“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,“ one of the most anticipated films of 2025, doesn’t care that it’s ripping off Michael Mann again. The 2018 film, which commentators noted was a knock-off of “Heat,” featured electrifying heists and a cat-and-mouse game of a robber and cop who seem quite similar.
Sheriff Big Nick O’Brien (Gerard Butler) and master thief Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) team up in this film after being on different sides of the law in the original. But the latest entry in the “Den of Thieves” franchise provides audiences with more of the same. More insane and stupid dialogue! More blatant references to awesome action movies! More well-directed heist scenes! More! More! More!
Neither film stands above the other, but this sequel adds a tinge of another of Mann’s great works — 2006’s “Miami Vice” — and plenty of the buddy criminal humor from the 1988 classic “Midnight Run.” If director Christopher Gudegast and characters are involved in numerous ridiculous sequels, I’ll be content for years to come.
Gerard Butler dials up Big Nick even more
What made the original “Den of Thieves” such a distinct experience was Butler’s over-the-top performance. From eating a donut off the ground of a bloody crime scene to yelling obscenities at the thieves he’s trying to catch inside a Benihana, Big Nick never holds back.
In “Den of Thieves 2,” Nick, who officially has divorced his wife, has even greasier hair than before, sleeps in his car and uses a fake U.S. Marshall badge to track down Donnie. Once he joins Donnie and his new European crew, the Panthers, Big Nick gets crazier. He smokes hashish with Donnie before screaming vulgarities about NATO at a party near the bank where he’s going to commit a heist.
Butler acts as extreme as he can in nearly any scene, much of it to a very comedic effect. Subtlety isn’t present in this film, nor do I necessarily want that. If there’s any phrase to describe Big Nick, it’s this: indifferent meathead.
Nick’s behavior reflects the franchise’s attitude in how it makes a modern action movie. These films completely crib from better action films and don’t bother to be original. I mean, the operatives in the opening heist have the codename “Ronin” from the classic 1998 John Frankenheimer film. It’s not exactly a skillful allusion.
The “Den of Thieves” franchise has an attitude of not giving a hoot about how things are done. So why should its star and lead protagonist care?
The heist sequences remain great despite movie’s cliches
“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” doesn’t do much to enrich or bring complexity to Big Nick or Donnie. It adds traumatic and cliche backstories that make the two a cop and robber, respectively. For example, Donnie lost his father and wanted to provide for his family by committing heists.
However, once Gudegast directs chase sequences and heist scenes, we find what makes the film a true joy to watch.
Similar to the first film, the sequel builds up to a grand heist at a seemingly impenetrable vault. In this case, it’s the World Diamond Center in Nice, France. Once Donnie, Nick and the crew start their heist, Gudegast brilliantly uses the camera to create tension at all times.
During the robbery sequence at the Diamond Center, Gudegast establishes space between the thieves and the potential threats inside the building. Gudegast cuts back and forth between the thieves and a security camera from various angles. By shooting the security camera at a high angle and the thieves at a low angle, there is inherent tension.
Scenes like these make both “Den of Thieves” films engaging and exciting. For all of the ridiculousness in both movies, they have extremely well-made heist sequences.
Is “Den of Thieves” the next great action franchise?
The endings of both the first and second films of the franchise set up a sequel. However, there is a seven-year gap between the releases of “Den of Thieves” and “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.” Gudegast, in an interview with Screen Rant, attributed the long time between films to “the state of the world.” These world-altering events include the COVID-19 pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine and an actor injury.
But (hopefully) without another major world event that screws up Hollywood, the “Den of Thieves” franchise can continue without a hitch. Indeed, Gudegast confirmed that a third film is ready to go. You don’t even need that confirmation, as the ending of “Den of Thieves 2” has a similar (although predictable) twist that sets up a sequel.
While the second film doesn’t entirely flesh out Donnie and Big Nick, it expands on their friendship. The scene where they booze and party together is delightful. When they get high and ride on scooters in France, this franchise is truly distinct. Could you imagine “Fast and Furious” doing this?
Additionally, with such stylized and tension-inducing direction from Gudegast, it’ll be interesting to see where “Den of Thieves” goes. Critics have noted that if the first film holds similarity to “Heat,” then “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is like “Miami Vice.” The 2006 Mann film and this heist sequel both feature criminals with heightened tech, morally gray authority figures, various criminal organizations in tandem and a handheld-shot shootout.
With such abrasively obvious homages to Mann movies that I love, it’ll be interesting to see what Gudegast cribs from next. “Ferrari”? “Public Enemies”? “Blackhat’? And to be clear, I mean this in the most complimentary way possible.
Final thoughts
“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” really puts all of its cards on the table. Everyone involved in the film knows it’s going to be another trashy, well-executed action movie. No more, no less. It’s up to the audience members to determine whether they find this approach enjoyable or not.
While I watched the film in a mildly packed theater on a Tuesday night, there were plenty of laughs and thrills from the audience members. So, as a massive fan of stylized action movies, this “Den of Thieves” sequel delighted me and kept me engaged even though it went for two hours and 20 minutes. That’s a true testament to Gudegast, Jackson Jr. and mostly Butler. I’ll always be there for Big Nick.