CAUGHT STEALING

From Sony Pictures

Overview

Release Date: August 29th, 2025

Genre: Crime Caper

Availability: Currently playing in theaters nationwide

Synopsis

Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can’t play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He’s got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant.

When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, Hank suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters. They all want a piece of him; the problem is he has no idea why. As Hank attempts to evade their ever-tightening grip, he’s got to use all his hustle to stay alive long enough to find out…

Caught Stealing is directed by Academy Award® nominee Darren Aronofsky, screenplay by Charlie Huston, based on his book of the same name. The film stars Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Benito Martínez Ocasio, Griffin Dunne, and Carol Kane.

Accolades for CAUGHT STEALING

Caught Stealing is now Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!

Praise for CAUGHT STEALING

• Austin Butler's star performance: Many reviewers highlight Butler's ability to command the screen as the lead, Hank, a washed-up baseball player caught in a criminal underworld. Critics note that the role solidifies his leading-man status, proving he can carry a film without gimmicks.
• Aronofsky's new direction: After the dramatic and heavy themes of his past work (Black Swan, The Whale), many appreciate Aronofsky's diversion into a more accessible, action-oriented crime thriller. Some describe the film as "a dark soap bubble of an entertainment," showcasing his versatility.
• Vibrant 1998 New York setting: The film is commended for its nostalgic and gritty portrayal of the pre-gentrification Lower East Side. The atmosphere, visuals, and use of 90s details like period-specific music and technology contribute to the movie's throwback appeal.
• Dark humor and action: The movie is described as a "wild and brutal ride" with intense, propulsive action sequences punctuated by bursts of dark humor. Several moments, such as encounters with a Hasidic gangster grandmother and frantic chase scenes, are highlighted as particularly entertaining.
• Supporting cast: The strong supporting performances from a stacked cast, including Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Regina King, are often praised for injecting verve into the story. The cat Bud, whom Hank is tasked with looking after, is frequently called a scene-stealer.

Credits

• Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
• Screenplay by: Charlie Huston
• Based on the book by: Charlie Huston
• Produced by: Jeremy Dawson, Dylan Golden, Ari Handel, Darren Aronofsky
• Executive Producers: Ann Ruark, Charlie Huston, Tarak Ben Ammar, Mohannad Malas

Cast

• Austin Butler as Hank Thompson
• Regina King as Detective Elise Roman
• Zoë Kravitz as Yvonne
• Matt Smith as Russ Binder
• Liev Schreiber as Lipa Drucker
• Vincent D'Onofrio as Shmully Drucker
• Benito Martínez Ocasio as Colorado
• Griffin Dunne as Paul
• Carol Kane as Bubbe