Gerard Butlermight just have a new franchise on his hands, with this week’sDen of Thieves 2: Panteraessentially repeating the first film’s numbersin its box office debut. The heist movie arrives six years after the originalDen of Thieves, and is being distributed domestically by the struggling Lionsgate. It delivered the studio’s first number one debut since 2023’sThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, ending a dry spell that lasted well over a year. Directed byChristian Gudegast, who also helmed the first film,Den of Thieves 2earned mixed reviews, but Butler’s fans seemed to show up nonetheless.
With $15 million domestically and another $5 million from overseas markets,Den of Thieves 2’sglobal box office haul currently stands at $20 million. By comparison, last year’sThe Beekeeper, starringJason Statham, made roughly the same amount domestically, but earned around $40 million worldwide in its debut weekend. This difference could be attributed to a number of factors, but there’s no denying that Statham remains a huge draw overseas, and is essentially a genre unto himself. Butler needs a new franchise to headline, with hisHas Fallenseries currently in limbo. He starred in three of those films, which generated a combined total of over $500 million worldwide. In 2023, he quietly led the filmPlaneto a $74 million global haul.
Butler has headlined several action movies over the years, but the firstDen of Thievesfilm became a runaway hit, grossing $80 million worldwide against a reported budget of $30 million. Since then, it has developed a cult reputation online, with comparisons being drawn toMichael Mann’sHeat. The movie has settled at a 41% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. By comparison,Den of Thieves 2currently holds a “rotten” 58% score, although its audience rating stands at a far more positive 78%. Both films earned B+ CinemaScores from opening day audiences.
Can ‘Den of Thieves 2’ Keep the Franchise Running?
In his review, Collider’sMatthew Donatodescribed the film as “marginally stale” and its 144-minute run-time as “exhausting.” Produced ona reported budget of $40 million,Den of Thieves 2takes the action to Europe, and brings backO’Shea Jackson Jr.in a supporting role. The movie also featuresEvin Ahmad,Salvatore Esposito,Meadow Williams,Swen Temmel,Michael Bispingand others.
You can watchDen of Thieves 2in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
In the thrilling sequel, Big Nick pursues Donnie across Europe, entangled in the perilous realm of diamond thieves and the notorious Panther mafia. As tensions rise, they confront the formidable challenges of a colossal heist targeting the world’s largest diamond exchange, setting off an intense battle of wits and resources.
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