Summary
AsThe Accountant 2continues its success and debuts on streaming, Ben Affleck’s 2010 crime thriller, which holds a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and co-stars Jeremy Renner, has seen a surge inNetflixviewership. Based on Chuck Hogan’s novelPrince of Thieves, Affleck directed the film, which he also co-wrote with formerGone Baby Gonecollaborator Aaron Stockard andThe Hunger Games: MockingjayandBad Boys for Lifescribe Peter Craig.
They retitled Hogan’s novel and adapted the story with a stellar cast. Affleck leads the cast alongside Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Titus Welliver, Chris Cooper, and Blake Lively. The movie impressed critics at the time, and now, thanks to Affleck’s recent success in the same genre withThe Accountant 2, audiences are rediscoveringThe Townon streaming.
2016’sThe Accountantfollows an autistic math savant, who is also a skilled assassin, played by Affleck. The plot sees him pulled into life-and-death stakes when he learns that a company he consults for is cooking the books for nefarious purposes. Audiences enjoyed it more than critics, but the $44 million budget saw a worldwide box office return of $155 million.
The Accountant 2hit theatersin April, among hits likeA Minecraft Movie. The plot teams Affleck’s accountant with his brother, played by Jon Bernthal, giving the audience a mismatched pair that can deliver thrills and laughs along with a plot that sees them in an altruistic endeavor. Critics and audiences aligned more with the sequel, which has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews. Despite stiff competition,The Accountant 2has earned $102 million worldwide so far, and while that number may inch up a bit, the movie has made its streaming debut on Prime Video, meaning its box office run is largely over. However, despiteThe Accountant 2performing for Prime Video, it has also boosted Affleck’s star on other streaming services.
The TownContinues To Thrill Streaming Audiences 15 Years After Its Release
The Townjumped into Netflix’s Top 10 this week, seeing the 15-year-old movie pulling in stellar viewership numbers. Affleck’s recent success withThe Accountantlikely helps, but the film’s spectacular reviews also help. The plot follows a group of bank robbers, led by Affleck and his friend,played by Jeremy Renner, and law enforcement, played by Jon Hamm, who are on their trail following a recent daring heist. Things are further complicated when Affleck falls in love with Hall’s character, who was their hostage during the job. Critics and audiences praisedThe Townfor its smart script and tense encounters, all bolstered by a superb cast, with Rotten Tomatoes showing the Critics Score as 92% Fresh, with the Audience Score close behind at 85%.
The Town’scast has only grown in popularity since its release. Renner blew up as Hawkeye in the MCU, Hamm’s star has soared thanks toMad Men, and Affleck added another Academy Award win to his resume withArgo. It’s the type of movie many may not have been aware of upon release, but the cast immediately draws them in with excitement.The Townalso helps anyone in the mood foran Affleck movie that fallsinto the same genre asThe Accountant 2, as they both deal with law enforcement and the criminal underworld. Rising on Netflix’s charts after 15 years, it looks likeThe Townmay become a crime classic.
Ben Affleck Has More Acting And Directing Projects Lined Up In The Crime Thriller Genre
The Townis Affleck’s second directorial effort after 2007’sGone Baby Gone, which starred his brother Casey Affleck and garnered even higher Rotten Tomatoes scores. He also followedThe Townwith 2012’sArgo, which wonBest Picture at the Academy Awards, earning fantastic reviews and continuing to prove that Affleck is an accomplished director. While 2016’sLive by Nightunderwhelmed, he returned strong with 2023’sAir, which told the story of Nike making the first Michael Jordan sneakers.
His next directed feature,Animal, is said to be in post-production. He also co-wrote and stars in it alongside Gillian Anderson ofThe X-Filesfame.Animalcurrently doesn’t have a release date, but it will follow a mayoral candidate and his wife as dark secrets come to light when their son is kidnapped and ransomed.
SinceThe Town, Affleck’s acting career has seen superb entries likeGone Girl,The Way Back, andThe Last Duel. However, he has also dealt with troubled roles, likehis time as the DCEU’s Batman, where he starred in the malignedBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice League, among others. Despite misses likeRunner RunnerandHypnotic, he’s continued to find interesting projects, with his next acting outing again putting him alongside friend and frequent collaborator Matt Damon in Netflix’sThe RIP.The RIPis written and directed byThe A-TeamandThe Greydirector Joe Carnahan, who is returning to his roots with movies likeNarcin the gritty new crime thriller. WhileThe Towncontinues to impress audiences on streaming, fans of Affleck’s work in the genre have plenty to look forward to regarding his future choices.
