Darren Aronofsky is an extremely controversial director, but I’ve always admired his work. The Whale (2022) was one of my favorite films of that year, featuring what I consider one of the best performances of the 2020s from Brendan Fraser. Black Swan is one of the greatest films of the 2010s, and Requiem for a Dream remains one of the most depressingly powerful pieces of art ever made. Above all, The Wrestler is one of my all-time favorite movies: It’s Aronofsky at his best. His films are bleak, filled with emotion, and all contain some of the finest performances in modern cinema.
That’s why I was stunned when, seated for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, I saw a trailer for a film called Caught Stealing. The words “From Darren Aronofsky” appeared on screen. It looked fast-paced, pulpy, and fun, things his films are not. I couldn’t believe it. With a cast that includes Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, and Bad Bunny, I was immediately sold.
The film itself feels like a classic ’80s or ’90s-style thrill ride. It is stylish and bursting with energy. It’s like a mix of mid-era Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown, Death Proof) and early Guy Ritchie. It’s been called a Snatch-alike, and whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the viewer. Personally, as someone who’s rewatched Snatch countless times, it’s no issue for me.
Even giving a full plot synopsis would risk spoilers, so here’s the short version: Austin Butler’s character agrees to watch his neighbor’s cat, only to find himself caught in a conspiracy involving the Russian mob and various gangsters. From there, Caught Stealing becomes a nonstop ride. Not in the bloated modern MCU sense (Captain America: Brave New World or Eternals) but in the best way possible. The performances are stellar, as this is an Aronofsky project. Butler delivers one of his strongest performances yet, perhaps even surpassing his portrayal of Elvis Presley in the aptly named Elvis (2022).
The cinematography is some of the best of 2025, rivaled only by Netflix’s Adolescence. It’s visually interesting and filled with twists. The camera work only enhances the film’s fun, unpredictable energy. Every technical element is incredible. I could never tell where the story was headed next. And because the movie is so accessible to a general audience, it feels like one of Aronofsky’s most crowd-pleasing works to date.
In a Hollywood landscape largely dominated by franchises and remakes, Caught Stealing proves that original ideas can still be made. It’s an energetic surprise from one of cinema’s most polarizing auteurs. If you’re always complaining about the lack of original ideas in modern Hollywood, check this one out.
I give it a high 8/10.