Den of Thieves 2: Pantera ★★★

APPARENTLY there were plenty of people wanting a sequel to the action/thriller Den of Thieves.

While I wasn’t one of them, a recent re-watch of the 2018 film reinforced that it was a pretty decent effort with lively characters and some good action set pieces.

In that film Gerard Butler played Los Angeles Sheriff Nick O’Brien who led a crew of cops almost as tough and willing to bend the rules as the gang of bank robbers they were pitted against.

In 2025’s sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Nick is by himself and overseas in pursuit of the unlikely mastermind who got away with all the loot at the end of the first film.

Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jnr) is now part of a sophisticated international gang that is planning a major diamond heist.

There are good locations and performances, along with a couple of good action sequences, particularly during the film’s climax.

But the characters don’t seem as desperate or willing to confront each other as they did in the original.

In particular, in portraying O’Brien, Butler has a difficult task trying to portray conflicting emotions that will keep the audience guessing.

There are already plans for two more films so fans will be happy.

Watched at the cinema.