Hialeah mayor and police chief criticize Netflix film starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for misrepresenting city officials and residents

Hialeah, Florida – City officials in Hialeah are voicing strong criticism of Netflix’s new film The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, for what they say is a misleading portrayal of the city and its residents. The movie, based on a real-life 2016 drug bust, was filmed largely in Hialeah, even though the events actually took place in nearby Miami Lakes. Mayor Bryan Calvo and Police Chief George Fuente argue that the film unfairly paints the city as a gritty, unsafe place rife with drug activity and corruption.

“They start off the entrance to Hialeah with bullet holes riddling the sign coming into the city. By the way, that sign doesn’t exist. We have no sign that looks like that,” Calvo said, emphasizing that the filmmakers created a fictionalized version of the city that bears little resemblance to reality. He went on to note that the real drug bust took place in Miami Lakes, not Hialeah, and involved former officer Chris Casiano and his narcotics team raiding a home where millions of dollars were hidden in buckets inside an attic compartment.

“This movie is a slap in the face to our law enforcement personnel,” Calvo said. “If you have never been to Hialeah, if you live somewhere else in this country and you see this film, I wouldn’t want to come here, and that’s a problem.”

The 2016 raid involved a home near Northwest 169th Terrace and 77th Path, owned by suspected marijuana trafficker Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez. Authorities seized $24 million and took Hernandez-Gonzalez and his sister, Salma Hernandez, into custody. Hernandez-Gonzalez later served five years in prison. The massive cash seizure remains one of the largest in Miami-Dade history, but officials say The Rip’s decision to situate the events in Hialeah misleads viewers about the city’s character.

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Police Chief George Fuente echoed the mayor’s concerns, pointing out that the film undermines the real work done by Hialeah officers every day. “The real story of Hialeah is written every day by our officers through their actions, their service, and their commitment to this community,” Fuente said. He stressed that the city’s true story is about dedicated law enforcement and public service, not the corruption and betrayal highlighted in the film.

While the movie dramatizes the tension and paranoia that can arise among police officers who initially appear corrupt, Calvo argued that the film crossed a line by implying wrongdoing in Hialeah’s ranks. “Right now, the perception through this film is that these are corrupt officers and nothing can be further from the truth,” the mayor said.

The controversy has prompted city lawyers to review potential legal options, though no formal lawsuit has been announced. Calvo and Fuente both stressed that the film’s inaccuracies could damage Hialeah’s reputation among outsiders who may not be familiar with the city’s true character.

Despite the criticism, the filmmakers appear to have chosen Hialeah primarily for its visual aesthetic, rather than accuracy. The city’s officials are concerned that casual viewers will leave with a skewed impression, associating Hialeah with drug violence rather than the vibrant, hardworking community it actually is.

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“This film does not tell the story of Hialeah,” Calvo said. “It tells a story that is entirely fictionalized on our streets, and that misrepresentation is harmful to our city and our residents.”

As of now, the city is monitoring public response and considering next steps, but both the mayor and police chief remain firm in their stance that Hialeah’s image has been unfairly tarnished by a Hollywood interpretation of a story that unfolded elsewhere. For city leaders, the fight is not only about correcting the record but protecting the reputation of a community that prides itself on resilience, safety, and civic pride.

The debate over The Rip highlights the tension that can arise when films dramatize real events, particularly when local governments feel misrepresented. For Hialeah, the issue is clear: while Hollywood may have painted a dramatic picture of crime and betrayal, the city’s true narrative is written every day by its people and its police officers.