WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Caught Stealing.Director Darren Aronofsky’s new film, Caught Stealing, has sent audiences on a trip down memory lane with its nostalgic and rocking soundtrack. Based on the book by Charlie Huston, Caught Stealing depicts Austin Butler as a bartender and a former baseball prodigy who gets caught in a web of crime and violence while cat-sitting for his drug-dealing neighbor in 1998.

While the writing, acting, and direction are the main sources of the film’s look and feel, the soundtrack also has a significant impact on the movie. Caught Stealing is packed to the brim with various songs that were popular in their time, while some also add to the diversity of New York’s multicultural world.

Caught Stealing particularly features songs by the British punk rock band IDLES, who even performed a few tunes that they created just for the film. Overall, Caught Stealing‘s soundtrack captures the story’s punk rock spirit and helps create a rich and thrilling 1990s period piece.

When Each Song On The Caught Stealing Soundtrack Plays In The Movie

“Doom” by IDLES: This original song by IDLES plays in the opening of Caught Stealing.

“I Think I’m Paranoid” by Garbage: This song plays during Hank’s first scene in the film, which shows him working at Paul’s bar late at night. It doesn’t just set up the punk rock feel of the film. The lyrics convey Hank’s fearful personality in Caught Stealing, which he learns to grow out of..

“Walkin’ On The Sun” by Smash Mouth: This song also plays at Paul’s bar during Hank’s first scene in Caught Stealing.

“Sєx and Candy” by Marcy Playground: This song plays during Hank and Yvonne’s first scene together. Such a tune helps establish the romantic mood in this scene as it depicts the two lovers after a hard day’s work.

“Rock You Like a Hurricane” by Scorpions: This classic rock song plays during Hank’s flashbacks to when he is driving drunk with his friend Dale. However, it seems to take on a new meaning when Hank accidentally crashes the car, killing Dale. The song’s mention of a cat scratching skin is a clever reference to Russ’ cat, Budd, who also acts as a reflection of Hank himself.

“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Albert von Tilzer: As the iconic anthem for North American baseball, this song is naturally brought up during Hank’s journey. However, the Russian gangster Microbe is the one who sings it multiple times in the film as a way of mocking Hank.

“Closing Time” by Semisonic: This classic song is one of the multiple tunes playing when Hank is partying and drinking at Paul’s bar.

“Cheerleader” by IDLES: This new song by IDLES plays when Hank flees from gangster brothers Lipa and Shmully Drucker when they find him on the street. With the scene following them through alleyways and a supermarket, the song adds great tension with lyrics that underlie Hank’s struggle to escape these “scary monsters,” as they’re called in Caught Stealing.

“The Moon Represents My Heart” by Teresa Tang: Though Tang isn’t heard singing the song in Caught Stealing, one person does sing karaoke to it while Hank is hiding out in a Chinese restaurant.

“Coper” by IDLES: This song plays as Russ drives Hank to the storage unit where he keeps the money he owes to all the criminals that have tormented Hank. Given that Russ is shown to be a fan of IDLES in Caught Stealing, it makes sense for this scene to feature such a song.

“Police & Thieves” by IDLES: This is actually a cover of a song by Jamaican reggae musician Junior Murvin, which was itself covered by the punk rock group The Clash. “Police & Thieves” plays as Hank and Russ try to escape from Roman and Microbe after their planned handoff goes horribly wrong. The lyrics fit the context of criminals battling in the streets of New York.

“Murderer” by Buju Banton: This song plays after Hank leaves the train that has taken him to Coney Island. It is also after Russ dies from his untreated head wounds, which Hank gave him. Hank didn’t know he was hitting Russ the first time, and he was planning on taking Russ to the hospital. Nevertheless, the song conveys how he is taking responsibility for his demise.

“Calendar Girl” by Neil Sedaka: Neil Sedaka’s song plays when Hank is riding in the car with Lipa and Shmully, with whom he has formed an uneasy alliance. The song adds some much-needed levity to the scene, making for a good segue into Hank’s Shabbos dinner with the Drucker family.

“Don (Don Don Don)” by Shura: This song briefly plays when Lipa and Shmully start shooting and blowing up people partying at a Russian supper club as they ambush Detective Roman there.

“Copacabana (At The Copa)” by Barry Manilow: Manilow’s classic song plays on the radio as Hank drives Lipa and Shmully’s car. Though the song is about a showgirl named Lola, the lyrics convey Hank’s tragic story as a promising baseball star who lost his career. He also lost the love of his life, Yvonne, so his subsequent revenge against her murderers brings some sort of catharsis.

“Mi Tesoro” by Los Relampagos Del Norte: “Mi Tesoro,” which translates to “my treasure,” plays when Hank arrives on the beaches of Tulum, Mexico, near the end of the film. This song helps set the more soothing tone of the scene. At the same time, it builds a unique atmosphere as Hank leaves the rough-and-tough world of New York and enters this new, beautiful sanctuary.

“The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side” by The Magnetic Fields: This song starts playing just before the credits roll at the end of Caught Stealing. The film leaves Hank after he finally finds freedom after experiencing so much suffering and hardship. Ironically, the song of choice suits Hank because he used to live in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and was very unlucky for most of the film.

“Rabbit Run” by IDLES: This new song by IDLES plays during the film’s closing credits, which rhythmically shakes around the screen to the sound of the drums, making this sequence a sight to behold. The lyrics also seem to reflect Hank’s journey in the film, as he tries to run and hide from the criminals trying to hurt him, much like the rabbit in the song.

The closing credits in Caught Stealing also list several other songs that were used in the making of the film. While some songs might be difficult to spot, they make watching Caught Stealing a musical scavenger hunt:

• “Be My Lover” by La Bouche
• “Blueeyed Devil” by Soul Coughing
• “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” by Spin Doctors
• “Lurking in the Dark” by King Diamond
• “Ray of Light” by Madonna
• “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks
• “Satan” by Orbital
• “Call the Doctor” by Sleater-Kinney
• “I’m Afraid of Americans” by David Bowie
• “Wandering Star” by Portishead
• “Dance with Me” by Orleans
• “Cities of Flame with Rock and Roll” by Blue Öyster Cult
• “Down Home Girl” by Alvin Robinson
• “What Do I Get?” by Buzzcocks
• “His Name Is Mutty Ranks” by A Tribe Called Quest

Where To Listen To Caught Stealing’s Soundtrack

Caught Stealing will only play in theaters for at least a few weeks, depending on its box office turnout. In the meantime, fans can listen to the film’s full soundtrack on Spotify and YouTube. Though the songs are also available on Apple Music and Amazon, all of them aren’t ᴀssembled together in a single album for the film at this time.

However, the original score for Caught Stealing is also available on these major streaming platforms under the album тιтle, Caught Stealing (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). This features all the songs composed by Rob Simenson, as well as the songs written and performed by IDLES. This should give Caught Stealing fans something to rock out to as they wait for the movie to hit streaming and VOD platforms.