After an underwhelming theatrical run over the summer despite strong critical marks, the fast-paced, darkly comedic caper is finally reaching the wider audience it deserves, hoping to find its commercial footing on the massive streaming platform.
The Plot: A Favor Goes Terribly Wrong
Based on the novel by Charlie Huston, Caught Stealing is set in the gritty, pre-gentrified New York City of 1998. It stars Austin Butler as Henry “Hank” Thompson, a burned-out ex-baseball prospect now working as a bartender on the Lower East Side. Hank’s life is plunged into chaos when he agrees to a seemingly simple request from his punk-rock neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith): cat-sitting for a few days.
Hank quickly finds himself hunted by a rotating cast of New York’s most ruthless criminals—including Russian mobsters, Orthodox Jewish gangsters (Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio), and a morally compromised detective (Regina King). They are all hunting for a mysterious key hidden by Russ, forcing the reluctant hero to use all his street smarts to stay alive in a violent, escalating search.
The Critical Win vs. The Box Office Loss
Caught Stealing presented a classic Hollywood dichotomy: a film that was a critical hit but a commercial disappointment. Against a reported budget of over $40 million, the film grossed a modest $32 million worldwide during its theatrical run, officially failing to break even.
However, the film was a triumph with critics and audiences alike:
Critics’ Score: The movie achieved a highly respectable 84% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the film as a “freewheeling throwback” and the director’s most “lighthearted gearshift” in years.
Audience Score: Viewers were even more enthusiastic, giving the film a high 83% Verified Audience Score, indicating excellent word-of-mouth that simply failed to translate into ticket sales.
Looking for an Improval
The movie’s move to Netflix, part of Sony Pictures’ ongoing deal with the streamer, offers a perfect opportunity for the film to achieve the mass recognition it failed to earn in theaters. The ensemble cast, which also includes Zoë Kravitz as Hank’s paramedic girlfriend, Yvonne, and Bad Bunny as a gangster, is expected to drive strong viewing numbers this holiday weekend.