Fans say it is one of the best films Ben Affleck has made

A critically acclaimed heist thriller is now available to stream on Netflix.

Film enthusiasts who appreciated the platform’s latest blockbuster The Rip, featuring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, will find this particularly compelling.

The 2010 release stars one member of the celebrated acting partnership, who have worked together across 17 productions.

The Town was helmed by Affleck, who also co-wrote the script for this adaptation of Chuck Hogan’s novel Prince of Thieves.

Affleck portrays Doug MacRay, the leader of a merciless crew of bank robbers. After the quartet raids a bank and seizes the manager as a hostage, they release her, with one member tasked with monitoring her to prevent police involvement.

Fans think it is one of Affleck’s best films (Image: Warner Bros)

The ensemble cast includes Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, and Pete Postlethwaite. Renner’s compelling turn earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Given its escalating tension and high-stakes robberies, parallels with The Rip are understandable. Yet The Town commands an impressive 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with numerous critics and audiences hailing it as a genre-defining masterpiece.

One admirer took to social media, writing: “Ben Affleck’s The Town is not just another heist film-it’s a gripping story of loyalty, betrayal, and the inescapable ties to one’s past. With a stellar cast led by Affleck himself, along with Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, and Blake Lively, the film delivers intense action, deep emotions, and some unforgettable performances.”

Fans of The Rip should enjoy The Town (Image: Warner Bros)

Another devotee proclaimed: “Second only to Heat for the greatest heist movie ever made.”

This sentiment was echoed by someone who commented: “One of the best thriller movies ever.”

One enthusiast observed: “An iconic heist movie that pays homage to Boston. Not many movies can do that. It’s not Heat, but it tries to be and deserves recognition for what it achieves. The creepy nun mask bank robbers burn an image into the mind of the viewers that keep them remembering this film for years to come.”

Many supporters consider The Town to be Affleck’s finest work as both actor and director, eclipsing his later directorial projects including Argo, Live By Night, and Air.

As one audience member put it: “This is the best movie made by Ben Affleck, stressing and moving. Affleck, Hamm and Hall makes a great job, but Jeremy Renner leave his soul in this performance, what a great film.”

Another viewer shared similar praise, declaring: “The Town is still one of my favourites and still Ben Affleck’s best. A simple gangster movie, with a lot of depth and memorable performances (Especially Jeremy Renner). The robbery sequences are fantastic. Always worth a re-watch.”

A fellow fan weighed in: “One of the greatest movies ever made. Ben Affleck really proved that he is a great writer, actor and a director all at the same time in this movie. There is an outstanding performance being delivered by each actor, but especially Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Hall. It’s a mixture of action/thriller, suspense and drama. Definitely worth a watch.”