“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 heist thriller, was released on January 10, 2025, under Lionsgate’s distribution. Directed and written by Christian Gudegast, the film had a production budget of $40 million, a modest figure for a high-stakes action movie.
The budget was allocated to extensive international filming, primarily in the United Kingdom and the Canary Islands, where the production team transformed local streets into cinematic settings, including a French police station and jewelry store. The film’s budget also covered its star-studded cast, including Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr., who reprised their roles, and the elaborate action sequences that are a hallmark of the franchise.
The movie opened to a strong start, earning $6 million on its first day, including $1.35 million from Thursday night previews, and is projected to gross $11–13 million in its opening weekend. This performance slightly outpaced the first film’s opening day earnings of $5.6 million in 2018. Despite releasing in the typically slow month of January, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” managed to secure the top spot at the domestic box office, marking Lionsgate’s first No. 1 debut since 2023’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
The film’s success is attributed to its engaging plot, which follows “Big Nick” O’Brien (Gerard Butler) as he tracks down Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) in Europe, and its meticulous heist sequences inspired by real-life events like the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist.
Critics and audiences have responded positively, with the film receiving a CinemaScore of “B+” and a 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While reviews noted its lengthy runtime and familiar tropes, the movie’s detailed heist planning and action-packed sequences resonated with fans of the genre. The film’s success not only highlights the enduring appeal of heist thrillers but also sets the stage for potential future installments in the franchise, with Gerard Butler already hinting at plans for a third film.
