4K Ultra HD Bewertung – Caught Stealing (2025)

      Caught Stealing, 2025.

      Directed by Darren Aronofsky.

      Starring Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Benito Martínez Ocasio, Griffin Dunne, and Carol Kane.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Darren Aronofsky’s newest film, Caught Stealing, has been released on 4K Ultra HD, featuring a variety of bonus content and a code for a digital copy. It’s an entertaining movie that merits your attention, showcasing a vibrant cast of characters and a scene-stealing cat.

      I must confess that I haven’t been consistent in following all of Darren Aronofsky's films over the years. While Pi was an impressive debut, my interest in his other works has fluctuated. Some films, like The Whale, didn't pique my interest for personal reasons.

      Nevertheless, Caught Stealing drew me in with its impressive cast and captivating premise. The narrative encompasses numerous twists and turns filled with dense plot points, making it challenging for me to anticipate what comes next. In my opinion, that signifies a well-crafted film, although there is one particular moment that puzzles me, preventing it from being perfect.

      Set in 1998, the film features Austin Butler as Henry “Hank” Thompson, a once-promising Major League Baseball prospect now bartending in New York City's Lower East Side. His girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz), strives to support him while avoiding enabling his drinking.

      When his punk-rock neighbor, Russ Miner (Matt Smith), unexpectedly requests Hank to look after his cat while he heads back to London, Hank finds himself embroiled in a conflict involving Russian, Puerto Rican, and Jewish mobsters that tests his survival instincts. He seeks aid from police detective Elise Roman (Regina King), but this only complicates his situation further.

      The ensemble of characters surrounding Hank is a joy to watch, from the menacing Russians to the Hasidic Drucker brothers (portrayed by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio), who are wary of their beloved Bubbe (Carol Kane). Russ embodies the quintessential punk rock Brit, the cause of Hank's predicament but who may also assist him when he returns from England.

      Regarding that puzzling moment: there's a scene where Hank finds himself in a basement room with a steel door, alongside his bar owner employer Paul (Griffin Dunne), hiding from adversaries outside. It was a compelling "How will he escape this situation?" moment, yet its resolution felt somewhat contrived. (I plan to read the novel this film is based on to see how it approaches that scenario).

      Sony has released Caught Stealing on 4K Ultra HD, complete with a code for a digital copy. Although there's no Blu-ray, it’s acceptable since the bonus features included don’t require much space on the disc.

      The extras total around 20 minutes and consist of four featurettes: Aronofsky: The Real Deal, featuring the director and Charlie Huston, the author of the Caught Stealing novel; Casting Criminals, Chaos, and a Cat, which explores this fantastic cast, including an adorable cat; I Don’t Drive, referencing a line from Hank and examining the stunt work; and A New York Story, which reviews a city that has changed significantly in the 27 years since 1998.

      Caught Stealing is Huston’s first installment in a series featuring Hank Thompson, so it will be interesting to see if subsequent books receive a green light as well.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook

      Originally published December 7, 2025. Updated December 8, 2025.