Darren Aronofksy’s Caught Stealing is storming Netflix’s Top 10, captivating audiences with its darkly comic, high-stakes crime story. Fresh from its theatrical run, the film is already stirring curiosity among viewers who favor tense, character-driven stories with a dangerous urban pulse. The movie drops audiences into a late-1990s New York textured with grime, chaos and moral ambiguity, all framed through Aronofsky’s unflinching style. With its mix of dark humor and bruising violence, Caught Stealing stands apart from conventional crime releases and has quickly become a talking point among streaming enthusiasts. Here is everything you need to know about Caught Stealing – from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
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Caught Stealing: all the key details
- Title: Caught Stealing
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- Genre: Crime thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: August 29, 2025 (theatrical)
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
- Lead cast: Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith
- Produced by: Protozoa Pictures, Columbia Pictures
What Caught Stealing is about
Aronofsky centers the story on Hank, a once-promising baseball player whose career collapsed long before the film begins. Now he works as a bartender in late-1990s New York, carrying more regrets than hope. Everything spirals when his neighbor asks him for what seems like a harmless favor: look after his apartment and his cat for a couple of days. Hank agrees, unaware that the place is connected to stolen money, unfinished business and people who will do anything to settle a score. Within hours, he finds himself hunted by violent criminals, pressed by law enforcement and mistaken for someone far more entangled in the city’s underworld than he really is. Each attempt to clear his name only deepens the chaos, pulling him into a labyrinth of threats, shifting alliances and brutal confrontations.
Cast and the main characters
Austin Butler stars as Hank. Butler channels both physicality and emotional vulnerability, showing a man forced into impossible choices. His recent breakout as Elvis brought him critical attention, and here he demonstrates a different, grittier range. Matt Smith portrays Russ Binder, Hank’s neighbor whose request sets the plot in motion. Having gained fame through The Crown (Netflix) and Doctor Who, Smith leans into the film’s darkly comedic edge, providing both tension and twisted humor. Meanwhile, Zoë Kravitz is Yvonne, Hank’s girlfriend. Known for her roles in High Fidelity (Hulu) and Fantastic Beasts, she provides emotional grounding and depth, offering a human anchor as Hank navigates danger. Finally, Regina King (Watchmen, Seven Seconds) portrays a morally ambiguous authority figure who intersects with Hank’s spiraling predicament.
Is Caught Stealing based on a true story?
Caught Stealing is entirely fictional, adapted from Charlie Huston’s novel of the same name. The book is celebrated for its relentless energy, dark humor, and unpredictable, fast-moving narrative, which the film preserves on screen.
The reviews
Early reactions to Caught Stealing highlight Aronofsky’s bold, unvarnished approach to crime storytelling. Critics have praised the film’s frantic energy, fast pacing, and the way it captures a lived-in New York that feels both nostalgic and menacing. The film pulses with tension at every turn, yet it never loses sight of Hank’s human struggle — his desperation, fear, and flickers of hope. It’s messy, loud, and occasionally disorienting, but that’s exactly the point: the chaos mirrors Hank’s world. For those willing to lean into its frenetic rhythm, Caught Stealing delivers a darkly comic, emotionally charged experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Where was Caught Stealing filmed?
The production shot entirely on location in New York City, capturing real streets, dive bars, and apartment interiors to immerse viewers in the city’s authentic late-1990s atmosphere.
Behind the scenes and fun facts
Aronofsky approached the film as a return to the scrappy New York filmmaking roots that shaped his early career. The production leaned heavily into practical locations and street-level cinematography to evoke the city’s late-1990s texture. The score, built around aggressive punk-rock influences, was designed to mirror Hank’s frantic descent. Casting choices reportedly emphasized performers comfortable with both volatility and dark humor, ensuring the film’s tone stayed unpredictable.
Why watch Caught Stealing
If you enjoyed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or After Hours, this is the right film for you, blending gritty crime-thriller energy with sharp pulp humor and a uniquely chaotic New York atmosphere.
Caught Stealing release date on streaming
Available now. Caught Stealing is already streaming on Netflix starting November 29, 2025.
