"Caught Stealing" was one of my favorite movie surprises of the entire summer: a compelling, action-packed and twist-filled watch starring some fantastic performers from an acclaimed director (Darren Aronofsky). It transports us to New York City for a throwback crime caper about a quick-thinking, ordinary guy (Austin Butler) whose life is turned upside down.
As of today (Sept. 30), "Caught Stealing" is now available to watch at home. While it hasn't yet landed on a streaming service, today is the movie's digital premiere, meaning anyone looking to liven up their home viewing with this exciting thriller can find it on premium video-on-demand storefronts like Prime Video or Apple TV.
If you missed it in theaters (like I'm assuming many viewers did, based on its box office performance), I think you should seriously consider adding "Caught Stealing" to your watchlist; read on to find out why.
What is 'Caught Stealing' about?
"Caught Stealing" follows Hank Thompson (Austin Butler), a former high school basketball phenom now leading a decidedly ordinary life in New York City, working at a dive bar, keeping tabs on his beloved team, regularly sitting down to call his mom, and hanging out with his new girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz).
That ordinary life is suddenly turned upside down after his British punk-rock neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith), tells Hank to watch his cat while he heads out of town. That seemingly simple request puts our unlikely hero in the crosshairs of a collection of seriously dangerous criminals — and Hank doesn't even know why. As they close in, he pushes himself to the limit, desperately trying to make it out alive.
In addition to Butler, Kravitz and Smith, "Caught Stealing" also stars Regina King, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, Griffin Dunne, musician Bad Bunny and Carol Kane.
Why you should stream 'Caught Stealing' now
If you're on the hunt for a propulsive, gritty crime thriller to add to your streaming rotation right now, "Caught Stealing" is a movie you should seriously keep in contention.
Darren Aronofsky's thriller is proper edge-of-your-seat stuff, one that puts Austin Butler through the ringer as he scrambles across the Big Apple (and serves as another reminder that he's a dependable leading man).
It's not afraid to get dark and violent, and possesses a palpable sense of jeopardy and momentum throughout. There's plenty to get your heart rate high, too: Hank's journey is peppered with car chases, hot pursuits, and bursts of grim, bone-crunching violence. That's not to downplay the fun factor, though: there's mirth mixed in with that darkness, especially when Matt Smith's on screen.
In short, "Caught Stealing" is a frenetic, energetic, and gripping ride that's absolutely worth taking. Oh, and it also boasts an all-time feline performance from Bud (aka the lovable Siberian cat, Tonic), too.
It was also generally well-received, too, boasting an 84% critics' approval score on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads: "A freewheeling throwback, 'Caught Stealing' showcases Austin Butler's movie star charisma while marking a surprisingly lighthearted gearshift for director Darren Aronofsky."
Reviewing for RogerEbert.com, Nell Minow gave it a 3.5/4-star rating, writing: "A tight, twisty script, meaningful stakes, a top director (Darren Aronofsky) and an A-plus cast have delivered a satisfyingly sharp thriller."
Empire's Ben Travis, meanwhile, offered a 3-star verdict, calling it both "quite the pivot from 2022's 'The Whale,' and "a particularly stressful type of fun," even if he really wasn't a fan of one plot development in particular (which I won't spoil here).
To me, though, "Caught Stealing" is a confident, thrilling crime caper, one that outstrips its flaws, and a movie that's perfect for those looking for a jolt of frenetic fun to liven up their fall viewing.
Buy/rent "Caught Stealing" on Prime Video now
Not sure you want to stump up the cash to watch "Caught Stealing" at home? Check out our round-up of the best movies on Netflix or the best Netflix action movies for tons more streaming suggestions to build up your watchlist.
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