Matt Damon Criticizes Netflix for Over-Explaining Movie Plots: ‘People Are on Their Phones’

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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were guests on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, where they discussed how streaming services are impacting the film industry, while also promoting their new movie, The Rip, which is available on Netflix.

Damon pointed out that creating films for Netflix differs significantly from making movies for theaters. He explained that at-home viewers are easily distracted, so Netflix prefers films to start with exciting action and often asks filmmakers to reiterate the storyline through character conversations.

Matt Damon recently described to me how action movies are made these days, and it’s… different. Apparently, the old formula was three big action sequences – one to kick things off, one in the middle, and a huge finale where you spend most of your budget. But now? Studios want a massive spectacle right in the first five minutes to grab everyone’s attention. And get this – they practically want the plot explained over and over within the action, because let’s be real, a lot of viewers are scrolling through their phones and might miss things the first time around.

Affleck jumped in to add that not all Netflix content follows this formula. He pointed to the recent hit limited series Adolescence as an example of a show that breaks these rules but still succeeds. “But then you look at ‘Adolescence,’ and it didn’t do any of that s****,” Affleck said. “And it’s f**** 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.”

Damon acknowledged that shows like Adolescence are unusual, calling it “the exception.” Affleck responded that it demonstrates Netflix doesn’t have to rely on predictable formulas to create a successful series.

This discussion reveals the conflict between classic ways of telling stories and the approaches used by streaming services. The growing popularity of platforms like Netflix is changing how stories unfold, affecting both the speed of the narrative and the way characters speak.

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2026-01-18 12:14