Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Opens in Theaters

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr., debuted with $1.35 million in Thursday previews, outperforming its predecessor but falling short of other recent releases. It is projected to open between $11 million and $13 million over the weekend, facing competition from Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King. Critics have responded more favorably to the sequel, with Rotten Tomatoes scores reaching 72% and Metacritic at 60, compared to the original's 42% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows Butler's character, Big Nick, as he teams up with Jackson's character for a diamond heist in Europe. Despite a soft box office environment, Lionsgate has hopes for the film's performance, which could lead to a potential third installment if it recoups its $40 million budget. The sequel's positive reception may signal a shift in audience sentiment from the first film, which gained traction through streaming.