Caught Stealing: Movie Breakdown

Overview

• Title: Caught Stealing (2025)
• Director: Darren Aronofsky
• Screenplay: Charlie Huston, based on his novel
• Genre: Crime thriller with dark comedic tones
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Rating: R (for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use) WikipediaYouTube

Setting & Premise

Set in 1998 Manhattan, particularly the Lower East Side, the film is described by Aronofsky as a “love letter to New York”—full of linguistic diversity, culture clashes, and gritty pre-gentrification charm Wall Street JournalDecider.

Storyline: Hank Thompson (Austin Butler), a former baseball star turned bartender, agrees to watch his punk neighbor Russ’s cat—only to be swept into a violent underworld pursuit involving a mysterious key and multiple factions of criminals caughtstealing.movieYouTube.

Cast & Characters

• Austin Butler as Hank Thompson
• Zoë Kravitz as Yvonne (Hank’s girlfriend)
• Matt Smith as Russ, the punk-rock neighbor
• Regina King as Detective Roman
• Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio as Hasidic gangster brothers
• Bad Bunny (Benito A. Martínez Ocasio) in a darkly comedic turn
• Griffin Dunne, Carol Kane, and others round out the ensemble WikipediaIndiatimesYouTube.

Music & Atmosphere

• Score by Rob Simonsen, performed by Idles, includes original tracks and a resurfaced cover of “Police and Thieves” Wikipedia.
• The film’s production design and soundtrack vividly recreate the Baltimore of the late ’90s: gritty, frenetic, and richly textured DiscussingFilmWall Street JournalTechRadar.

Release & Reception

• World premiere on August 7, 2025 in Puerto Rico; wide release in U.S. theaters on August 29, 2025 via Sony Pictures Wikipedia.
• Grossed around $1.2 million in preview screenings, with expectations of $8–9 million over Labor Day weekend Wikipedia.

Critics Say…

• Positive notes:
  • Aronofsky’s blend of tone—dark comedy with crime thriller—draws comparisons to After Hours with gritty New York realism Wall Street JournalEmpire.
  • Butler delivers charismatic, grounded performance that makes Hank easy to root for SlashFilmRoger EbertTIME.
  • Detailed production design and energy-packed visuals praised, notably the nostalgic feel of 1990s NYC DiscussingFilmEmpireTechRadar.
• Criticisms:
  • Some say the tone feels uneven—stylistic flair comes at the expense of emotional depth The AtlanticScreen DailyTechRadarhttps://www.azfamily.com.
  • Supporting characters sometimes feel one-dimensional or caricatured The AtlanticEmpire.
  • Despite strong visuals and performances, a few found the narrative itself somewhat hollow or forgettable The Atlantichttps://www.azfamily.comEmpire.

Plot Spoiler Alert (Ending Explained)

In a rapid, violent climax, Hank confronts the gangsters hunting him, fakes his own death after inadvertently killing Russ, and escapes to Tulum, Mexico, adopting Russ’s identity. A final touch: he mails his mother a box of money and heads off with Russ’s cat, Bud. In the post-credits scene, Laura Dern appears as Hank’s mother, sealing the bittersweet farewell EW.com.

---

Final Take

Caught Stealing is a high-energy, quirky crime thriller—equal parts nostalgic and violent caper—with standout performances, especially from Austin Butler, and a rich atmospheric recreation of late-’90s New York. While its uneven tone and underdeveloped supporting characters may hold it back from classic status, it remains an entertaining, adult-focused genre gem.