Pantera Dominated The Field Workplace

January is a traditionally gradual month on the field workplace. Except for awards season motion pictures increasing into wider launch, there normally aren’t too many huge movies to attract sizable crowds. In fact, that may open the door for the occasional underdog to win the day. Working example, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is the primary new hit of 2025, because the sequel topped the charts this previous weekend. Gerard Butler’s Large Nick and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Donnie nonetheless have the juice, it seems.

The sequel, which was written and directed by Christian Gudegast, opened to $15.5 million domestically, primarily matching the opening of the unique “Den of Thieves” ($15.2 million). That is a fairly spectacular viewers retention, contemplating that the primary movie reached theaters in 2018, a full seven years in the past. That was additionally a really totally different time for the business, pre-pandemic. Therefore, it is good to see {that a} mid-budget motion flick similar to this may nonetheless draw a crowd. Good factor “Den of Thieves” did not change into a TV present as a substitute, which it virtually did.

That is additionally a much-needed win for Lionsgate, because the studio was in fairly tough form heading into the 12 months. 2024 was Lionsgate’s worst-ever 12 months on the field workplace, with the likes of “The Crow,” “By no means Let Go,” “The Killers Recreation,” and “Borderlands” (amongst others) all bombing in theaters. To say that this win was welcome for the studio could be a dramatic understatement.

So, what went proper right here? What allowed “Den of Thieves 2” to overcome the likes of “Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3?” We’ll go over the most important the explanation why this sequel was a winner on the field workplace. Let’s get into it.

As talked about, there was an unusually lengthy hole between the primary “Den of Thieves” and “Pantera.” There are numerous causes for that, such because the collapse of STX, the studio that distributed the primary movie. Let’s not overlook the pandemic that upended Hollywood in 2020, one thing that the business remains to be recovering from in some ways. In any occasion, the hole between installments might have truly labored to the advantage of the sequel, on this case.

“Den of Thieves” was successful in its day, taking in $80.5 million worldwide. Extra importantly, it has remained successful due to common rotation on streaming and VOD (to not point out the Walmart low cost DVD bin). To that finish, “Den of Thieves” just lately climbed to the highest of the charts on Max forward of the theatrical launch of the sequel. The purpose is, the viewers for the unique movie has solely grown within the years because it opened in theaters. That undoubtedly benefited Lionsgate right here, and may profit the studio much more sooner or later, assuming it needs to make extra of those heist flicks.

All due respect, however “Den of Thieves 2” just isn’t precisely a important darling. It at the moment carries a 57% approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics largely combined on the movie. That mentioned, audiences dig it, which is much extra vital. It holds a 79% viewers ranking to go along with a strong B+ CinemaScore. For a not-so-short R-rated heist film with none out-and-out A-list film stars, that is fairly dang good. It was additionally sufficient to offer this one the phrase of mouth it wanted amongst potential ticket consumers.

The sequel sees Large Nick (Butler) on the hunt in Europe, closing in on Donnie (Jackson) after the occasions of the primary movie. Donnie is now steeped on the planet of diamond thieves and the notorious Panther mafia. As an unlikely alliance types, they plot a large heist of the world’s largest diamond alternate. /Movie’s Chris Evangelista gave “Den of Thieves 2” a 7 out of 10 overview, calling it a “triumph of dudes rock cinema.” Audiences appear to agree to this point.

As alluded to beforehand, January just isn’t normally an enormous month for theaters. Each from time to time, you will get an outright blockbuster like “Unhealthy Boys for Life” that turns into an enormous hit, however that is extra the exception relatively than the rule. That being the case, the trail was just about clear for “Den of Thieves 2” to take the crown on the home field workplace as a result of, frankly, there was nothing standing in its method.

“Mufasa” and “Sonic 3” have already been in theaters for 4 weeks and have grossed the lion’s share of the cash they’ll make. Likewise, “Depraved” and “Moana 2” have been in theaters for happening two months. Even Christmas hits similar to “Nosferatu” and “Babygirl” have already got three weekends within the books. To not point out, “Den of Thieves 2” is the one main launch focused straight on the motion crowd proper now, which implies that sure viewers members have been downright prepared for a movie like this. It was the suitable film on the proper time, plain and easy.

Though this film would not have any enormous stars in it, we should always put a bit of respect on Butler’s title. He is not Tom Cruise or Will Smith by any means, however in the suitable venture, he is an excellent field workplace wager. He actually helped make the primary “Den of Thieves” successful, there is no query about that. Butler was additionally a significant asset to a few of his largest successes, together with “300” and the “Learn how to Practice Your Dragon” movies. Lately, he is been a mid-budget maven; even his considerably modest hit “Greenland” is now getting a sequel.

Put merely, the person, in the suitable film, is a star. No person bats 1,000, clearly, and Butler is not resistant to misfiring, like when he starred in 2023’s “Kandahar” (which was a fairly sizable field workplace flop). Except for that, nonetheless, Butler has confirmed time and time once more he is nonetheless acquired juice within the tank and might help flip one thing right into a theatrical hit. On this case, he might effectively have helped delivery a brand new, ongoing franchise for Lionsgate, a studio that tends to benefit from what it has. (See additionally: “Noticed,” “The Starvation Video games,” “Twilight.”) It is aware of find out how to squeeze each drop out of a property it could actually get. Butler can merely assist the studio squeeze a bit of bit additional out of this one.

The most important factor right here is that “Den of Thieves 2” is correct in Lionsgate’s wheelhouse. Because the studio has finished many instances up to now, it has now turned a mid-budget film into successful and, very probably, an ongoing franchise. “Den of Thieves 3” has already been teed up properly and, if “Den of Thieves 2” does effectively abroad, it’s going to virtually actually get made. That is what Lionsgate does greatest. On the flipside, when it strikes away from this kind of film, issues are likely to go badly.

Between “John Wick,” “Knives Out,” and quite a few different success tales, Lionsgate has confirmed it may be the king of the mid-budget film in trendy Hollywood. The success of this sequel solely additional fuels that fireplace. Nevertheless, when the studio makes big-budget stuff like “Energy Rangers,” “Moonfall,” “Robin Hood,” or “Borderlands,” issues are likely to go badly. That is the sandbox Lionsgate needs to be enjoying in as a result of it is demonstrated time and time once more that it is aware of find out how to promote these motion pictures to the general public. This was a case of the suitable studio with the suitable piece of IP.

“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is in theaters now.