Ben Affleck’s 92% RT Crime Thriller Is A Streaming Hit, But The Alternate Ending Is Superior

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Ben Affleck is one of the few actors who’s also a highly respected director, and the 2010 film The Town really cemented that reputation. This gripping crime thriller, which also features romance and thoughtful observations about society, was a hit with both viewers and critics, earning several award nominations and grossing $154 million worldwide.

After being added to HBO Max in early November, Ben Affleck’s The Town has seen a renewed wave of popularity, even reaching the platform’s top 10 in its first week. It’s exciting that viewers are finding—or revisiting—the film, but it’s interesting to note that a slightly different version with an improved ending actually exists.

What Happens In The Town’s Alternate Ending

In the movie The Town, Ben Affleck’s character, Doug MacRay, manages to evade the FBI, abandons his life of crime in Charlestown, and gets revenge on the man who harmed his family. He also leaves a large sum of stolen money for the woman he cares about. While Doug goes into hiding in Florida, he hints to her that they might have a future together once things calm down.

Things don’t end with a perfect, fairytale ending – Doug and Claire aren’t driving off into the sunset with money to spare – but it’s a satisfying conclusion. Despite the dramatic downfall of his team, Doug ultimately achieves his goal.

An alternate ending to The Town shows Doug successfully completing the heist and getting the money to Claire, but he’s still haunted by his past. Earlier in the film, Doug and Jem attacked a group of men who threw bottles at Claire. While this incident isn’t followed up on in the movie’s released version, the alternate ending reveals these men confront Doug as he tries to leave town, holding him at gunpoint. Ultimately, Doug is killed in a tense standoff.

Why The Town’s Alternate Ending Is The Superior Version

I really enjoyed The Town, but there’s one thing that bothered me. The movie kind of tricks you into hoping the main character, Doug MacRay, gets away with everything. I found myself almost rooting against the FBI, which felt wrong! Because let’s be honest, Doug is a criminal, and a pretty bad one at that. Even if you ignore all the robberies he pulls off in the movie, and even the ones we hear about from his past, the way he manipulates Claire in their relationship just didn’t sit right with me. It left me feeling uneasy, even though I was invested in the story.

Throughout most of its length, The Town realistically portrays the harsh and violent world of criminals. The original ending veers into a more typical, glamorous Hollywood finish, but the alternate cut stays true to the film’s darker, more grounded tone.

The movie’s original ending better reflects the meaning of the title, “The Town.” The name highlights how Charlestown profoundly influences the lives of families, essentially making the town a character itself. The gang’s decision to get revenge on Doug before he flees reinforces this idea, suggesting that no one can truly escape the impact of their hometown.

What makes the original ending of The Town so powerful is that Doug seems to accept his own death. Before the shooting starts, his attacker hesitates. Doug, realizing what’s about to happen, briefly watches a plane fly by, and then, almost inviting the violence, taunts the shooter with a sarcastic, “How’s the leg?”

Right now, Doug seems completely at peace with his situation. He’s accepted that he can’t escape his past, understands the weight of his mistakes, and recognizes that his dream of starting over in Florida was just that – a dream. In a final act of self-determination, Doug leaves the town, bringing the story to a somber but fitting end – one that feels truer to Affleck’s character than a happy resolution would have.

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2025-11-13 21:00