Gerard Butler’s ‘Den of Thieves’ is One of the Greatest Action Movies of the Century

Gerard Butler is captivating audiences once more with his latest disaster film, Greenland 2: Migration, demonstrating his talent for intense action roles. He first became well-known for films like 300 and later achieved success with the Olympus Has Fallen series. But Butler’s career isn’t limited to action; he’s also explored other genres, including sci-fi with Gamer, family animation with How to Train Your Dragon, and even romantic comedies like The Ugly Truth. He’s also starred in a compelling, though often overlooked, two-part crime series.

Released in January 2018 – a month often known for less successful films – Den of Thieves surprised audiences with a thrilling and memorable experience. The movie, which feels like Gerard Butler’s version of Heat, is a gritty, action-packed story that explores morally ambiguous characters. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera followed in January 2025, again proving Butler’s ability to deliver a strong sequel, and a third film might be on the way. Despite being one of Butler’s best movies, Den of Thieves remains surprisingly underappreciated.

‘Den of Thieves’ Is Just as Good as ‘Heat’

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Both Heat and Den of Thieves are thrilling crime movies known for their intricate plots, realistic details, and the way they show the similarities between cops and criminals. Den of Thieves, directed and written by Christian Gudegast, delivers intense action and strong characters that rival those in Michael Mann’s Heat. The film centers on Gerard Butler as “Big Nick” O’Brien, leading a special unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Department in a pursuit of a highly skilled team of bank robbers.

Gerard Butler stars as a tough, uncompromising cop – some might even call him dirty – in Den of Thieves. The film follows Donnie Wilson, played by O’Shea Jackson Jr., a thief forced to work with the police. Though it doesn’t quite reach the length of Heat, this 2-hour and 20-minute movie delivers a complex, thrilling heist story filled with twists and turns. Like Heat, it features intense and realistic gunfights, and successfully captures that same gritty feel. Den of Thieves deserves to be considered a crime classic, but is often overlooked as just another January action movie, despite its surprisingly well-developed characters and suspenseful cat-and-mouse game.

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The movie Den of Thieves received praise for Gerard Butler’s powerful and intimidating performance, balanced by Jackson’s surprisingly clever character. Many believe that if released in the 1990s, it would now be considered a classic action film, but despite being a genuinely fun and exciting thriller – one of the best in years – it’s often overlooked. Even though the sequel, Den of Thieves 2, received even better reviews and a third film is planned, this thriller deserves more recognition. You can currently stream Den of Thieves on AMC+, Peacock, and YouTube TV.

2026-01-13 19:19

‘Den of Thieves’ Is Just as Good as ‘Heat’

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