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News Jan 17, 2026 11:30am PT Matt Damon Says Netflix Wants Movies to Restate the 'Plot Three or Four Times in the Dialogue' Because Viewers are on 'Their Phones While They're Watching' By Jack Dunn Plus Icon Jack Dunn Latest * Jamie-Lynn Sigler Kept Her MS Diagnosis a Secret for 25 Years Fearing She'd 'Never Work Again' 4 minutes ago * Mark Jones, 'Leprechaun' and 'Rumpelstiltskin' Director, Dies at 72 2 hours ago * Rian Johnson Says He Was Not 'Spooked' by Toxic 'Star Wars' Fans After Kathleen Kennedy Cites 'Last Jedi' Backlash as to Why He Never Directed Another Entry 5 hours ago See All * * * * * * * * * * * * * LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Matt Damon attends the "Oppenheimer" UK Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 13, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Matt Damon and Ben Affleck recently appeared on the "Joe Rogan Experience" to promote their new Netflix film "The Rip," and the long-time friends and collaborators shared their thoughts on how the streamer is changing the way movies are made. Damon pointed out that because viewers give a "very different level of attention" to a movie at home versus in a theater, Netflix wants to push the action set pieces toward the front of the runtime. He also said there are behind-the-scenes discussions about reiterating "the plot three or four times in the dialogue" to account for people being on their phones. Related Stories THE MADISON: Pictured (L-R): Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn and Beau Garett as Abigail Reese in season 1, episode 1 of the Paramount+ series THE MADISON. Photo Cr: Emerson Miller /Paramount + (c) 2026 Viacom International Inc. 'The Madison' First Look: Taylor Sheridan's 'Yellowstone'-Verse Series With Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell Sets March Release Date Snake Killer 'Shorta' Director Anders Olholm on Casting 'Game of Thrones' Star Pilou Asbaek as a Corrupt Cop in Amazon's First Danish Original 'Snake Killer' "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 explained. "You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That's your finale. 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.'" Popular on Variety Affleck then cut in, adding that the streamer formula for successful content isn't the only way. He used Netflix's recent limited series hit "Adolescence" as a shining example. "But then you look at 'Adolescence,' and it didn't do any of that shit," Affleck said. "And it's fucking 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." While Damon thought shows like "Adolescence" are "the exception," Affleck said he felt the show "demonstrates you don't have to do" the Netflix tricks to please audiences. Watch the entire "Joe Rogan Experience" episode with Damon and Affleck here. Read More About: * Ben Affleck, * Matt Damon, * Netflix, * The Rip Jump to Comments More from Variety * Memory of a Killer 'Memory of a Killer' Trailer: Patrick Dempsey Stars as Hitman With Alzheimer's in First Look at Fox Drama * Kate Walsh Kate Walsh Returning to 'Grey's Anatomy' as Season 22 Guest Star (EXCLUSIVE) JavaScript is required to load the comments. Loading comments... 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