulate what gets counted or what gets delivered. Other threads focus less on the mechanics and more on the vibe: the dialogue, the twist structure, and whether Netflix-style pacing helps or hurts the tension.
Reddit Reactions: The Rip’s “counting money” stress test
Another common Reddit theme is the sheer pressure of counting on-site while everything escalates. Even without taking sides, it’s the detail that makes the movie’s central temptation feel immediate: the cash isn’t “later money.” It’s right there, right now, and everyone can see it.
More to watch if you liked The Rip
If your favorite part was the mix of tight-knit team dynamics + greed + siege-style tension, here are a few good follow-ups.
Netflix “You Might Also Like” picks
- Triple Frontier
- Lou
- Wheelman
- The Helicopter Heist
- Ganglands
Classic influences often mentioned around The Rip
- Serpico (cop integrity under pressure)
- Prince of the City (corruption and consequences)
- Heat (crime professionalism and loyalty)
FAQ
Is The Rip a movie or a series?
The Rip is a feature film on Netflix (not a multi-episode series).
Is The Rip based on a true story?
It’s described as inspired by true events and by real-world experiences tied to Miami-Dade tactical narcotics work, but the main characters are fictional.
What does “The Rip” mean?
In the film’s context, “the rip” is slang for a seizure—confiscating cash, drugs, weapons, or other illegal goods.
Who are the main Miami Unit members in The Rip?
The core team includes Lt. Dane Dumars, Det. Sgt. J.D. Byrne, Detective Mike Ro, Detective Numa Baptiste, and Detective Lolo Salazar.