‘Den of Thieves: Pantera’ is a Thrilling, Character Driven International Heist Adventure

Den of Thieves: Pantera

★ ★ ★ ½

‘Den of Thieves: Pantera’ is the sequel to the 2018 heist movie where the most successful Los Angeles bank robbery crew attempts to rob a Federal Reserve Bank. Sheriff’s detective Nicholas ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien (Gerard Butler) puts everything on the line, including the lives of his fellow officers, to stop it.

If you haven’t watched the first film, you might want to see it before catching this one. You’ll appreciate the new one, and its characters, more if you do.

We open a few years later where Nick lives in his truck fresh off a divorce that leaves him without custody of his kids. Part of this might be due to his inability to accept the outcome of the Federal Reserve heist and its climatic, bloody street shootout. It’s apparent the divorce has left him broke and his career is in shambles.

O’Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson
© 2025 Lionsgate

While throwing back drinks in a bar, he sees a news report about a diamond heist in Nice, France and suspects it to be the work of a thief that got away in the first film, Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.). He’s unable to get approval or support to go after Donnie, so he decides to go after him on his own.

Nick tracks Donnie down and explains that he’s tired of being a cop and wants in on Donnie’s next heist. He’s so convincing with Donnie, we might also be inclined to believe he’s willing to change careers and embrace a life of crime.

The relationship between Nick and Donnie carries over from where the first film left off, creating a deeper dichotomy between the characters. Do they trust one another? Can they ever?

To the film’s credit, this is a slow-paced heist movie, allowing the chemistry between Nick and Donnie to develop. Their complicated relationship plays out well as we get closer to a tense, climactic heist and dramatic conclusion.

Gerard Butler as Nicholas ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien
© 2025 Lionsgate

That’s not to say the film doesn’t have its action scenes; it certainly does. But they’re well placed throughout the film, and they further the story. That’s quite rare in modern action films.

In many ways, this sequel is better than the first film. Its major weakness is that it has a heavy reliance upon seeing the first film. One might be a little lost in the beginning and miss out on the previously established dynamic between Nick and Donnie.

Even if it doesn’t fully stand on its own, it’s a solid film and worth the price of admission.