Acclaimed horror author Stephen King has expressed enthusiastic praise for the Ben Affleck crime thriller The Town, stating it ranked as his second favorite film of 2010. King highlighted Affleck’s understanding of Boston‘s underworld, lending credibility to the film’s gritty depiction of Charlestown‘s criminal element.
Stephen King’s Endorsement of the Boston-Heist Film
Stephen King, renowned for his deep connection to New England culture, described The Town as a surprise standout among that year’s releases. While writing for Entertainment Weekly, he placed it ahead of high-profile films such as Inception and The Social Network. Despite initially criticizing the movie’s title, King was quick to champion the film itself as a remarkable piece of storytelling. Reflecting on Affleck’s work, King offered the assessment,
“Affleck understands the sad and seedy underclass of Boston … in a special way.”
— Stephen King, Horror Novelist
The story, directed, co-written, and headlined by Ben Affleck, focuses on a tight-knit group of bank robbers operating out of the Charlestown neighborhood. The plot takes a dramatic turn when the crew’s leader, Affleck’s character, begins a complicated romance with Claire, a bank manager played by Rebecca Hall, who was previously taken hostage. This relationship places the entire gang under new stress and raises the stakes for a final, pivotal heist.
Intimate Storytelling Amidst High-Stakes Action
While The Town delivers the expected suspense and action of a heist film, King noted its unique tone and character dynamics. As he observed,
“For a movie that ends with a gaudy blast of gunfire, it’s a strangely intimate film,”
— Stephen King, Horror Novelist, recognizing how personal relationships shaped the narrative. King further explained his view,
“and the situation that drives the plot (professional bank thief falls in love with hostage) is simultaneously sweet and weirdly kinky.”
— Stephen King, Horror Novelist
Affleck’s Noteworthy Transition to Directing
Released during a productive period in Ben Affleck’s career, The Town followed his successful directorial debut with Gone Baby Gone and preceded his award-winning political thriller Argo. This sequence marked Affleck’s emergence as a respected director in Hollywood.
The film achieved notable box office success, grossing $154 million worldwide against its $37 million budget. Its positive critical reception, including Jeremy Renner‘s Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score, cemented its reputation among modern classic crime dramas.
While Affleck later directed films like Live By Night and Air—the latter recounting the origins of Nike’s Air Jordan line—neither matched the resonance or excitement generated by The Town and Argo.
The Enduring Impact of “The Town”
Stephen King’s endorsement, coupled with the film’s commercial performance and cultural staying power, has anchored The Town as a standout title in both Ben Affleck’s filmography and the broader genre of heist thrillers. As both critics and audiences revisit this Boston-set story of criminals, conflicted romance, and loyalty, Affleck’s immersion in the world of Charlestown continues to leave a lasting impression on Hollywood and fans alike.
