Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is a sequel that goes international. The first film, Den of Thieves, was all about a war between cops and bank robbers throughout California. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is a sequel where the events from the first film leave a trail for unfinished business. With Gerard Butler as Nicholas ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson—they both return to team up. In the first film, Nicholas is the cop trying to capture the bad guys with the help of Donnie (since he is the driver of the bank robbers). Den of Thieves 2: Pantera has the characterizations for forces to join for a new award.

In the film, Nicholas is at odds with his position as a sheriff. He has lots of debts and unfinished business. Donnie has found his way to Europe. He does operations of robbing diamonds under the operation of Jovanna (played by Evin Ahmad). Donnie is putting what he has learned from the first film into his way of making ends meet—robbing items worth fortunes. This time, his work is in Nice, France. Nicholas finds his way to Donnie, and both team up for a heist at one of the most prestigious diamond exchanges. The exchange is under the supervision of the Panther Mafia. They are a brutal gang of wealthy criminals—that is nothing Nicholas or Donnie cannot handle.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera lays out the plans of the heist with a deeper context—there are more stealthy missions of suspense over lethal gunfire (like the first film). There are more infrastructure-related considerations. It is how law enforcement and the layouts of the land and security of France operate. This sequel finds its strategy of going rogue frequently. It is exciting (in fragments) but dull in some as well. The dynamic between the performances of Butler and Jackson Jr. is the component of curiosity. Is Nicholas truly there to help Donnie? Does Donnie realistically know what he is doing?

The film continues in its tracks to keep the momentum of a heist from happening. It just keeps falling to the tracks of political and egotistical. The “egotistic” side comes a lot from Butler’s performance. Overall, it is a thriller that thrives on its motive. It is not excellent, but it excels in good faith. Creativity is up many notches for its audience to cross-examine suspense. However, this is still purely a sequel based on how well the first one did. Its selling tactic is more of the macho man galore with Butler’s performance and witty cop humor. It is a brand of material that is joyful. However, it drags the film’s seriousness.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is a sequel just below average. The film sells with its more low-key suspense. Overall, though, it is purely for the ones who anticipate the shoot-them-up-robbing flick. The only difference is that it is diamonds and being overseas with two-sided attitudes. Two out of four stars.