Starting a new cinephile year is always exciting, even knowing that January is far from being a particularly memorable month. In fact, even today, the first month of the year is often dubbed “dump January” precisely because it consists of 31 days studios don’t consider appealing or important for their releases – during this time, the focus is on FYC campaigns for potential Oscar nominees. That said, and since my first watch of 2025 was a sequel to an original film I had never seen before, the year kicked off with a double feature of Den of Thieves (2018) and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.
With no prior knowledge of the narrative premise of either movie and no familiarity with the style of filmmaker Christian Gudegast, who’s the sole responsible for the direction and screenplay of this duology, my first observation about the two films is that they are surprisingly treated in very distinct ways. Both movies focus on an “impossible heist,” following the common formulas of famous heist flicks and drawing inspiration from classics of the genre, but while the original is far more action-packed, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera takes a more passive approach, which comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Starting with the pros: protagonists Nick O’Brien (Gerard Butler) and Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) are given much more screen time to develop their “partnership”. The success of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera heavily depends on the natural chemistry between the two actors, who elevate their basic interactions to a genuinely captivating level. Each character’s motivations are laid bare for all to see but generally speaking, the characters remain quite superficial – Nick’s family, for instance, is barely mentioned, continuing the major personal development gap from the original. At the very least, this time around, Nick has a minimally interesting central arc concerning his morality and sense of justice, creating some suspense about his true loyalty.
The performances of Butler (Plane) and O’Shea (Cocaine Bear) are a step up from the previous installment, largely due to the increased number of scenes featuring the duo. Butler embodies his role so convincingly that it’s hard to imagine another actor playing Nick, while O’Shea delivers a more restrained but effective performance. Once again, the final act is the main highlight, with anticipation for it being even greater this time due to the slower pace and a less eventful narrative.
Gudegast once again demonstrates his eye for filming complex heists with dozens of intricately timed steps, although Den of Thieves 2: Pantera fails to reach the tension levels of its predecessor. The heist has almost no major obstacles, and the feeling that something could go wrong at any moment is nearly nonexistent, given the calmness present in this extended sequence. In summary, beyond the logical coincidences that defy any statistical probability and rationality, everything feels too easy and smooth.
This is why I find the cons of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera somewhat… odd. The sequel is clearly “bigger” – the locations, sets, and camera work evidently stem from a larger budget – but there’s so little intensity and action compared to the original movie that it’s almost contradictory to enjoy the new third act more. Both films have issues with runtime and pacing – unnecessarily long – but the 2018 film has more entertainment layers to keep the audience engaged, despite all its narrative absurdities.
Ultimately, it falters due to a lack of real consequences and a better use of screen time to explore the characters in a more impactful manner. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera ends up stuck in a middle ground that may not be sufficient for some viewers, as it neither creates an innovative, intriguing narrative nor offers exciting action set pieces to distract from the generic story. Personally, it manages to reach “safe harbor,” but the expectations weren’t exactly high either.
Final Thoughts on Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is one of those cases where the ambitions of a sequel fail to surpass the limitations of its execution. While it presents a more immersive audiovisual environment and places greater focus on the relationship between the main characters, the film lacks the intensity and dynamism that made the original a more engaging piece of entertainment. For fans of heist flicks, the slower pacing and more restrained third act may be acceptable, but the hesitation over what kind of heist flick Christian Gudegast wanted to deliver may prove fatal for some. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, nor does it fully commit to action or narrative depth, resulting in a movie that’s, at best, satisfactory but unlikely to be remembered.
Rating: B-
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is now playing in theaters.
Learn more about the film, including how to buy tickets, at the official website for the title.
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