So, you’ve probably seen the grainy set photos or heard the whispers about Austin Butler and Zoë Kravitz running around a very grimy-looking 1990s New York.
It feels like forever since the internet first started buzzing about this pairing. Honestly, it was the kind of casting news that actually made sense. You have Butler, who basically lived as Elvis for years, and Kravitz, who is effectively the coolest person in any room she walks into. Put them together under the direction of Darren Aronofsky, the guy who made us all collective wrecks with Requiem for a Dream and The Whale, and you’ve got something special.
The movie is called Caught Stealing.
It isn’t a rom-com. It’s definitely not a polished superhero flick. It’s a pulpy, sweaty, high-stakes crime thriller that feels like a massive throwback to the gritty cinema of the late '90s. If you missed its theatrical run in August 2025, you aren't alone—it was one of those "if you know, you know" releases that found its real legs once it hit streaming.
The Chaos of Caught Stealing: A Deep Dive into the Plot
The story is based on the novel by Charlie Huston, who also wrote the screenplay. It follows Hank Thompson, played by Austin Butler. Hank is a former high school baseball star who is now just a guy tending bar in the Lower East Side. He’s got a bit of a drinking problem, a lot of regrets, and a very cool girlfriend named Yvonne, played by Zoë Kravitz.
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Everything goes sideways because of a cat.
Seriously. Hank’s neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to cat-sit. Next thing you know, Russian mobsters are breaking down doors, and Hank is getting beaten so badly he loses a kidney. It turns out the cat’s carrier is stuffed with something everyone in New York’s underworld wants.
What makes the Austin Butler Zoe Kravitz movie stand out isn't just the plot; it’s the tone. Aronofsky traded his usual psychological trauma for something "friskier." It’s violent, sure. But it’s also weirdly funny in a dark, "I can't believe that just happened" sort of way.
Why the Butler and Kravitz Chemistry Works
There was a lot of talk during the press tour about how these two got along. Kravitz mentioned in interviews that people don't realize how funny Butler actually is. On screen, that translated to a relationship that felt lived-in. Yvonne isn't just a "damsel" waiting for Hank to save the day; she’s a paramedic who is rightfully terrified and annoyed that her boyfriend’s neighborly favor turned into a city-wide manhunt.
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They spent months filming on location in New York. You can tell. There’s no "Hollywood gloss" here. It’s all Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and dive bars that look like they smell like stale beer.
A Cast That Refuses to Quit
While the focus is usually on the leads, the supporting cast in Caught Stealing is kind of insane. You have:
- Regina King as a detective who is way more intense and morally ambiguous than she first appears.
- Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio as a pair of terrifying brothers who are hunting Hank down.
- Bad Bunny (Benito A. Martínez Ocasio) showing up as a high-level gangster.
The movie is basically a giant game of "Spot the Star" while people are getting hit with baseball bats. It’s a wild ride. The soundtrack also rips—Idles did the score, and it’s full of that post-punk energy that matches the 1998 setting perfectly.
The Realistic Stunts
Austin Butler didn't just lean into the "method" acting stuff this time; he did his own stunts. He’s swinging a baseball bat, jumping off fire escapes, and taking hits that look genuinely painful. He’s spoken about how "vulnerable" the role felt because Hank isn't a superhero. He’s just a guy who used to be good at sports and is now trying not to die.
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Where Can You Watch Caught Stealing Now?
If you missed it in theaters last August, the Austin Butler Zoe Kravitz movie finally landed on Netflix in the United States on November 29, 2025.
Because of the licensing deal between Sony and Netflix, it’ll be there for about 18 months before it hops over to Disney+ and Hulu in 2027. If you’re in the UK, you might have to wait a bit longer for streaming, though it did get a solid theatrical release there.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you want the full Caught Stealing experience, there are a few things you should actually do:
- Read the book: Charlie Huston’s original novel is even darker and more internal than the movie. It’s the first in a trilogy, so if you like Hank Thompson, there’s more to his story.
- Check the soundtrack: Seriously, the Idles score is a mood. Put it on while you're walking through a city and you'll feel like you're in a noir film.
- Watch the "Easter Egg" interview: Darren Aronofsky challenged fans to find a specific hidden detail in the 1990s recreation of the East Village. Many people missed it on the first watch.
The film serves as a reminder that movies can still be "small" and gritty while having massive star power. It’s a love letter to a version of New York that doesn't really exist anymore, wrapped in a crime story that refuses to slow down. Keep an eye on the streaming charts—this is the kind of movie that only gets better with a rewatch.