During my high school years, I worked at a small, independently owned video rental store — the kind of place where the shelves were packed tight with everything from Hollywood blockbusters to obscure indie films, and the scent of plastic cases and tanning bed lotions filled the air. While countless movies passed through my hands, only a few ever truly stuck with me.
One that I distinctly remember, though not for the usual reasons, was Heat, Michael Mann’s crime drama. I took it home one night, expecting something unforgettable, only to find that, while well-made, it didn’t leave much of a lasting impression on me.
Back in 2018, I gave Den of Thieves a watch after hearing plenty of hype from my friends. But like so many action thrillers, it turned out to be one of those movies that was entertaining in the moment, yet entirely forgettable afterward. What did stand out, though, was the overwhelming sense of déjà vu — I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was watching a beat-for-beat reimagining of Heat, just without the same impact.
That brings me to today’s review: Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Picking up sometime after the events of the first film, we find Donnie Wilson (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr.) now working with a new crew, preparing for an ambitious diamond heist in France. Meanwhile, the relentless Deputy Nick O’Brien (Gerard Butler) has pieced together the truth — that Donnie was the real mastermind behind the heists from the first movie. Determined to get ahead of the game, Nick tracks Donnie down, but instead of arresting him, he makes an unexpected offer: he wants in on the job.
With little choice but to accept, Donnie reluctantly brings Nick into his crew, introducing him to the rest of the Panthers — a team consisting of Marko (Dino Kelly), Vuk (Velibor Topić) and Jovanna (Evin Ahmad). But as the heist approaches, tensions rise, and it’s only a matter of time before loyalties are tested and the real game of deception begins.
While Den of Thieves (2018) felt like a direct, albeit less refined, homage to Heat, its sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, leans more into the territory of a heist caper — though not quite with the same style or wit. This time around, the film trades the gritty, street-level crime drama for a globe-trotting plot filled with elaborate schemes and double-crosses, giving it the feel of a watered-down Ocean’s Eleven.
However, where Ocean’s thrived on slick execution, charismatic performances and tight storytelling, Pantera struggles to maintain that same charm, often feeling like it’s trying too hard to be clever without fully pulling it off.
The result is a film that mimics the structure of a sophisticated heist movie but lacks the finesse to make it truly engaging.
The film also struggles with pacing, particularly when it comes to character dynamics. The relationship between Nick and Donnie, which should be built on tension and mistrust, instead feels rushed and unnatural. In the first film, they were bitter enemies — Nick relentlessly pursued Donnie, determined to take him down. Yet in Pantera, they form an alliance almost instantly, going from adversaries to partners in a matter of hours.
Somehow, Donnie trusts Nick — not just with his life, but with his biggest score yet. It’s a leap that feels unearned, making their newfound “brotherhood” difficult to buy into. Could crucial character development have been left on the cutting room floor? I certainly hope so, because what made it to the screen feels jarringly fast and undercooked.
Before the big heist even kicks off, we’re introduced to a handful of new villains, but they all share the same generic motives, and Nick and Donnie deal with them in nearly identical ways. The result is a repetitive cycle — one set of bad guys gets taken out, only for another to appear moments later, making the film feel like it’s stuck on repeat. This kind of déjà vu is fine when spread across different movies, but when it happens within minutes of the same film, it quickly becomes tedious.
I found myself wanting to fast-forward just to get to the final act — only to realize, to my dismay, that it wasn’t actually the final act. Even after the heist is over, Pantera drags on with an extended epilogue that feels more like an afterthought than a compelling setup for a third installment. While I understand the need to lay the groundwork for another sequel, the execution here stretches the film beyond its limits, making me wish it had wrapped up much sooner.
Fans of action movies will find plenty to enjoy in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Director Christian Gudegast clearly understands the genre’s demands and doesn’t hold back when it comes to delivering adrenaline-pumping moments. From high-speed car chases to intense shootouts and explosive set pieces, the film is packed with the kind of pulse-pounding action that keeps audiences engaged. The cinematography and staging effectively capture the grit and chaos of a high-stakes crime thriller, ensuring that when the action hits, it hits hard.
While the story may have its flaws, Pantera at least looks and feels like the crime drama it’s trying to be, delivering some truly edge-of-your-seat sequences that will satisfy fans of the genre.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera earns a solid three out of five stars. For adrenaline junkies, this film certainly delivers, with plenty of high-octane action, from thrilling car chases to explosive shootouts that will keep your heart racing. Gudegast knows how to keep the action flowing and doesn’t shy away from intense sequences that give the film the look and feel of a gritty crime drama. However, once you take a step back and try to make sense of the plot, the cracks begin to show.
The rushed character dynamics, repetitive villain encounters and sluggish pacing ultimately detract from the overall experience. While the action sequences may keep you hooked in the moment, Pantera starts to lose its luster when you consider the film as a whole. If you’re here for the thrills, you’ll get your fill — but don’t expect a film that sticks with you after the credits roll.
Still, it did make me think of other films, like Heat and Ocean’s Eleven… for all the wrong reasons. Now I want to revisit those films, simply to see what happens when the plot and the action actually work together.