The Rip Filming Locations: Where Was It Shot (and What’s Real Miami)?
Where Netflix’s The Rip Was Really Shot (and What’s Real Miami)
The Rip is set in Miami, but it doesn’t play like a postcard movie—and that’s the clue. The film uses a gritty, industrial vibe (stash houses, warehouses, night streets), and a lot of that “Miami” atmosphere was built outside Florida. Below is a spoiler-light guide to the main filming locations, the real Miami shots, and how to tell when the movie is pulling off a convincing stand-in.
Quick answer: where was The Rip filmed?
Most of The Rip was filmed outside Miami—primarily in New Jersey and Los Angeles/Long Beach. Miami, Florida appears mainly in select establishing shots and exteriors to lock in the setting.
- New Jersey: Hudson County areas used to double as Miami (plus at least one studio/soundstage component).
- California: Los Angeles neighborhoods dressed as Miami, with additional coastal/industrial visuals in Long Beach.
- Miami, Florida: limited but recognizable exterior/establishing footage.
What’s real Miami in The Rip?
Even when a film is mostly shot elsewhere, productions often capture a handful of signature “you are here” shots: skylines, highways, ports, and stadium/arena exteriors—visual shorthand that tells your brain “Miami” before the story drops you into darker side streets.
Real Miami landmarks you may recognize
Reports about the film’s Miami footage point to exteriors and establishing imagery that includes major city identifiers such as:
- Port of Miami
- Kaseya Center (arena exterior)
- One Thousand Museum (skyline standout)
- Downtown/Brickell-style skyline exteriors (often paired with dialogue and signage to “lock” the location)
| On-screen vibe | Most likely real Miami? | Most likely a double? |
|---|---|---|
| Wide skyline, iconic waterfront, big city “identifier” buildings | Often yes | Sometimes (if heavily stylized or drone-only) |
| Claustrophobic stash-house streets, industrial blocks, controlled action setups | Occasionally | Very often |
| Port/warehouse visuals | Sometimes | Often (Long Beach can play this role convincingly) |
What does “The Rip” mean (and why the locations matter)?
The title isn’t just a cool-sounding phrase: it’s described as Miami cop slang for a seizure/confiscation—taking illegal cash, weapons, or drugs during an operation. That’s why the movie’s geography leans so hard into stash houses, counting rooms, and enforcement-adjacent spaces.
This is also why the filmmakers can get away with less “tourist Miami”. When the story lives in the back rooms—where the money is counted, guarded, and fought over—New Jersey industrial corridors and LA streets can sell the same pressure-cooker mood.
New Jersey: the “Miami” doubles you’re actually seeing
If you felt like The Rip had a tougher, colder edge than typical sunlit Miami stories, you’re not imagining it. Multiple reports say major chunks of the film were shot in New Jersey locations that can be dressed into a believable “Miami after dark.”
Hudson County (Bayonne, Hoboken, and nearby)
Hudson County is frequently used by productions because it can deliver dense city texture fast—industrial roads, brick buildings, tight blocks, and easy control of street closures. In The Rip, reported New Jersey filming includes areas like Bayonne and Hoboken, with Moonachie also mentioned as a shoot location.
Bayonne’s highly specific “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” spots
One detailed report lists several Bayonne locations used for filming—exact streets, a fire station exterior, and blocks that can be re-labeled into “Miami” with signage, set dressing, and lighting. These are the kinds of places productions love because the camera can look in any direction without revealing a famous landmark that gives the trick away.
If you’re location-spotting, watch for:
- Street signage and storefronts that look freshly “rebranded.”
- Night lighting that hides the background skyline.
- Industrial stretches that could plausibly be anywhere near a major port city.
https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1928979823063367693
Los Angeles & Long Beach: streets, ports, and drone shots
Los Angeles is a shape-shifter city on camera. With the right set dressing, palm trees, and color grade, entire neighborhoods can “become” Miami—especially for scenes that avoid famous LA tells.
Long Beach is also a common choice for port-and-industrial visuals, letting productions film docks, container yards, and coastal infrastructure in a controlled environment. For a movie like The Rip, that matters because the story’s tension lives in places that are easier to lock down outside Miami.
Spot-the-location checklist: real Miami vs stand-ins
- Look for skyline continuity. Real Miami sequences often cut in wide skyline “proof,” then jump to tighter streets that could be anywhere.
- Watch the road markings and signage. Productions can swap signs, but some street/curb patterns and infrastructure details are harder to fake.
- Notice how often you see “open sky.” If scenes stay boxed-in (alleys, warehouses, interiors), it’s a strong hint the production prioritized controllable filming zones.
- Ports are the ultimate cheat code. Many port cities share a visual language—containers, cranes, chain-link, sodium lights—so Long Beach can sell “Miami port energy” quickly.
- Night shoots hide geography. Darkness reduces the number of background identifiers, making New Jersey and LA doubles far more convincing.
What Reddit theories say about the “Real Miami” debate
A classic location-spotter pattern shows up whenever a movie is set in a famous city but filmed elsewhere: viewers start building “rules” for what’s authentic—skyline shots must be real, interiors must be a stage, and anything industrial is “probably New Jersey.”
Whether or not you join the debate, the fun part is learning the filmmaking logic behind it: productions often capture a handful of Miami establishing shots for credibility, then do the heavy lifting (stunts, night action, controlled dialogue scenes) where they have more logistical leverage.
The best “Reddit-style” way to watch is to pick one recurring detail and track it across scenes: police station exteriors, the stash-house neighborhood feel, or how often the skyline is actually visible.
How to visit the real Miami landmarks (without chasing private addresses)
If you’re planning a safe, practical filming-locations mini-tour, keep it public and easy:
- Port of Miami area: great for skyline-and-waterfront photos (respect restricted zones).
- Kaseya Center vicinity: easy exterior spotting in Downtown.
- One Thousand Museum: a standout skyline building you can recognize from multiple angles around Downtown.
A good rule: if a location looks like a private residence or a quiet neighborhood street, treat it as a “watch-from-the-screen” spot. The movie magic is the transformation—your best real-world experience is usually at major public landmarks.
FAQ
Was The Rip filmed in Miami?
Partially. The story is set in Miami, but most reported filming took place in New Jersey and Los Angeles, with Miami used for select establishing shots/exteriors.
Why would a Miami-set movie film in New Jersey or LA?
Control and cost: tighter permitting, easier street lockups, crew infrastructure, and strong film-incentive ecosystems. Florida’s statewide film incentive landscape has also been weaker since the earlier statewide program ended years ago, while New Jersey has built aggressive tax credits that attract productions.
Is The Rip based on a true story?
It’s described as inspired by real events connected to a Miami law enforcement story that director Joe Carnahan learned through a personal connection, with the movie’s characters and details dramatized for fiction.