Ben Affleck is “shocked and excited” that his latest movie has gone straight to the top of the US box office this weekend.
The Town, which both stars and is directed by the 38-year-old, took million in its first three days beating off stiff competition from romantic comedy Easy A and horror film, Devil.
At a gala screening of The Town in London’s Leicester Square on Sunday (19/09/10) Ben exclusively told Upbeat Productions’ Filmbeat:
“Reaction to the film has been great, I was shocked and it seems to be doing very well. I can’t tell you how exciting and thrilling it is, ya know? We are the number one at the box office in the US this weekend and someone just told me that we are Warner Bros’ biggest September opening in history… so imagine my surprise!”
Ben added that he can’t take all the credit for the film’s critical and commercial success, saying:
“This film really was a lot of work but I was supported by a ton of really capable people and that’s not even humility it is just the truth. Rebecca Hall and John Hamm and Jeremy Renner and Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper… they are all just extraordinary actors and I had a crew of amazing people that I could just stand on their shoulders to the extent that we were successful.”
The Town is only the second movie that Ben has directed. His 2007 debut Gone Baby Gone was nominated for a host of awards including an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
The Town hits UK cinemas on Friday September 24 2010.
