Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is the 2025 sequel to the 2018 heist thriller “Den of Thieves.” Directed by Christian Gudegast, the film sees Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. reprising their roles as “Big Nick” O’Brien and Donnie Wilson, respectively.
The narrative picks up with Donnie Wilson in Antwerp, Belgium, where he joins the Panther Crew, led by Jovanna, to steal a red diamond and sensitive files from an airport hangar. Disguised as SWAT officers, they successfully execute the heist. Meanwhile, in Long Beach, California, Deputy Sheriff Nick O’Brien, recently divorced and on leave from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, learns from Holly, Merrimen’s former girlfriend, that the money from the previous Federal Reserve heist is stored in a Panamanian bank. She pressures Nick to retrieve Merrimen’s share, threatening to expose their affair otherwise.
The Panthers set their sights on a new target: a diamond vault at the World Diamond Center in Nice, France. Donnie infiltrates the bank by posing as an executive, while Nick, having confirmed Donnie’s involvement through local authorities, forces his way into the crew. Jovanna introduces Nick to Chava, the vault manager’s wife and their inside contact. Complicating matters, the Calabrian mafia, angered by the theft of the red diamond, plans retaliation.
During a club outing, tensions rise when Nick’s flirtation with Jovanna leads to a brawl with her ex-boyfriend Marko and his associate Vuk. Subsequently, Nick and Donnie are kidnapped by the mafia, who demand the return of the diamond to their leader, known as the Octopus. After their release, Nick secretly collaborates with Detective Hugo of the local task force, ultimately betraying the Panthers by informing the authorities of their plans.
The heist unfolds with meticulous planning as the crew infiltrates the vault, secures the diamond and cash, and attempts to escape. However, their getaway is thwarted by Marko and Vuk’s rival gang, the Tigers, resulting in a violent confrontation. Nick and Slavko are wounded, and just as their execution seems imminent, the Octopus’s men intervene, eliminating the Tigers and retrieving the diamond. The mafia spares the Panthers and provides them with a vehicle to continue their escape.
In Italy, the Panthers’ celebration is short-lived as French authorities arrest the crew, including their leader, Slobodan. Nick’s betrayal is revealed, but he expresses guilt over deceiving his newfound friends. Later, Donnie is rescued from prison transport by the mafia, who are impressed by his skills and recruit him for future jobs. The film concludes with Nick receiving a cryptic message from Donnie, hinting at further adventures and blurring the lines between law enforcement and criminality.
