Sony’s rough summer is set to end on a curious note, as the studio quietly unloads Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing” on August 29 — the very last week of the season, in a move that hardly screams confidence.
While the review embargo only lifts the week of release, “Caught Stealing” screened for the usual suspects on Wednesday, and while some reactions came with their share of quibbles, my optimism hasn’t faded. Anything Aronofsky touches is worth a look — even if it turns out to be a total swing and miss. Reactions are below.
Based on Charlie Huston’s 2004 novel of the same name, “Caught Stealing” casts Austin Butler as Hank Thompson, a former high school baseball star whose life takes a sharp turn when a seemingly harmless favor—taking care of a neighbor’s cat—drops him straight into a chaotic underworld of mobsters, stolen loot, and increasingly dangerous entanglements.
The film is set in the 1990s Lower East Side, and Aronofsky shot on location in New York during fall 2024 with his longtime cinematographer Matthew Libatique. The supporting cast is stacked: Zoë Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Carol Kane, Griffin Dunne, Bad Bunny, Matt Smith, and Regina King all feature in what sounds like a true genre ensemble.
The project has been in development for over 15 years. Aronofsky told Vanity Fair that after the emotionally heavy “The Whale,” he was drawn to something more fun, something that leaned into pure entertainment. That perspective seems to align with Huston’s original trilogy, of which “Caught Stealing” is the first entry. The two follow-ups—“Six Bad Things” and “A Dangerous Man” —could be on the table if this one lands with audiences (which I highly doubt).
Aronofsky’s last feature, “The Whale,” was released in 2022 to generally favorable reviews and earned Brendan Fraser the Academy Award for Best Actor. Despite its small $3M budget, the film managed an impressive $54M worldwide, marking a solid commercial showing.
That said, I didn’t connect with “The Whale” —a feeling I’ve had before with some of Aronofsky’s more polarizing work, including “Noah” and “The Fountain” Still, his place in contemporary cinema remains secure, largely thanks to the brilliance of “The Wrestler,” “Black Swan,” and “Requiem for a Dream” —films that continue to showcase his undeniable talent when he’s at his best.
The budget? That depends on who you ask. Sony originally pegged it at $20M, but it's now being reported at $40M. Given how studios try to lowball costs, I'd bet on the latter being the actual figure.