No one might have guessed that a crime-action thriller like Den of Thieves (2018) would get a sequel. Despite its solid commercial success (grossing $80 million globally from a $30 million budget) and decent quality, it wasn’t exactly a film screaming for a follow-up. Yet here we are with Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, still directed and written by Christian Gudegast, and bringing back its lead stars, Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson.
The story picks up some time after the events of the first film. After discovering that Donnie Wilson (Jackson) was the mastermind behind the previous heist, Sheriff Nick (Butler) is still on his trail. A criminal act in Belgium catches Nick’s attention, prompting him to head to Europe. There, he discovers Donnie and his new crew planning to rob the world’s largest diamond vault. Far from his jurisdiction and completely on his own, Nick decides to take an unconventional approach: infiltrate Donnie’s team and join the heist.
Is the sequel hard to follow if you haven’t watched the first film? Not really. The original serves mostly as an introduction to the two main characters. If you skip it, you’ll miss out on some backstory about Nick and Donnie, as well as their respective skill sets, but it won’t hinder your understanding of the sequel.
The biggest issue with Pantera isn’t the characters, but its exhausting runtime (141 minutes). If you’ve seen the trailer, you probably already know the gist of the plot. The trailer is packed with action, showcasing typical heist movie thrills. But as with most trailers, it’s more of a marketing tool than an accurate reflection of the film. The action scenes in this sequel are sparse, limited to the opening sequence and the climactic finale. However, these two sequences are what truly elevate the film. While the finale delivers intense, chaotic thrills, the opening scene is elegantly executed, reminiscent of The Dark Knight’s iconic opening.
So what about the rest of the film? The bulk of the runtime is taken up by the usual heist tropes: recruitment, reconnaissance, planning, preparation, bonding among team members, and so on. These sections drag on for what feels like an eternity, dominated by slow pacing and dialogue-heavy scenes. For about two-thirds of the runtime (80–90 minutes), it’s hard to stay engaged, and your eyelids might start to feel heavy. Things take a dramatic turn for the better in the final act.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera captures the same action-packed and tension-filled essence of its predecessor, particularly in the final third. However, its overly long runtime makes the journey feel exhausting. What sets this sequel apart is its exotic setting in the Canary Islands and the magnetic performances of Butler and Jackson. Their chemistry remains a key strength, and if this film succeeds, we’ll likely see them team up again in the next installment. Butler, in particular, has cemented himself as a reliable action star, consistently delivering in the genre for over a decade.
