Lionsgate’s crime sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, has been released in 3,008 theaters, and it has made a strong start at the box office on its opening day. The film earned $5.8 million, securing the top spot on the domestic box office charts.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated biopic Better Man opened in 1,291 theaters, but only earned $580,000 on its first day. Disney’s Mufasa returned to second place with $2.9 million in earnings. After its fourth week of release, Mufasa has grossed nearly $12 million. Additionally, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is projected to earn $8.6 million, and the horror film Nosferatu is expected to gross $6.3 million in its third week.
Moana 2 continues to perform well, earning $1.2 million, bringing its total domestic gross to $430 million.
Den of Thieves (2018), the first film in the franchise, was also a strong performer, but its sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, has slightly outpaced its predecessor in opening day earnings.
Lionsgate is optimistic about the sequel’s success, as it expects the film to perform well in January, typically a slower month for moviegoing. With a production budget of $40 million, the studio is confident that Den of Thieves 2: Pantera will soon recover its investment.
The film has received a solid response from audiences, with a B+ grade from CinemaScore. In Pantera, Gerard Butler reprises his role as Big Nick, who travels to Europe in search of heist mastermind Donnie (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr.). The film is directed by Christian Gudegast.