Aronofsky’s Crime Thriller “Caught Stealing” Debuts to Strong Reviews

NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2025 - Darren Aronofsky’s long-awaited crime caper Caught Stealing opened in theaters nationwide today, with critics applauding Austin Butler’s performance and the director’s return to gritty, character-driven storytelling.

Critics hailed Butler’s portrayal of Hank Thompson, a down-on-his-luck East Village bartender drawn into a violent underworld after agreeing to pet-sit for his punk rocker neighbor. The Associated Press praised Butler’s “likable mess of a guy” caught in escalating danger, calling the film a “’90s-style crime caper” that allows Aronofsky to flex his New York-street sensibilities without the weighty melodrama of his earlier work.

The New York Times noted that while Caught Stealing delivers the director’s trademark intensity, it does so with a surprisingly mainstream flair. According to the Times, Aronofsky “peels back the city’s surface with sharp humor and striking artifice,” as Thompson endures brutal encounters with Russian mobsters, a determined detective (Regina King) and a cast of unpredictable criminals.

Audiences can expect a relentless pace and visceral thrills, underscored by Butler’s evolution from flawed everyman to resourceful survivor. The film’s mix of brutal action, dark humor and unexpected tenderness signals a new chapter in Aronofsky’s career - one that balances commercial appeal with the director’s signature edge.

Caught Stealing is now playing in theaters nationwide.