Created by Darren Aronofsky.
Caught Stealing premiered with a world premiere in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on August 7, 2025.
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Movie Review
Caught Stealing is a wild, stylish crime film that lingers long after the credits.
Darren Aronofsky steers a gritty, 1990s flavored thriller about Hank Thompson, a washed up baseball player who tumbles into chaos after agreeing to mind a neighbor’s cat.
Austin Butler anchors the picture with a raw, emotionally charged turn that balances vulnerability and sudden violence.
Zoë Kravitz brings cool clarity as the girlfriend who grounds Hank, while Regina King and Matt Smith supply fierce support.
Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio add low, dangerous energy that keeps every scene tense.
Aronofsky’s sharp camera work, bold editing and a pulsing period soundtrack give the film a living, breathing sense of menace.
The tone sometimes jolts between dark comedy and brutal drama, which may split audiences, yet the movie’s visual inventiveness and knockout performances make it hard to ignore.
For viewers who like crime stories that take risks, Caught Stealing is a thrilling and unsettling ride that invites debate.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
• Google Audience Score: 90% liked this movie.
Caught Stealing (2025) Actors
Austin Butler as Hank Thompson
DOB: August 17, 1991.
Bio: American actor who began his career with teen television roles before transitioning into acclaimed film performances.
His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis (2022), which earned him widespread critical acclaim, major award nominations, and a BAFTA win.
Role: Hank Thompson, a former high school baseball star whose life has settled into obscurity as a New York bartender.
When he agrees to pet-sit his neighbor’s cat, he becomes entangled in a violent criminal underworld.
What to Expect: A physical, emotive lead turn that mixes vulnerability with sudden, brutal action. Butler leans into stunt work and close-quarters fight sequences.
Favorite Things: Butler has talked in profiles about his love of physical transformation for roles and immersive preparation.
Notable Works: Elvis, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Masters of the Air, The Bikeriders.
Zoë Kravitz as Yvonne
DOB: December 1, 1988.
Bio: American actress, singer, and filmmaker who has built a career defined by bold, modern, and layered performances.
The daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, she has seamlessly moved between independent cinema, blockbuster franchises, and prestige television.
Role: Yvonne, Hank Thompson’s girlfriend and one of the emotional anchors of the story.
As Hank is pulled into a violent criminal spiral, Yvonne represents love, loyalty, and the fragile possibility of normalcy amid chaos.
What to Expect: Controlled, contemporary performance with moments of emotional intensity and dry humor.
Favorite Things: Kravitz often mentions music and visual art as creative touchstones; she is also active behind the camera.
Notable Works: Big Little Lies, Kimi, The Batman, Blink Twice.
Regina King as Roman
DOB: January 15, 1971.
Bio: American actress and director whose career spans more than three decades. She has won multiple Emmy Awards and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).
Beginning her career in sitcoms like 227, King transitioned into powerhouse roles in both television and film, becoming one of the most respected and versatile performers of her generation.
Role: Detective Roman, a formidable figure who enters Hank Thompson’s spiraling world.
She serves as both investigator and moral compass, embodying a mix of authority, empathy, and determination.
What to Expect: Intense, scene-stealing work that blends gravitas with layered humanity. Expect King to bring emotional depth, strength, and a steady presence that gives the film moral weight.
Favorite Things: Regina King often emphasizes the importance of family, mentorship, and meaningful storytelling.
Notable Works: If Beale Street Could Talk, Watchmen, American Crime.
Matt Smith as Russ
DOB: October 28, 1982.
Bio: English actor who rose to global fame as the Eleventh Doctor on Doctor Who (2010–2013).
A graduate of the University of East Anglia, Smith originally trained in theatre before moving into television and film.
Smith has balanced stage work with major roles in prestige TV and Hollywood films, earning recognition for his versatility and intensity.
Role: Russ, Hank Thompson’s punk rock neighbor whose seemingly harmless request, to look after his cat, sets off the chain of dangerous events that unravel Hank’s life.
What to Expect: Off-kilter charisma, sudden volatility, and performance choices that keep the audience guessing.
Favorite Things: Matt Smith frequently speaks about his love of theatre, football (he’s a lifelong Blackburn Rovers supporter), and his grounding in movement and stage training, which shape his dynamic performances.
Notable Works: Doctor Who, House of the Dragon, The Crown, Last Night in Soho.
Liev Schreiber as Lipa
DOB: October 4, 1967.
Bio: American actor, director, screenwriter, and producer celebrated for his commanding screen presence and versatility.
Trained at the Yale School of Drama and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Schreiber began his career on stage before transitioning to film and television, where he has built an acclaimed body of work.
Role: Lipa, a powerful and menacing figure in the criminal underworld that ensnares Hank Thompson.
With his trademark gravitas, Schreiber imbues Lipa with a quiet but unshakable authority, embodying the old-school menace of a man who controls the room without raising his voice.
What to Expect: Tight physicality, low-temperature menace, and a performance that grounds the film’s criminal axis.
Favorite Things: Schreiber often discusses his passion for theatre, directing, and classical training.
Notable Works: Ray Donovan, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Spotlight.
Vincent D’Onofrio as Shmully
DOB: June 30, 1959.
Bio: American actor, director, and producer renowned for his transformative approach to roles.
Trained at the Actors Studio and the American Stanislavski Theatre, he is celebrated for disappearing into characters, whether through dramatic physical changes or psychological depth.
Role: Shmully, an unpredictable player in the criminal underworld.
He injects the role with his signature textured menace, blending quiet intimidation with bursts of theatrical energy that keep audiences off balance.
What to Expect: A memorable supporting turn that can be chilling one moment and darkly funny the next.
Favorite Things: D’Onofrio is a long-time student of craft and frequently discusses character work in interviews.
Notable Works: Full Metal Jacket, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Men in Black.
Benito A. Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny) as Colorado
DOB: March 10, 1994.
Bio: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, is a Puerto Rican singer, rapper, and songwriter who has become one of the most influential Latin music artists of his generation.
With global hits that blend reggaeton, Latin trap, and genre-bending experimentation, he has won Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and reshaped the sound of popular music worldwide.
Role: Colorado, a volatile and distinctive figure in the criminal underworld.
He channels both danger and unpredictability, delivering a performance that mixes his natural charisma with flashes of menace.
What to Expect: Charismatic presence, physical performance and a willingness to play against type.
Favorite Things: Music, performance and touring; he has described film work as a new creative challenge.
Notable Works: Music career, Narcos: Mexico, Bullet Train, Cassandro.
Griffin Dunne as Paul
DOB: June 8, 1955.
Bio: American actor, director, and producer with a career spanning film, television, and stage.
Known for his sharp wit and ability to balance comedy with pathos, he first gained recognition with cult classics like An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Martin Scorsese’s After Hours (1985), where his dry humor and nervous energy became trademarks.
Role: Paul is a figure who intersects with Hank’s life in ways that complicate the plot.
Dunne brings worldliness and a wink of cynicism to the role.
What to Expect: Scene-chewing charm and a steady, practiced performance that anchors scenes.
Favorite Things: Dunne has long been involved in producing as well as acting.
Notable Works: After Hours, An American Werewolf in London, Who’s That Girl, Dallas Buyers Club.
Carol Kane as Bubbe
DOB: June 18, 1952.
Bio: American actress with a career spanning over five decades across film, television, and stage.
She is celebrated for her quirky charm, distinct voice, and exceptional ability to balance humor with poignancy.
Kane won two Primetime Emmy Awards for her role as Simka on Taxi (1980–1983) and earned an Academy Award nomination for Hester Street (1975).
Role: Bubbe is a small but unforgettable presence who adds a bittersweet human touch in the film’s wilder scenes.
Kane reportedly speaks her role in Yiddish, which gives her scenes texture and authenticity.
What to Expect: A scene-stealing performance that blends Kane’s trademark eccentric humor with moments of quiet heart.
Favorite Things: Kane often discusses theatre, music and offbeat character choices.
Notable Works: Hester Street, Taxi, Annie Hall, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Dale
DOB: September 19, 2001.
Bio: Canadian actor of Oji-Cree heritage who rose to prominence with his breakout role as Bear Smallhill on the acclaimed FX series Reservation Dogs (2021–2023).
He is celebrated for his naturalistic acting style, quiet charisma, and ability to bring grounded authenticity to complex characters.
Role: Dale, a younger, streetwise figure whose path intersects with Hank Thompson’s descent into chaos.
Dale represents the kind of grounded, lived-in character who adds both heart and unpredictability to the criminal swirl around Hank.
What to Expect: Honest, expressive work that captures the vulnerability and resilience of a young man navigating dangerous circumstances.
Favorite Things: He speaks about representation and community in interviews, and values scripts that give Indigenous actors depth.
Notable Works: Reservation Dogs, Beans, Warfare.
Will Brill as Jason
DOB: July 11, 1986.
Bio: American actor and stage performer with a strong background in theatre and television.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he has built a career blending off-Broadway, Broadway, and screen work.
Role: Jason, a figure in Hank Thompson’s orbit whose actions feed into the escalating conflict.
His grounded performance helps anchor the chaos with believable, lived-in detail.
What to Expect: A textured supporting turn that adds depth to Hank’s world.
Brill brings quiet realism and actorly precision, making even smaller beats resonate.
Favorite Things: Brill is a committed stage actor who talks often about rehearsal and ensemble play.
Notable Works: The OA, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Broadway’s Oklahoma!, Act One.
Yuri Kolokolnikov as Aleksei
DOB: December 15, 1980.
Bio: Russian actor recognized for his commanding screen presence and ability to embody enigmatic, often dangerous characters.
Born in Moscow, he trained in theatre before transitioning to film and television, building a career across Russian, European, and Hollywood productions.
Role: Aleksei is a cold, calculating player in the violent chessboard Hank is thrown into.
He represents the international reach of the crime world surrounding Hank, giving the story a global undercurrent.
What to Expect: Expect a chilling, precise performance that makes every appearance feel threatening. He thrives in sharp dialogue scenes and moments of sudden brutality.
Favorite Things: Kolokolnikov is private, but has shared in interviews that he values theater roots and time away from the spotlight.
Notable Works: Game of Thrones (Styr, Magnar of Thenn), The Hitman’s Bodyguard, The Last Ronin.
More Actors
• Nikita Kukushkin as Pavel.
• Action Bronson as Amtrak.
• George Abud as Duane.
• Tenoch Huerta as Tulum Bartender.
• McKinzie J. Scott as Hero Batter.
• Laura Dern as Hank’s mother (uncredited cameo).
FAQ – Caught Stealing (2025) Movie
Was there a meaningful cameo?
Yes, a surprise mid-credits cameo by Laura Dern as Hank’s mother.
How does the film capture the 1990s NYC vibe?
Darren Aronofsky set the film in September 1998, leveraging pre-smartphone tension.
The film’s throwback energy is amplified by its soundtrack featuring hits from Spin Doctors, Madonna and Semisonic, along with original ’90s-style punk tracks provided by the band Idles.
Where was Caught Stealing filmed?
Caught Stealing was shot entirely on location in New York City, primarily across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Iconic 1990s neighborhoods like East Village’s Avenue A, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side provided gritty, nostalgia-rich backdrops, complete with recreated storefronts like Benny’s Burritos and Kim’s Video
What is the plot of Caught Stealing?
Caught Stealing (2025) follows Hank Thompson, a former baseball player whose quiet life in New York spirals out of control after agreeing to watch a neighbor’s cat.
What starts as a simple favor drags him into a violent underworld of gangsters, crooked cops, and dangerous criminals.
Forced to fight for survival, Hank is pushed to his limits in a gritty, darkly humorous crime thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Conclusion
Caught Stealing (2025) is not your average crime thriller.
Darren Aronofsky transforms a quirky crime novel into a raw, unpredictable cinematic experience full of tension, style, and jagged humor.
With Austin Butler’s gripping performance at its core and a strong supporting cast delivering sharp energy, the film feels alive and unafraid to take risks.
It may not please everyone with its mix of violence and offbeat tone, but that’s exactly what makes it stand out.
For those who crave crime dramas that push boundaries and linger in memory, Caught Stealing is a bold, gritty ride worth taking.