Gerard Butlerhas long been a staple of the action genre, and it seems as if he’s only leaned harder into this area of his career over the last decade or so. After becoming a big name due to movies likeReign of Fire(2002) and300(2006), Butler appeared in a handful of exciting action flicks, includingRocknRolla(2008),Gamer(2009), andMachine Gun Preacher(2011). It was in 2013, however, thatButler’s action hero personareally evolved.
In 2013, Butler starred inOlympus Has Fallen, which could be seen as the start of a new phase of his career. In addition to starring in two sequels to this White House action movie, includingLondon Has Fallen(2016) andAngel Has Fallen(2019), Butler appeared in a mix of action-forward movies that varied quite significantly in quality, includingGeostorm(2017),Hunter Killer(2018),Greenland(2020),Copshop(2021), andPlane(2023). There was one 2018 title, however, that really struck a chord with audiences.
A fourthHas Fallenmovie calledNight Has Fallenis in development, but it doesn’t yet have a release date.
Den Of Thieves Is A Major Streaming Hit Once More
Audiences Are Revisiting The Modern Butler Action Classic
Den of Thievesis experiencing success on streaming seven years after its theatrical release. Directed by Christian Gudegast,the action thriller features Butler starring as “Big Nick” O’Brien, the leader of an elite LAPD task forcetracking a team of ex-military bank robbers. Due in part to the standoutDen of Thievesendingshootout, the movie was a hit, grossing $80 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Though it didn’t fare especially well with critics, it connected with audiences and also became a major streaming success after its theatrical run.
Gerard Butler’s 10 Best Action Movies, Ranked
Gerard Butler has been in plenty of thrilling action movies over the years. But which of them are the best?
Now, new data fromReelgoodreveals thatDen of Thievesranks as the ninth most popular movie on streaming in the U.S. for the week of January 2 – 8. The movie’s resurgence in popularity can likely be attributed to the release of the sequel,Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which features the return of Butler O’Shea Jackson Jr. On streaming, the 2018 original, which is available on Max, beatsThe Six Triple Eight(2024), but falls short ofChallengers(2024),Emilia Pérez(2024), and, in the top spot,The Substance(2024). Check out the full top 10 below:
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What Den Of Thieves' Streaming Success Means For The Sequel
Will Pantera Be A Hit?
Den of Thieveshas only a 41% critics' score onRotten Tomatoes, and the audience score is somewhat lukewarm at 63%. The movie, however, ended up striking a chord on streaming, andits reputation has only grown in the 7 years since its release. The fact that the original movie has become a viewership hit on streaming could indicate that excitement is high for the sequel.
Den of Thieves 2: Panterahas debuted to a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes, beating the original.
Den of Thieves 2: Panterareviewshave, so far, been more positive than those for the original, and Butler could end up with a hit on his hands if audiences show up at thetheater. If the sequel ends up being a hit, a third movie could get the green light, giving Butler anotherHas Fallen-type franchise and further cementing his power as a leading man in the mid-budget action space.
Will There Be A Den Of Thieves 3?
What Butler Has Said About A Third Movie
Panterahas only just hit theaters, but, already, Butler and Gudegast have been open about their desire to continue the franchise with a potentialDen of Thieves 3. Speaking toScreenRant, Gudegast made clear that, with the second movie, they’re “building a franchise,” and that there’s “so much left to do” with characters like Big Nick and Donnie.
There is a gap of about 7 years between the first twoDen of Thievesmovies, but the star toldScreenRantthat “it’s not going to take that long” to get a third movie off the ground.
Butler has also shared his thoughts about the franchise’s future, confirming thatif another movie does get the green light, it won’t take so long to come to fruition. There is a gap of about 7 years between the first twoDen of Thievesmovies, but thestar toldScreenRantthat “it’s not going to take that long” to get a third movie off the ground. He also shoulders some of the blame for the lengthy wait time for the sequel. Even with optimism from Butler and Gudegast, though, a third movie isn’t guaranteed.
Den Of Thieves 2: What Pantera Means & How It Connects To The Story
The action heist sequel carries a conspicuous subtitle, and it directly relates to the international nature of the heist at the heart of the movie.
The key factor that will determine whetherDen of Thieves 3happens will be howPanteraperforms at the box office. It’s not clear what the sequel’s budget is, but it’s probably in the same ballpark as the original. If the budget is about $30 million,Panterais probably looking at a break-even point of $60 million to $75 million, meaning it could be considered a success if it ends up doing about the same business as the original did.
Our Take On Den Of Thieves' Streaming Success
The Butler Action Thriller Has A Lot To Appreciate
Den of Thievesmay not break any major ground when it comes to action movies, butit is a lot of fun and it features some thrilling sequences. The dynamic between Butler and Pablo Schreiber, who plays Ray Merrimen, is also a major highlight. Though the franchise’s future remains up in the air, it’s clear that audiences are enjoying revisitingDen of Thievesbefore checking out Big Nick’s action-packed return.
Den of Thieves
Cast
Den of Thieves is a gritty crime saga released in 2018, focusing on the intense rivalry between an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a notorious bank robbery crew. The film details their strategic battle as the outlaws aim to accomplish an audacious heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
