The Town

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2:24

The Town

R

Released Sep 17, 2010

2h 4m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

235 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) leads a band of ruthless bank robbers and has no real attachments except for James (Jeremy Renner), who -- despite his dangerous temper -- is like a brother. Everything changes for Doug when James briefly takes a hostage, bank employee Claire Keesey. Learning that she lives in the gang's neighborhood, Doug seeks her out to discover what she knows, and he falls in love. As the romance deepens, he wants out of his criminal life, but that could threaten Claire.

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Critics Consensus

Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his muse -- and that he's a director to be reckoned with.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

So this isn't fresh, exactly, but it is tense and exciting and well performed and you do end up caring about the people you've been manipulated into caring about. I ask you: what more could you want from a trip to the cinema?

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The Town is a definite must-see.

Rated: A

Sep 11, 2017

Full Review

Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

As far as a developing directing talent goes, The Town is to Ben Affleck what Pulp Fiction was to Quentin Tarantino. It's that good.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 22, 2010

Full Review

Danilo Castro

Next Best Picture

It’s a well-executed mashup of set pieces and character dynamics that fail to build on what came before. Which, truth be told, still makes for a pretty entertaining viewing.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 25, 2024

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

While it's not as epic and well-acted as "Heat" and nowhere near as visceral as "The Departed," "The Town" can hold it's own in the crime thriller department.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 4, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

If Affleck hasn’t already discovered that this is his niche, he’s encouraged to continue bringing us well-executed Boston crime stories like this one.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Member

it was a nice movie...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/06/25

Full Review

Noah J

The Town is the kind of crime drama that sticks with you—not just because of the gunfire and armored trucks, but because of the pain behind the eyes of the guy holding the trigger. Ben Affleck pulls double duty here—directing and starring—and nails both. As Doug MacRay, a bank robber born into Charlestown’s generational cycle of crime, he’s all quiet charisma and coiled regret. He wants out, but in a town like this, clean slates are a fantasy. The heists? Top-tier. The Fenway Park sequence alone is a masterclass in tension and geography. But what makes The Town more than just another gritty Boston shoot-em-up is its emotional core. Doug’s relationship with Claire (Rebecca Hall), a hostage-turned-love-interest, gives the story stakes that matter. You actually care what happens when things start to go sideways. Then there’s Jeremy Renner, who absolutely detonates the screen as Jem—a live wire with a death wish and a loyalty so fierce it’s terrifying. His Oscar nom wasn’t a fluke. He’s the soul of the film’s darker side, a guy who sees no future beyond the next job. Affleck directs with confidence—clean lines, no fat, and a real feel for his city. He shoots Boston like a place that’s both home and trap. The film is tough, sure, but never tries too hard to prove it. It earns every bruise.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

These divas planned multiple, matching outfit changes! A heist film that understands the heist itself is often the highlight of the film. Therefore, it includes multiple heists that all deliver insane action highlights. It’s an extremely rewatchable blast of crime drama that’s especially beloved by viewers in the town it’s set in. This film was the spark that ignited the Ben Affleck resurgence, as he proved he was still a wickedly talented actor as well as a promising director. Jon Hamm is reliable as usual and Jeremy Renner is phenomenal, delivering one of the best performances of his career. It doesn’t get more Boston than a fight breaking out in Fenway Park!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

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Audience Member

could re-watch this movie any day of the week

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/25

Full Review

Colby S

One of the better movies ive seen in awhile. Ive never been a big fan of Ben Affleck but he killed it in this one And jeremy renner stole the show with his role

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

Full Review

Snapper M

Is he a good guy or is he a bad guy? Can he act or can’t he act? This movie could only have been worse if it had that dreadful Gosling bloke in it who is even more wooden and one dimensional than Affleck. Ridiculous nonsense.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

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Doug MacRay

Rebecca Hall

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The Town: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) leads a band of ruthless bank robbers and has no real attachments except for James (Jeremy Renner), who -- despite his dangerous temper -- is like a brother. Everything changes for Doug when James briefly takes a hostage, bank employee Claire Keesey. Learning that she lives in the gang's neighborhood, Doug seeks her out to discover what she knows, and he falls in love. As the romance deepens, he wants out of his criminal life, but that could threaten Claire.

Director: Ben Affleck
Producer: Graham King, Basil Iwanyk
Screenwriter: Peter Craig, Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: GK Films, Thunder Road Film
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Use|Some Sexuality|Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $92.2M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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