I Can’t Stop Thinking About The Similarities Between Caught Stealing And Pi, And I Wonder If That Was Intentional

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heads up: the following text discloses significant plot details about the film “Caught Stealing” directed by Darren Aronofsky, released in 2025. If you haven’t watched it yet, beware and proceed with care.

During its debut weekend, I was among many who caught the movie “Caught Stealing.” To put it simply, Austin Butler’s film about a man in the wrong place at the wrong time provided an enjoyable, exhilarating viewing experience. As several critics have noted, even TopMob’s review included, Darren Aronofsky’s newest work might be darker and more violent at times than his past films, but it offers a more uplifting and entertaining journey compared to his previous projects.

Yet, I find myself constantly pondering over the striking resemblances between “Caught Stealing” and Darren Aronofsky’s first film, “Pi,” released in 1998, which marked the beginning of his remarkable career. Throughout the movie, I was left wondering if these similarities were merely coincidental or purposely designed. And now, I believe I have a theory.

Between Similar Characters, Situations, And Themes, These Two Movies Have A Lot In Common

While “Caught Stealing” and “Pi” appear to be distinct films with unique narratives – the former being about a bartender entangled in a conflict between rival gangs seeking stolen money, and the latter following a mathematician on a quest to unveil the secret of the stock market and an elusive divine name – these movies share some striking similarities. Both stories revolve around two flawed individuals who unwittingly find themselves entangled in situations that are far greater than their own existence. However, this connection goes beyond just that.

In “Caught Stealing” and “Pi”, characters portrayed by Austin Butler as Hank Thompson and Sean Gullette as Max Cohen each confront a colorful assortment of shady, potentially dangerous criminals and controlling authority figures, who seek to exploit them for their selfish ends. Both movies delve deeply into common themes such as religion, the corrupting influence of wealth, fixation, and liberty, which are prevalent in Darren Aronofsky’s debut film and his more recent work.

Caught Stealing And Pi Are Both Set In The Same General Area At Around The Same Time

Despite the unclear timelines depicted in the movie “Pi,” it was released in July 1998, preceding the events of “Caught Stealing” by a couple of months. This alignment in time and similar themes suggested to me that perhaps Hank from “Caught Stealing” and Max, the protagonist of “Pi,” may have crossed paths before their individual stories unfolded.

In the movie “Pi,” Max resides in a Chinatown district of Manhattan, bordering the Lower East Side, where Hank frequently hangs out in the film “Caught Stealing.” Moreover, there’s a good possibility that Hank and Max might have encountered each other since Yvonne, Hank’s girlfriend, lived in the same Chinatown neighborhood (though her apartment was more spacious and well-maintained compared to Max’s small, untidy flat).

In Fact, Both Movies Also Feature Coney Island In Pivotal Scenes

One noteworthy commonality I found is that both movies feature significant, character-centric scenes in the Coney Island district of Brooklyn, particularly along the waterfront. At first, I assumed it was a mere coincidence or a familiar setting (Spike Jonson had filmed an outstanding scene for Requiem for a Dream in the same location), but upon further exploration, I stumbled upon an interview with the director on Josh Horowitz’s podcast, ‘Happy Sad Confused’, where he discussed these similarities.

Interestingly, both Caught Stealing and Pi feature Coney Island serving as a crucial setting, with identical structural and emotional roles. In Pi, Max finds himself in Coney Island on his final stop, then descends to the beach steps towards the water, where he experiences a significant turning point – much like the character does in Coney Island within Caught Stealing.

According to Aronofsky’s remarks, both films feature remarkable moments where the main character visits Coney Island, perching on the beach’s edge as they contemplate their future actions before everything wraps up. The shared themes of tone, structure, and emotion make me suspect that this recurring scene might have been deliberately planned.

It Turns Out The Caught Stealing Production Designer Hid The Pi Symbol Throughout The Movie

During my exploration, I came across an interview Darren Aronofsky gave on IMDb, where he shared that the production designer of Caught Stealing secretly included Pisymbols in the movie as a tribute to his work from around three decades ago. Whether it’s meant humorously or not, he has dared viewers to identify the accurate number for a special reward. It remains to be seen if this will add to the fun when the film becomes available among the upcoming streaming releases.

In the film, the Pi symbol’s frequent appearances can be seen as a tribute to the unconventional promotional strategy that Darren Aronofsky and his colleagues employed in 1998, to generate buzz around his first directorial project.

Honestly, It Feels Like Darren Aronofsky Has Come Full Circle With His Latest Film

Aronofsky has created a number of deeply impactful films throughout his career, including standalone masterpieces such as “Requiem for a Dream” and thought-provoking epics like “Mother.” While “Caught Stealing” differs in tone from his directorial debut “Pi,” it seems he’s returned to familiar ground with his latest work.

In his beloved past haunts for a film that seemed personally significant to him, Aronofsky’s sense of nostalgia shines through in the latest production. Not just a homage to his younger years, but also a nod to ’90s New York City – a city dramatically transformed from its former self during the era when he adorned it with countless stickers.

Caught Stealing is showing in theaters nationwide.

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2025-09-06 23:08