Netflix’s Latest Hit Action Thriller Didn’t Deserve to Be a Box Office Bomb
Sometimes the great movies slip through the cracks. John Carpenter's The Thing famously bombed at the box office upon its release back in 1982, only to go on to become one of the greatest and most beloved sci-fi/horror films of all time. Not every awesome thriller that underperforms in theaters and later finds an audience can stand up to The Thing — nothing really can, but the latest thriller from Darren Aronofsky does represent one of the most undeserving box office bombs of the last few years.
Going in a completely different direction from films like The Whale, Aronofsky dove headfirst into fun and thrills with Caught Stealing, which debuted in theaters this past August and failed to make a splash at the box office. Caught Stealing earned just $33 million during its theatrical run, despite positive reviews and one of the best casts assembled last year. Fortunately, thanks to home video and streaming, Caught Stealing is finding a much bigger audience than it did in theaters, allowing its greatness to finally catch on with viewers.
'Caught Stealing' Should've Been a Hit
Zoe Kravtiz and Austin Butler in Caught StealingImage via Columbia Pictures
Between its premise, nostalgic setting, big-name director, and all-star cast, Caught Stealing feels like the kind of movie that would've easily caught everyone's attention not too long ago. Austin Butler and Zoë Kravitz are about as good a young leading duo as you'll see in a Hollywood production today, and a steamy romance between the two of them (which was featured prominently in the trailers), stuffed into an organized crime/on-the-run thriller should've been an easy sell. On top of that, you've got a supporting roster that includes Matt Smith, Vincent D'Onofrio, Liev Schreiber, Regina King, and Bad Bunny. There's no limit to how great this lineup is. The story is also set in the 1990s, which is a perfect nostalgia play for the moment. The aesthetic of '90s New York City, the grunge style, and analog electronics are all crowd-pleasing aesthetic choices for the millennial crowd. When you factor in the fact that the reviews were largely positive, it's frustrating to see such a low box office intake for Caught Stealing. One big factor working against the hit thriller was its release date, hitting theaters during a dry period in August last year. Weapons and Freakier Friday were both hits at the beginning of the month, and their success lingered for weeks, while many new releases in that window struggled. There was no energy at the box office in the two weeks leading up to Caught Stealing's debut, with Nobody 2 and Honey Don't representing the biggest releases in that period.
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'Caught Stealing' Finding an Audience on Netflix
Following its disappointing performance at the box office, Caught Stealing has had more life in the world of streaming and home video. This does immediately stand out as the kind of film that would've quickly gained a substantial following in the days of the video rental store, but it's still managing to generate some buzz with Netflix, video-on-demand, and some physical media sales.
Netflix is the most popular destination for those discovering Caught Stealing for the first time, as the film was one of the most popular titles on the entire service when it was first added. Like all the theatrical releases from Sony Pictures, Caught Stealing hit Netflix after its big screen run for a lengthy and exclusive streaming window. Netflix will provide the only streaming home for the film for the next year or so, giving fans with a subscription to the service plenty of opportunities to check it out and tell their friends about it. Hopefully, as people discover the joy of a little thriller like Caught Stealing, they'll remember how much fun those types of films are to experience at the movie theaters. Maybe that will help give the next one a better shot.
Release Date
August 29, 2025
Director
Darren Aronofsky
Writers
charlie huston
Producers
Ari Handel, Jeremy Dawson
