Den of Thieves 2: Panterawas meant to be the first of two successful action sequels for Gerard Butler in 2025. In addition to reprising his role as Stoick in the live-actionHow To Train Your Dragonmovie, the release calendar for various studios aligned so that he would have three new movies this year.Den of Thieves 2is the first of those films. Arriving seven years after the original, there was still reason to believe that the sequel would be a box office hit based on the predecessor’s cult status and a solid opening weekend.
All this pointed to Butler likely having continued success throughout 2025. That’s because Butler has another action movie sequel coming out later this year, with Lionsgate also distributingGreenland: Migration- a sequel to Butler’s 2020 disaster movie. There is still a path forGerard Butler’s 2025 movies to succeedat the box office, but there is more uncertainty about that now. While the live-actionHow To Trian Your Dragonis among2025’s predicted highest-grossing movies, theGreenlandsequel is a bigger risk than previously considered based on recent audience reactions to Butler-led action movies.
Den Of Thieves 2 Hasn’t Been As Big Of A Box Office Hit As Expected
The Sequel Has Started To Fall Behind The Original
AfterDen of Thieves 2’s opening weekend box office, everything looked to be in a good spot for the sequel to have sustained success. It opened at #1 at the domestic box office by making $15 million, surpassing projections but falling just behind the originalDen of Thieves. That was seen as a great start for the heist film as the first movie made $80 million worldwide. However,Den of Thieves 2has only made $40.6 million worldwideas of this writing. $32 million of that total comes domestically, while it only made $8.6 million internationally.
The low international output especially hurtsDen of Thieves 2considering its story and cast went international. There also are not many territories that it has yet to open in, which decreases the likelihood of a strong turnaround in its remaining theatrical run. Furthermore,Den of Thieves 2is about $4.6 million behind the original’s domestic total at the same point. Sequels are expected to do better than their predecessors typically. It’s unlikelyDen of Thieves 2will do that, as it is tracking to make well under $80 million overall.
Gerard Butler’s Greenland: Migration Already Has Uncertain Box Office Potential
Greenland Is A Less Proven Franchise At The Box Office
Den of Thieves 2’s performance could raise concerns within Lionsgate about the prospects ofGreenland: Migrationat the box office. The original movie only made $40 million at the box office, and all of it came internationally.The movie did not receive a theatrical release domesticallydue to the pandemic. AlthoughGreenlanddid great on PVOD, whether that would translate to audiences making the longer time commitment and potentially pricier trip to see the sequel in theaters was unclear from the very beginning.
If the sequel to his hit $80 million movie can barely make half that, how will a sequel to a film everyone watched at home do?
Still, there was likely some belief thatDen of Thieves 2could ultimately be used to help bolsterGreenland: Migration’s box office potential. Both are sequels to Gerard Butler action movies that were more cult hits than mega successes.Den of Thieveshas a stronger box office history as a franchisethanks to the original film’s performance. That’s why the sequel’s underperformance to this point could be troubling forGreenland 2. If the sequel to his hit $80 million movie can barely make half that, how will a sequel to a film everyone watched at home do? Possibly not well.
Why Greenland: Migration Could Be Bigger For Gerard Butler Than Den Of Thieves 2
Greenland: Migration May Have Wider Appeal
There are still reasons to believe thatGreeland: Migrationcan be a bigger hit for Gerard Butler. This film is coming out five years after the original, as opposed to theseven-year wait forDen of Thieves 2.Greenlandcould be fresher in audiences' minds and a world they are more excited about returning to. Whereas audiences may have somewhat forgotten about the enjoyment that came with the firstDen of Thieves, there is a better chance that someone has seenGreenlandon streaming more recently and is interested in a sequel.
There is also the plus ofGreenland: Migrationis likely a PG-13 movie (as the first one was) instead of being rated R likeDen of Thieves 2. That creates wider appeal for the disaster movie sequel, which should help the box office.Greenland: Migrationcould also benefit if it has favorable critic reviews like the first movie did, something that neither of theDen of Thievesmovies achieved. Ultimately, it could depend on when Lionsgate decides to release the film this year and what competition it faces, asDen of Thieves 2: Panteraquickly lost ground to other titles.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Cast
Sheriff “Big Nick” O’Brien tracks Donnie Wilson to Europe after his daring escape. As Donnie becomes deeply involved with diamond thieves and the Panther mafia, the stakes rise with a plan to rob the world’s largest diamond exchange.
