DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA is a 2025 action crime drama film written and directed by Christian Gudegast. It is a direct sequel to the 2018 film Den of Thieves (our full review here), which Gudegast also wrote and directed.
Sheriff Big Nick O'Brien (Gerard Butler) continues his relentless pursuit for Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), who manages to escape to Europe and is scheming yet another heist.
The cast includes Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jordan Bridges, Swen Temmel, Elvin Ahmad, Yasen Zates Atour, and Salvatore Esposito.
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA made its debut in theaters January 10th, courtesy of Lionsgate Films.
I have seen Den of Thieves at least 15 times, and it is easily one of my favorite all-around heist thrillers. I was in the theater on opening day back in January 2018, and I bought the Blu-ray as soon as it hit the shelves. For me this is just one of those extremely re-watchable films that I love sharing with others. For some reason Gerard Butler always seems to find himself in some of my favorite action thriller films, with this and Law Abiding Citizen at the top of my list. Making a sequel has been talked about for years now and eventually I got to the point where I did not think it would happen. Thankfully the cinema Gods came through and finally delivered the next film a long 6 years later. So, was it worth the wait?! Keep reading to find out!
I was absolutely ecstatic for DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, and I am happy to report that I left the theater with a smile on my face and the exciting notion that a trilogy is a very real possibility. Now I want to preface by saying that this film is a departure from the original in terms of overall feel and tone. Den of Thieves is more of a gritty heist thriller that relies more on gunfire and intense violence.
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA is a bit more methodical with a slow-burn feel even though it still fits the heist thriller mold. Its hard for me to outright say which movie I enjoyed more just because they are very different, but I can say that I loved them both and each film shines with their unique qualities. This film focuses more on the buildup to the big job so it requires a bit more patience, but I promise you the payoff is well worth it.
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA is on another level with the cinematography thanks to the beautiful European setting, and I was blown away more often than not. The film features some great shots throughout but it really shines during the intense car chase in the final act. At times I was so mesmerized by the sheer beauty of it all that it was almost a distraction from the action unfolding on-screen. A good problem to have, I promise. Back in the heyday of 90’s action movies the quality of a film was often defined by whether or not it had a great car chase, and let me just say that DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA checks that box.
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA continues the great character progression as we get to experience the relationship between Donnie and Big Nick really evolve in a way I personally wasn’t expecting. Big Nick is the ultimate badass with the toughest if exteriors, but the original film showed that he does have an emotional side to him. DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA builds on that and you really get to see another side of him which I thought was great.
The original film concluded with viewers questioning everything they thought they knew about Donnie, so in this film we get to see him in a completely different light. Donnie is incredibly intelligent, confident, resourceful, and in many ways a true chameleon in his chosen field. If Donnie is in the vicinity, you can bank on the fact that something worth stealing is nearby.
The film features more of a buddy comedy vibe between the two leading men which is a different overall tone compared to the original, and I really enjoyed this new direction. Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. have undeniable chemistry which is a big reason why this film works so well, and will likely be the reason why they greenlight a 3rd film. Plus Christian Gudegast has yet again proven his ability to create a certain level of complexity and likability to his characters which keeps audiences guessing, and more importantly wanting more. I personally enjoyed the entire supporting cast, and a well deserved shoutout to actress Evin Ahmad who was fantastic and absolutely gorgeous here.
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA opens with an exciting heist that the rest of the film is connected to similar to the original, but as I said it is more of a slow-burn in comparison. But rest assured, even though the overall feel is a bit different this is still a fantastic heist thriller that kept me on the edge-of-my-seat right up until the final seconds. Also the soundtrack was fantastic as expected, and I personally loved the song that came on in the final seconds of the film which just added to my excitement and need for another Den of Thieves film.
THE VERDICT
A beautifully shot and smartly written follow-up to the gritty 2018 heist thriller, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA succeeds with a more methodical approach and an exhilarating final act. This movie was a blast and one that I can easily recommend, just make sure you check out Den of Thieves first if you haven’t already which is currently available to stream on Max. Fingers crossed we get a 3rd film and it doesn’t take another 6 years.
TED TAKES RATING - 8.3/10
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.