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Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is a 2025 American heist film that serves as the sequel to the 2018 film Den of Thieves. Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. reprise their roles from the first film, while Christian Gudegast returns to write and direct. Inspired by the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist, the plot follows an LASD sheriff who follows a suspected thief to Europe in an attempt to team-up with him for a robbery.[4][5] Lionsgate theatrically released the film in the United States on January 10, 2025. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $35.2 million worldwide. PlotIn Antwerp, Donnie Wilson joins the Panther Crew, led by Jovahnna, to steal a red diamond and files from an airport hangar. They flee disguised as SWAT. Back in Los Angeles, Sheriff Nick O'Brien, recently divorced and put on leave by the police, interrogates Merrimen's widow Holly about any connections between Merrimen and Donnie. The Panthers plan their next heist: a diamond vault at the World Diamond Center in Nice. Donnie, posing as an executive, infiltrates the bank, while Nick discovers Donnie's involvement through the local police force led by Detective Hugo. Nick meets Donnie and forces his way into the crew. Jovahnna introduces Nick to Chava, the vault manager's wife and their inside link. Meanwhile, the Italian mafia, angry over the stolen red diamond, plans retaliation. The Panthers party at a club, where Nick flirts with Jovahnna, causing Marko, her ex-boyfriend, and Vuk to brawl with Nick. After being kicked out of the club, Nick and Donnie are kidnapped by the mafia, demanding the diamond's return to their leader, the infamous Octopus. After being let go, Nick encounters Hugo in a church, before recommitting to the heist. Jovahnna announces that Marko and Vuk have quit the crew following their fight. Disguised as a security contractor, Nick maps out the vault with Donnie. The crew executes a meticulous infiltration, avoiding surveillance and cracking safes. They secure the diamond and cash but face complications during their escape. Nick, improvising under pressure, saves the crew but attracts attention from guards. They regroup and flee, transferring their loot to Jovahnna's van, before Nick, Donnie and crew member Slavko continue on to the Italian border to escape. The crew are ambushed however by Marko and Vuk who have led a rival gang The Tigers to kill them and steal their loot. Marko and Vuk are killed by the Octopus' henchmen, saving the three Panthers. Donnie returns the diamond, and the mafia spares their lives. The Panthers celebrate in Italy, but the French authorities arrest the crew. Nick is revealed to have ratted the crew out during his previous encounter with Hugo, but feels guilt at snitching on his newfound friends. Later, Donnie, in prison, confronts Nick, who admits his dual nature, but shares that their friendship was real before hinting at a potential escape. During Donnie's transport to another facility, the mafia ambushes the convoy, kidnapping him. The Octopus recruits Donnie to work for him, impressed by his skills. Nick, having assisted the mafia in rescuing Donnie, receives a thankful text message from him, before he drives along the coastline. Cast
ProductionAfter the release of Den of Thieves in 2018, development of a sequel was in the works with plans for Christian Gudegast to return as director and writer, as well as for Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. to return and reprise their roles.[6] The film was originally slated to begin filming in 2022.[9][10] Principal photography took place from April to July 2023 in the United Kingdom and the Canary Islands.[8][7] The production transformed several aspects of the main streets in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the shoot, such as building up a police station and jewelry store and setting up a local bar to appear French.[11] Kevin Matley has composed the film score, replacing Cliff Martinez from the previous film. Lionsgate Records has released the soundtrack, coinciding with the film's release date. ReleaseOriginally set to be distributed by STX Entertainment, as with the first film, Briarcliff Entertainment purchased the film for distribution in the United States in May 2023 with Sierra/Affinity handling international sales of the film with a wide theatrical release being planned in the United States for late 2024.[12] However, in May 2024, Lionsgate was announced to have distribution rights as part of their acquisition of financiers Entertainment One (later rebranded to Lionsgate Canada) from Hasbro in December 2023, with the film released in the United States on January 10, 2025.[13] ReceptionBox officeAs of January 22, 2025[update], Den of Thieves 2: Pantera has grossed $28.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $6.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $35.2 million.[3][1] In the United States and Canada, Pantera was released alongside Better Man, and was projected to gross $11–13 million from 3,008 theaters in its opening weekend.[2] The film made $6 million on its first day, including an estimated $1.35 million from Thursday night previews.[14] It went on to slightly overperform and debut to $15 million, topping the box office and nearly matching the first film's $15.2 million opening, which Deadline Hollywood attributed to the choice of release date.[15][16] In its second weekend the film made $6.6 million (a drop of 56.1%), finishing in fifth.[17] Critical responseOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 61% of 77 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Pantera trades the original Den of Thieves' self-seriousness for a more winking lightheartedness that doesn't entirely smooth over its familiarity but ought to satisfy those hankering for absolute Dad Cinema."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 60 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[19] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, same as the first film, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a 72% overall positive score.[15] In a positive review for Variety, Owen Gleiberman preferred Den of Thieves 2 to its predecessor, calling the sequel "smoother and more all of a piece". [20] He also praised Butler's charisma in the lead role, and he opined that the films "could turn out to be Butler’s most rock-solid franchise". Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com awarded the movie 3 out of 4 stars.[21] Tallerico liked the action sequences, describing them as "realistically metallic instead of that CGI cartoon nature that we so often see in films like this one". Robert Daniels of The New York Times also praised the set pieces, while describing the plot as "convoluted".[22] In a negative review for Rolling Stone, David Fear criticized the film as containing "some clumsy buddy-comedy elements and a lot of action-movie hot air".[23] FutureIn January 2025, Butler confirmed plans to make a third film, saying "I will not wait anymore" and taking partial blame for the seven-year gap between films.[24] Gudegast said a potential third film depended on the success of the second installment;[25] and the studio had received a pitch for the potential project.[26] Later that month, Gudegast stated that the script for the third installment had been completed, also announcing that there are plans for at least two additional sequels to follow thereafter. Each film would take place in different parts of the world, beginning with Africa in the third movie, followed by the other planned installments in Brazil and South East Asia, with each being based on real-life heists. The studio plans to begin production on the third installment before 2027.[27] References
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