Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. are back in “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” four years after their first action-packed heist thriller became a hit. The Lionsgate movie has made $1.35 million in Thursday previews so far at the box office.

With the new European setting, everything is more sleek and professional; which means Den of Thieves 2 lacks a lot of the grit that made the first movie work in the first place.

The dogged cop and wily thief butt heads again in Christian Gudegast's follow-up to his 2018 heist thriller. Imagine the iconic diner sit-down scene between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Michael Mann’s Heat stretched out to feature length and you’ll get some idea of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.

Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson in “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.” Photo courtesy of Lionsgate. Photo Credit: Rico Torres January has never been a month known for quality when it pertains to the yearly cinematic timeline.

This week’s Silver Screen Spotlight takes a look at the films “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera”, which is playing in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, along with the thriller “Babygirl” which is exclusively at the Oakwood Mall.

A heist procedural, a film granular with details about one massive criminal undertaking, elevated by a pair of charismatic leading men in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Gerard Butler recently shared insights about his character’s surprising shift in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. In a recent interview, he explained why Detective Nick O’Brien transitions from cop to criminal.

Pantera throws audiences back into the world of high-stakes heists as unorthodox policeman 'Big Nick' O'Brien (played by Gerard Butler) continues his pursuit of Donnie Wilson (played by O'Shea Jackson Jr.