Den of Thieves 2 opens at No. 1 as 'Better Man' flops
- Lionsgate's 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' opened at No. 1, grossing $15.5 million despite a slow box office weekend.
- The film's debut was affected by the closure of approximately ten theaters in Los Angeles due to wildfires.
- 'Better Man,' based on Robbie Williams, underperformed at the box office, securing only $1.1 million.
In the United States, on January 12, 2025, Lionsgate's latest film, a sequel to the heist thriller 'Den of Thieves,' debuted amidst a notably quiet weekend in theaters as Hollywood's focus was on ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. The film 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' premiered at the top of the box office, earning approximately $15.5 million across 3,008 North American theaters. This debut came during a traditionally slow mid-January period, further impacted by the shutdown of about ten theaters in the Los Angeles area due to the wildfires. The film follows in the footsteps of the original 2018 installment, which, despite being released seven years prior, garnered a similar opening of $15.2 million. The sequel, produced with a budget of $40 million, represents Lionsgate's first No. 1 opening since 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' in November 2023. With returning themes from the original film, 'Den of Thieves 2' stars Gerard Butler alongside co-star O'Shea Jackson Jr. and aims to attract fans of the heist genre. Competing for attention was the film 'Better Man,' inspired by the life of British popstar Robbie Williams. Despite being one of the more imaginative takes on a music biopic where Williams is depicted by a CGI chimpanzee, the film failed to impress, raking in a dismal $1.1 million from 1,291 locations. The negative box office performance of 'Better Man' was notable, especially in contrast to the favorable reviews it received from critics. At the same time, the biggest chunk of box office revenue was captured by ongoing holiday blockbusters, such as Disney's 'Mufasa: The Lion King,' which brought in $13.2 million in its fourth week, boosting its global total to $539.7 million. Other holdover titles like 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' and 'Nosferatu' also continued to perform well, reflecting a mix of audience preferences even amid quieter movie-going conditions in January. Despite the challenges posed by the wildfires, 'Den of Thieves 2' successfully captured public attention and box office revenue, marking a strong start for Lionsgate in the New Year.