Everybody loves an excellent Matt Damon/Ben Affleck team-up, which is a part of why “The Rip” was the primary must-watch Netflix film of 2026. However the movie had extra going for it than a pair of finest associates who additionally occur to be two of the largest stars on this planet. Its gritty crime drama motion might need been too unrelentingly grim for some, however the movie maintained a constant tone all through and immersed us on this planet of a Tactical Narcotics Workforce and the drug sellers with which they’re engaged in a unending battle. So, for those who’re not fairly prepared to depart that world behind, maybe you’d contemplate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Sabotage,” which is undoubtedly “The Rip”-adjacent with its DEA-agents-take-cartel cash story. Fortunately, like Affleck and Damon’s film, Arnie’s motion thriller can also be streaming on Netflix.
Netflix gained the streaming wars way back, and its continued dominance of the market has introduced each highs (2025’s chilling restricted collection “Adolescence” was among the finest Netflix originals ever) and abject lows (Kevin Hart’s “Raise” topped the Netflix charts in 2024). One way or the other, that dichotomy was encapsulated in “The Rip.” As thrilling because it was to see Damon and Affleck again collectively in a film that folks might watch with out shelling out extortionate movie show ticket costs, it was additionally form of alarming to witness these A-listers in a straight-up streaming film.
Nonetheless, “The Rip” is well one of many higher Netflix authentic movies to debut on the service in a while, and if it is obtained you within the temper for extra narcotics cop motion, then “Sabotage” is simply ready for you on the king of the streamers.
It is Arnie and his crew vs the cartel in Sabotage
One of the best factor David Ayer ever did was write the incomparable 2001 crime thriller “Coaching Day.” His work in any other case has been a blended bag, with his 2008 Keanu Reeves-led crime thriller “Road Kings” falling in need of sustaining the sense of authenticity that made “Coaching Day” an on the spot basic. 2012’s “Finish of Watch,” nevertheless, was Ayer at his finest, pairing Jake Gyllenhaal with Michael Peña for an exhilarating ride-along by way of a few of Los Angeles’ most harmful neighborhoods. Two years later, the filmmaker helmed “Sabotage,” one other gritty crime thriller that after once more didn’t match Ayer’s finest work. Nevertheless it wasn’t as horrible as critics made it out to be, and with “The Rip” placing us all within the temper for extra cops-vs.-cartel motion, it may be time to reassess this forgotten Ayer effort.
“Sabotage” was written by Ayer and Skip Woods, with the previous directing. It starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as the pinnacle of a Drug Enforcement Company crew who, very similar to the soiled Miami cops of “The Rip,” steal a bunch of cash from drug sellers. Nonetheless, whereas “The Rip” maintains a lot of its stress by leaving the query of whether or not the Tactical Narcotics Workforce will, the truth is, nick the money, “Sabotage” simply goes full steam forward, with Arnie’s DEA squad straight up jacking $10 million from the cartel.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s crew is made up of James “Monster” Murray (Sam Worthington) and his spouse Lizzy Murray (Mireille Enos), Joe “Grinder” Philips (Joe Manganiello), Julius “Sugar” Edmonds (Terrence Howard), Eddie “Neck” Jordan (Josh Holloway), Tom “Pyro” Roberts (Max Martini), Bryce “Tripod” McNeely (Kevin Vance), and “Smoke” Jennings (Mark Schlegel). If nothing else, then, “Sabotage” boasts a strong solid. However the story additionally makes for a good little chaser to “The Rip.”
Sabotage is an over-the-top B-movie actioner, nevertheless it’s additionally sort of enjoyable
“The Rip” was a top quality effort with some nice performances and loads of twists to maintain us all engaged (and from second-screen doom scrolling, in response to Matt Damon). Ben Affleck and Damon’s film was additionally commendable for making an attempt to resolve certainly one of Netflix’s greatest points regarding how creators receives a commission for his or her work. “Sabotage” is not actually any of these issues, however it’s form of enjoyable in the best way so a lot of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s extra fashionable, B-movie actioners are usually.
“Sabotage” was launched in March 2014 and have become a field workplace bomb after it made simply $18.4 million in theaters on a $35 million price range. A 21% Rotten Tomatoes rating additionally is not the very best commercial for David Ayer and Arnie’s collaboration. However there needs to be sufficient right here to fulfill your post-“The Rip” wants, and perhaps even win you over for those who’re within the temper for some very direct-to-video-esque motion.
For one factor, Schwarzenegger is definitely good on this film, which sees him and his crew raiding a cartel-owned protected home and making off with $10 million. Quickly, nevertheless, members of the DEA crew begin turning up useless, prompting suspicion among the many surviving members. Arnie delivers the products within the movie, with a lot of the vital opprobrium being aimed toward Ayer for seemingly abandoning a lot of what made “Coaching Day” and “Finish of Watch” so memorable. For those who go in anticipating a enjoyable, over-the-top, tough-cops-vs.-cartel actioner, nevertheless, it is best to have a wonderful time with this ridiculous film, which is way extra bombastic, violent, and finally foolish than “The Rip.” Once more, anticipate as a lot and also you may simply discover that “Sabotage” scratches that “Rip” itch.
