Ben Affleck’s Acclaimed Crime Thriller Becomes a Global HBO Max Hit 16 Years After Its $154 Million Box Office Success

Ben Affleck’s celebrated crime thriller The Town is enjoying a remarkable streaming resurgence, 16 years after becoming a major box office success.

The 2010 film, which Affleck directed and starred in alongside Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall, has emerged as one of HBO Max’s most-watched movies worldwide.

Originally released to widespread acclaim, The Town earned more than $154 million globally against a production budget of approximately $37 million. Its renewed popularity highlights the lasting appeal of Affleck’s gritty Boston-set crime drama.

A Dangerous Bank Robbery Leads to an Unexpected Romance

Based on Chuck Hogan’s novel Prince of Thieves, The Town follows Doug MacRay, played by Affleck, a skilled bank robber operating in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood.

Doug leads a tightly connected criminal crew that includes his volatile childhood friend James Coughlin, portrayed by Jeremy Renner.

During a bank robbery, James briefly takes bank employee Claire Keesey hostage. Although she is eventually released, the incident sets off a chain of events that threatens the gang’s future.

Concerned about what Claire might remember, Doug approaches her without revealing his involvement in the robbery.

Their relationship gradually develops into a romance, leaving Doug torn between his growing feelings for Claire and his loyalty to the criminal world he has known his entire life.

Meanwhile, FBI agent Adam Frawley, played by Jon Hamm, is determined to bring the robbery crew to justice.

As pressure mounts from law enforcement and Doug’s dangerous associates, escaping his former life becomes increasingly difficult.

Jeremy Renner Earned an Oscar Nomination for His Performance

Alongside Affleck, The Town features an impressive ensemble cast.

Jeremy Renner delivers one of the film’s standout performances as James Coughlin, Doug’s fiercely loyal but unpredictable accomplice.

His portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, following his previous Oscar nomination for The Hurt Locker.

Rebecca Hall plays Claire Keesey, whose relationship with Doug forms the emotional centre of the story.

The supporting cast includes Blake Lively, Jon Hamm and Titus Welliver, who later became widely recognized for portraying detective Harry Bosch in Bosch and Bosch: Legacy.

Affleck also co-wrote the screenplay with Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard, adapting Hogan’s novel into a tense crime drama exploring loyalty, betrayal and the possibility of redemption.

The Town Remains One of Affleck’s Best-Reviewed Films

More than a decade after its release, The Town continues to enjoy strong critical and audience ratings.

The film holds a 92% critics’ score and an 85% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Its success helped establish Affleck as a major filmmaker, demonstrating his ability to balance intense action sequences with compelling character drama.

The film’s authentic Boston setting, carefully constructed robberies and emotionally complicated characters remain central to its reputation.

Affleck would go on to direct the Oscar-winning Argo, while also taking on major acting roles, including Batman in the DC Extended Universe.

Affleck’s Crime Thriller Success Continues on Netflix

The renewed popularity of The Town comes during another busy period in Affleck’s career.

Earlier in 2026, he reunited with longtime collaborator Matt Damon for Netflix’s Miami-set crime thriller The Rip, which reportedly surpassed 100 million views during its initial viewing period.

Affleck also stars in and directs Animals, a Netflix kidnapping thriller featuring Kerry Washington and Steven Yeun.

While his newer projects continue attracting attention, The Town remains a defining achievement in his career as both an actor and director.

Its return to the global streaming charts demonstrates why the Boston crime thriller continues to resonate with audiences 16 years after its original release.

The Town is currently streaming on HBO Max in supported regions.