'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' Review: A Clever and Enjoyable Heist-thriller With Standout Set-pieces
- Dan Bremner
- May 6
- 4 min read
By Dan Bremner - May 6, 2025
Lawman "Big Nick" O'Brien gets embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves as he pursues career criminal Donnie Wilson to Europe.
I genuinely never thought we'd actually get a sequel to 2018’s Den of Thieves, a mildly successful and reviewed action-thriller which I really grew to love on rewatches after a lukewarm first watch. Somehow, 7 years later my dreams came true and Gerard Butler is back to reprise his best role as “Big” Nick O'Brien. Sadly, due to whatever cowardly reason, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, despite doing well in the US, has been dumped on Amazon Prime here (Much like a lot of Lionsgate releases in the UK that got theatrical runs in the US). Hopefully the recently announced 4K and Director’s Cut of the first film makes its way here at the very least, even if we have to settle for this sequel on streaming.
While I was a bit sceptical about the changing of tones from the sweaty “HEAT via Monster Energy Drink” sleaze of the original to a more playful heist romp, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera mostly works, making for a tense, punchy and enjoyable heist-thriller with some brilliant news character dynamics thrown into the mix. Much like the first film, the action doesn't really kick in until the last stretch, as we spend a lot of time with these characters setting up the robbery and the different elements that intersect. It's all mostly great fun and even if it definitely feels too long for what it is, it does it with style and precision with a mid-budget that feels like a beautiful throwback to sort of films you'd watch on “Channel 5” (The Home of Butler) late at night in the UK.
The twist of Big Nick returning to settle the score with O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Donnie after the events of the previous film, but ends up wanting in on the action is a fantastic character turn, which leads to some surprising turns along the way. I do appreciate how these films take their time with the characters, as a lot of this is Big Nick and Donnie bonding as they plan the heist, getting blasted at a club and doing ecstasy together (Literally admitting their love for each other at one point), getting involved with a pissed off Mafia and saving each others lives.
It's oddly beautiful and leads to a surprisingly heart-breaking finale that just wanted me to see these two guys finally fuck in the most bromantic way possible. Which I hope is the overall plan for the franchise. The Alps city of Nice also makes for a gorgeous location full of character in the busy city alongside the scenic mountain roads which make for a chaotic location for a high-speed chase along the thin and tight swerving roads.
Even with the extended runtime, not too much time is spent with the new crew, which does pale in comparison to the “Merrimen” crew of the first. Seeing the whole crew work together to set-up this heist is done in a stylishly procedural and precise manner, giving the heist plan several clever touches and things I've never seen done before from a well-worn genre. And when it comes to the action, Christian Gudegast once again directs some highly suspenseful set-pieces once the heist goes off track with superb tension and culminates in a pulse-pounding car-chase/shootout that is shot in creative ways and bombastic sound-design to feel grounded, weighty and exciting. I do just generally love the cinematic look of both these films that do elevate the trashy divorced dad material to something that has style and flourish, which Gudegast continues to ace.
I don't say this lightly, but I truly believe Big Nick to be Butler’s best performance, and he continues to prove so here. A ferocious hunter that's an out of shape, chain-smoking alcoholic mess with a greasy beard you can smell through the screen. He's not quite as gross or disgusting here, but there's a bunch of off-the-cuff remarks and sleaze Butler brings to the character, while adding emotional depth to him that makes the character standout. Jackson Jr. is still very solid as Donnie, a near genius heist planner who gets to bounce off Butler in several highlights and does make for a determined and likeable co-lead, even if he's not as fun to watch as Butler. The supporting cast don't match up, but Evin Ahmad adds a seductive presence to the team and Yasen Zates Atour has some decent moments with Butler as the head of the police force hunting Donnie’s team in Nice.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera doesn't have all the sweaty and divorced dad personality of the first film, but it does again excel in delivering a tense, clever and really enjoyable heist-thriller with standout set-pieces and action that Christian Gudegast directs with style. It's a bit too long and has forgettable side characters, but it hits hard where it counts and Gerard Butler continues to give the performance of his life as Big Nick O'Brien.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is streaming on Prime Video
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