Film Review – Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

January 13th, 2025 | POSTED BY Allen Almachar

Den of Thieves (2018) was a hard boiled, testosterone fueled, cops-and-robbers thriller that had just enough good stuff to make it better than it had any right to be. Sure, we’ve seen plenty of heist films where skilled criminals played a game of cat and mouse against determined police officers. But writer/director Christian Gudegast injected his narrative with a hard edge that kept us locked to the screen. He brings a lot of that back for the sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025). This time, the rugged streets of Los Angeles are replaced with the picturesque locale of Nice, France. Although the sequel doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor, Gudegast once again shows his proficiency and thoughtfulness for the genre.  

I’ll admit – the new environment gives Pantera a sleekness that wasn’t there with the first installment. Part of the original’s charm was its griminess – a kind of dirty, sweaty machismo that made the action more impactful. This time, everything looks like it was pulled out of a postcard with its waterfront views, old buildings, cobblestone streets, expensive sports cars, fancy parties, etc. Thankfully, Gudegast avoids the trap of going bigger and fancier. Based on its elements alone, this could have easily fallen into Fast & Furious or Mission: Impossible levels of silliness (not that that’s a bad thing). But Gudegast understands his franchise isn’t aiming for that tone. Where the first film was clearly giving homage to Michael Mann’s masterpiece, Heat (1995), Pantera calls back to European-set thrillers such as Rififi (1955), Bob le Flambeur (1956), or even Ronin (1998).

One of the big positives is Gudegat’s patience. Instead of being an action-packed spectacle that advertisements would have you believe, this is a much more methodical and drawn-out caper. Yes, we do get plenty of gunplay, car chases, and big set pieces to whet our appetites, but just as much focus is put on the buildup to those moments. The narrative spends a lengthy amount of time going over the intricacies: Where characters will move, how to draw attention away from authorities, and how to make their escape. We’re reintroduced to Big Nick (Gerard Butler), the L.A. officer who – after getting duped by career criminal Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) – heads to Europe to track his adversary down. Surprisingly, once the two encounter one another, Nick doesn’t take Donnie into custody. Instead, he inserts himself into Donnie’s plans to rob his next target, the World Diamond Center. Nick ingratiates himself with Donnie’s partners of international thieves, the aptly named “Panthers.” To make things more complicated, the crew must also deal with the Italian mafia, who are looking for Donnie for their own nefarious purposes.

The biggest leap in terms of believability is the fact that Donnie would ever bring Nick into his crew. Not only that, but Nick is given an undercover identity and is made to be an integral part of the heist. This really stretches the domain of reality to its breaking point. Although this development does add a different twist to character dynamics – where formal rivals must now learn to work together – it takes away from the tension that was established in the first installment. It appears Gudegast is making an earnest attempt to differentiate his story this time around. The choice allows for some interesting interactions. One of the best scenes doesn’t involve action at all, but a conversation between Nick and Donnie while eating shawarma. In a display of vulnerability, the two share their histories and the choices that led them to where they are now. It’s a good moment of character development, bolstered by strong performances by both lead actors.

Big Nick might be the role Gerard Butler was born to play. The sculpted body of 300 (2006) has given way to a pudgy, aged, bushy haired, middle-aged man. I say all this as a compliment. Because his face and body now exhibit age and experience, he has become that much more engaging as a performer. Butler plays Nick as disheveled, weary, and on the edge of a mental breakdown. Through two films, we’ve seen the character battle through a divorce, a possible alcohol dependency, the guilt of not solving his cases, and the dissatisfaction that comes with being a cop. He carries this all on his broad and tired shoulders. But when it’s time to “turn it on,” he quickly snaps back into his old self – smart, calculating, and ready to attack. Butler manages all these various facets without making the character feel like a caricature. Not many actors can prance around on a dance floor in a drunken stupor, yelling out “F&*k NATO!” and then turn around and participate in a high-risk robbery and make it all look reasonable. Butler is one of the few that can. 

Pantera may take its time when it comes to action, but that doesn’t mean it skimps out at delivering well-choreographed set pieces. Gudegast saves all the fireworks for the back half, where Donnie, Nick, and their crew set their plans into motion. The heist and following chase scene are a breathless display of technical skill, with the cinematography (Terry Stacey), editing (Roberth Nordh), music (Kevin Matley) and stunt coordination working in conjunction with one another. What makes these sequences so exciting is that the crew must always adapt to changing circumstances. Things don’t all go the way they’re meant to, and thus characters must utilize quick thinking to get out of a jam. The editing cuts between those that infiltrate the vault, those on look out, the guards, security cameras, and vault employees in a ballet of visual organization. For those that might be shifting in their seats waiting for the action to arrive, I can tell you: it’s worth the wait.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera has its hiccups – some of which are hard to ignore. But it makes up for it with a sturdy, detail-oriented heist, charismatic performances, and captivating action. Christian Gudegast has proven he has the know-how for this type of genre filmmaking, and I wouldn’t mind finding out where Big Nick and Donnie go from here.  

300, Bob le Flambeur, Christian Gudegast, Den of Thieves, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Featured, Gerard Butler, Heat, Kevin Matley, Michael Mann, Mission: Impossible, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Rififi, Roberth Nordh, Terry Stacey