Netflix’s Caught Stealing: The Crime Thriller Everyone’s Talking About

There are films that slip by unnoticed, only to be picked up later and given a proper airing. Caught Stealing, a 2025 release, is one such case. With Austin Butler in the lead and Darren Aronofsky at the helm, this blackly comic crime caper has found a new audience on Netflix, and it’s not hard to see why.

On the surface, the premise is almost laughably simple: a bloke does a favour for his neighbour and ends up in a world of trouble. Yet, what unfolds is anything but straightforward. The film’s brisk pace and relentless energy keep things moving, never allowing the viewer to settle. Butler’s Hank is the lens through which we experience this chaos—a man whose string of poor choices and mounting panic make for a rather compelling watch.

Unravelling the Chaos: A Relentless Ride

From the moment Hank agrees to look after a neighbour’s cat, things spiral rapidly. What starts as a minor inconvenience soon snowballs into a series of increasingly dire events. The film’s structure is tight, with each mishap leading seamlessly to the next, creating a sense of mounting dread and dark amusement. There’s no room for boredom here; the story barrels forward, dragging Hank—and the audience—along for the ride.

Butler’s portrayal is a far cry from the typical hardman or antihero. Instead, he brings a sense of vulnerability and confusion to the role, grounding the mayhem in something recognisable. The result is a protagonist who feels less like a genre archetype and more like someone you might actually know—albeit on a particularly bad day.

More Than Just Another Crime Flick

It would be easy to dismiss Caught Stealing as just another entry in the crowded field of crime thrillers. However, there’s a sharpness to the writing and a sly wit that sets it apart. The supporting cast—Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith—add layers of unpredictability, with fast-talking criminals and sudden bursts of violence keeping the tension high.

What really lingers, though, is the film’s exploration of guilt and the futility of trying to escape one’s own mistakes. Hank isn’t chasing riches or power; he’s simply trying to survive, haunted by regrets and forced to confront parts of himself he’d rather ignore. The external threats are matched by internal struggles, making for a story that’s as much about endurance as it is about crime.

Critical Acclaim and a Second Life

Despite a modest box office showing—$28.3 million worldwide—the film has been warmly received by critics and audiences alike. Rotten Tomatoes scores sit at 85% from critics and 83% from viewers, suggesting that its blend of dark humour and tension has struck a chord.

Now streaming on Netflix in the US, Caught Stealing is enjoying a well-deserved resurgence. Whether you missed it the first time or fancy a rewatch, it’s a brisk, biting piece of cinema that refuses to play by the usual rules.

Caught Stealing is now streaming on Netflix (USA).