Key Points
- Austin Butler’s Caught Stealing is trending on Netflix, currently ranked #4 in the U.S.
- The Darren Aronofsky-directed thriller is based on Charlie Huston’s 2004 novel.
- Butler stars as Hank Thompson, a former baseball player pulled into a dangerous crime scheme.
- The ensemble cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Regina King, Liev Schreiber, and Vincent D’Onofrio.
- The film holds an 84% critic score and 83% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Butler’s Rising Stardom
Austin Butler continues to solidify his place among Hollywood’s leading men. Following his Oscar-nominated turn in Elvis and standout roles in The Bikeriders, Dune: Part Two, and Masters of the Air, Butler’s latest project is finding new life on streaming.
While his 2025 theatrical releases underperformed at the box office, Caught Stealing has quickly become a fan favorite on Netflix.
About the Film
Released in theaters by Sony on August 29, Caught Stealing is directed by Darren Aronofsky and adapted from Charlie Huston’s novel. Butler plays Henry “Hank” Thompson, a washed-up baseball player whose life spirals after he becomes entangled in a violent criminal plot.
The film’s cast features Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith (sporting a mohawk), Regina King, Liev Schreiber, and Vincent D’Onofrio. Together, they bring grit, humor, and intensity to Aronofsky’s crime thriller.
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Critical and Audience Reception
Since debuting on Netflix, Caught Stealing has surged into the platform’s Top 10, sitting at #4 in the U.S. behind Jingle Bell Heist, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Dog.
Critics have praised the film’s sharp direction and Butler’s commanding performance, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an 84% critic score and an 83% audience rating.
Aronofsky, known for darker fare like Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, delivers a more crowd-pleasing tone here while maintaining his signature intensity in action sequences.
Why It’s Worth Watching
Butler’s portrayal of Hank balances raw physicality with emotional depth, making him believable in both brutal fight scenes and quieter, tormented moments. The ensemble adds further strength, with standout turns from Schreiber and D’Onofrio as the Druckers, and Matt Smith injecting comic energy.
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Set against a gritty 1990s backdrop, the film blends crime drama with high-octane action, clocking in at a brisk 1 hour and 47 minutes—ideal for a weeknight watch.
What Happens Next
With Butler’s career trajectory pointing toward major projects like a Miami Vice reboot and Michael Mann’s planned Heat 2, Caught Stealing’s streaming success reinforces his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
For Netflix viewers, the film offers a stylish, fast-paced thriller that’s already proving to be one of the platform’s must-watch titles this season.
