Gerard Butler
has long been a staple of the action genre, and it seems as if he’s only leaned harder into this area of his career over the last decade or so. After becoming a big name due to movies like Reign of Fire (2002) and 300 (2006), Butler appeared in a handful of exciting action flicks, including RocknRolla (2008), Gamer (2009), and Machine Gun Preacher (2011). It was in 2013, however, that Butler’s action hero persona really evolved.
In 2013, Butler starred in Olympus Has Fallen, which could be seen as the start of a new phase of his career. In addition to starring in two sequels to this White House action movie, including London Has Fallen (2016) and Angel Has Fallen (2019), Butler appeared in a mix of action-forward movies that varied quite significantly in quality, including Geostorm (2017), Hunter Killer (2018), Greenland (2020), Copshop (2021), and Plane (2023). There was one 2018 тιтle, however, that really struck a chord with audiences.
A fourth Has Fallen movie called Night Has Fallen is in development, but it doesn’t yet have a release date.
Den Of Thieves Is A Major Streaming Hit Once More
Audiences Are Revisiting The Modern Butler Action Classic
Den of Thieves is experiencing success on streaming seven years after its theatrical release. Directed by Christian Gudegast, the action thriller features Butler starring as “Big Nick” O’Brien, the leader of an elite LAPD task force tracking a team of ex-military bank robbers. Due in part to the standout Den of Thieves ending shootout, the movie was a hit, grossing $80 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Though it didn’t fare especially well with critics, it connected with audiences and also became a major streaming success after its theatrical run.
Now, new data from Reelgood reveals that Den of Thieves ranks as the ninth most popular movie on streaming in the U.S. for the week of January 2 – 8. The movie’s resurgence in popularity can likely be attributed to the release of the sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which features the return of Butler O’Shea Jackson Jr. On streaming, the 2018 original, which is available on Max, beats The Six Triple Eight (2024), but falls short of Challengers (2024), Emilia Pérez (2024), and, in the top spot, The Substance (2024). Check out the full top 10 below:
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Reelgood Top 10 Streaming Movies List (Jan. 2 – 8) |
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|---|---|
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1 |
The Substance |
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2 |
Conclave |
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3 |
Juror #2 |
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4 |
Nightbitch |
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5 |
Carry-On |
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6 |
The Fall Guy |
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7 |
Emilia Pérez |
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8 |
Challengers |
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9 |
Den of Thieves |
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10 |
The Six Triple Eight |
What Den Of Thieves’ Streaming Success Means For The Sequel
Will Pantera Be A Hit?
Den of Thieves has only a 41% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the audience score is somewhat lukewarm at 63%. The movie, however, ended up striking a chord on streaming, and its reputation has only grown in the 7 years since its release. The fact that the original movie has become a viewership hit on streaming could indicate that excitement is high for the sequel.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera has debuted to a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes, beating the original.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera reviews have, so far, been more positive than those for the original, and Butler could end up with a hit on his hands if audiences show up at the theater. If the sequel ends up being a hit, a third movie could get the green light, giving Butler another Has Fallen-type franchise and further cementing his power as a leading man in the mid-budget action space.
Will There Be A Den Of Thieves 3?
What Butler Has Said About A Third Movie
Pantera has only just hit theaters, but, already, Butler and Gudegast have been open about their desire to continue the franchise with a potential Den of Thieves 3. Speaking to ScreenRant, Gudegast made clear that, with the second movie, they’re “building a franchise,” and that there’s “so much left to do” with characters like Big Nick and Donnie.
There is a gap of about 7 years between the first two Den of Thieves movies, but the star told ScreenRant that “it’s not going to take that long” to get a third movie off the ground.
Butler has also shared his thoughts about the franchise’s future, confirming that if another movie does get the green light, it won’t take so long to come to fruition. There is a gap of about 7 years between the first two Den of Thieves movies, but the star told ScreenRant that “it’s not going to take that long” to get a third movie off the ground. He also shoulders some of the blame for the lengthy wait time for the sequel. Even with optimism from Butler and Gudegast, though, a third movie isn’t guaranteed.
The key factor that will determine whether Den of Thieves 3 happens will be how Pantera performs at the box office. It’s not clear what the sequel’s budget is, but it’s probably in the same ballpark as the original. If the budget is about $30 million, Pantera is probably looking at a break-even point of $60 million to $75 million, meaning it could be considered a success if it ends up doing about the same business as the original did.
Our Take On Den Of Thieves’ Streaming Success
The Butler Action Thriller Has A Lot To Appreciate
Den of Thieves may not break any major ground when it comes to action movies, but it is a lot of fun and it features some thrilling sequences. The dynamic between Butler and Pablo Schreiber, who plays Ray Merrimen, is also a major highlight. Though the franchise’s future remains up in the air, it’s clear that audiences are enjoying revisiting Den of Thieves before checking out Big Nick’s action-packed return.
Source: Reelgood
