The 'gritty', underrated' thriller loved by fans and critics that's streaming on Netflix

Fans and critics alike are hailing this thriller from 2010. Ben Affleck's The Town has achieved high praise from viewers, and it is now streaming on Netflix. The Town is an American crime thriller film co-written, directed and starring Affleck. It was adapted from Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves, published in 2004. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper and Slaine alongside Affleck.

The film's synopsis reads: "Doug MacRay (Affleck) leads a band of ruthless bank robbers and has no real attachments except for James (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 neighbourhood, 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."

Both the Rotten Tomatoes critics and fans have rated this movie highly, but it's the critics who awarded it the highest score. With an impressive 92% rating, their consensus reads: "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."

One critic said: "Ben Affleck proved he's a helluva director with a down-and-dirty heist movie rich with detailed character work and emotional angst. Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Hall are superb."

A top critic compared Affleck's directing with Quentin Tarantino, he said: "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."

"The Town is a definite must-see," added another.

The audience loved the film too, however, rating it at 85%, with one describing it as an "underrated film," and another adding: "The Town delivers gritty thrills and raw emotion, diving deep into the lives of Boston's criminal underbelly with sharp direction and strong performances. While some plot turns feel familiar, it's intense heists and moral complexities that keep the story gripping from start to finish.

The Town is now available on the streaming platform Netflix.