Movie Caught Stealing (2025) | $14,884,096

According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Caught Stealing is a 2025 American dark-comedy crime thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky, with screenplay by Charlie Huston based on his own novel. The film features Austin Butler in the lead role, alongside an ensemble cast including Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Bad Bunny, and others. The theatrical release in the U.S. was on August 29, 2025.

Plot Summary

Set in New York City in the late 1990s, the story focuses on Henry “Hank” Thompson, a former high-school baseball prodigy whose career was derailed by a knee injury after a tragic drunk driving accident. Now working as a bartender and dealing with alcoholism, Hank is trying to live quietly with his girlfriend Yvonne, who works as a paramedic.

One day, his neighbor Russ—a punk rocker—asks Hank to pet-sit his cat Bud. What seems like a small favor spirals into chaos: Russ is involved in shady dealings, and brutal Russian mobsters, Hasidic brothers, and corrupt cops become entangled in a dangerous web involving a hidden key and millions of dollars. After Yvonne is tragically killed, Hank is forced to confront betrayals and violence. The plot crescendos with confrontations, a frantic escape, revelations about who has been manipulating events, and finally, Hank making choices that force him to reclaim agency over his life and past.

Cast & Crew Highlights

• Austin Butler plays Hank Thompson, carrying much of the emotional weight and physical danger of the story.
• Zoë Kravitz as Yvonne, Hank’s girlfriend, whose role adds both emotional grounding and stakes to the narrative.
• Regina King appears as a detective with ambiguous loyalties; Matt Smith is Russ, Hank’s punk neighbor; Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio portray the antagonistic Hasidic mobster brothers. Bad Bunny also features in a supporting but memorable role.
• Music by Rob Simonsen, with contributions by the post-punk band Idles, giving the film a gritty, pulsing soundtrack that matches its crime/noir tone. Cinematography by Matthew Libatique adds atmosphere and tension, while editing by Andrew Weisblum helps maintain pace despite the complex plot.

Production Notes & Themes

• The film is based on the 2004 novel Caught Stealing, the first in Charlie Huston’s Henry Thompson series.
• The setting of New York in the 1990s plays more than a backdrop role; it contributes to the mood, the sense of chaos, the cultural references, and the underworld elements.
• Themes include guilt and redemption, the physical and psychological consequences of trauma, corruption, loyalty, and the thin moral line in desperate circumstances.

Release & Performance

• Runtime is about 107 minutes. The production budget was around US$40 million.
• Box office performance was modest relative to budget: grossing roughly US$26 million worldwide as of early September, with most of that coming from the U.S. market.
• The film opened with previews and then wide release; audience responses were mixed to positive.

Critical Reception

• Many critics praised Butler’s performance, noting that he brings charisma and vulnerability to a character caught in moral and physical pressure.
• Aronofsky’s direction was seen as a shift toward a more energetic, stylistic crime caper compared to his prior, darker dramas. Some reviewers appreciated the mix of brutal violence with dark humor.
• Criticisms tended to focus on the plot being overly chaotic, some characters underdeveloped, and pacing issues in the middle section.
• On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a healthy approval rating, with consensus highlighting it as one of Aronofsky’s more accessible and entertaining works in recent years.

Conclusion

Caught Stealing is a gritty, stylish crime thriller that combines Aronofsky’s flair for pushing boundaries with a more pulpy, high-stakes plot. While not without flaws, especially in its narrative complexity and bursts of violence, it stands out as a bold genre entry in 2025. With strong performances, especially from Austin Butler, and a darkly textured world, the film offers both entertainment and moral drama—making it one of the more memorable crime films of the year.