Lionsgate’s fortunes appear to be turning around with the release of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, the sequel to the 2018 heist thriller Den of Thieves. The film has given the studio a strong start to 2025, following a challenging period marked by underwhelming releases. In contrast, the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, featuring a CGI depiction of the pop star as a monkey, has struggled to find an audience in its wider release.

Lionsgate’s 2024 Struggles

The latter half of 2024 proved difficult for Lionsgate, as several high-profile films, including White Bird, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, The Crow, Borderlands, and The Killer’s Game, failed to meet expectations at the box office. While the holiday release The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (November 2024) managed to break even, the studio has been without a major blockbuster hit for over a year.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Opens Strong

As reported by Deadline, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is projected to earn $15 million during its domestic opening weekend. This result closely mirrors the $15.2 million debut of the original film in 2018 and places the sequel at the top of the box office. It outpaces competitors such as Mufasa and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, both of which premiered on 20 December 2024 and have been vying for the number-one spot since.

The success of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera represents a significant achievement for Lionsgate, marking their first number-one debut since The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in November 2023.

Better Man Fails to Resonate

On the other hand, Better Man has failed to make an impression on North American audiences. Projections indicate the biopic will earn just $1 million over the weekend, leaving it unlikely to crack the domestic top five and potentially struggling to even reach the top ten.

Global Prospects for Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

The sequel reunites Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. under the direction of Christian Gudegast. With strong early reception, the film has the potential to achieve global box office figures comparable to its predecessor. Current projections suggest the sequel could reach $80 million worldwide, doubling its $40 million production budget. While this may not translate to immediate theatrical profitability, revenue from video-on-demand and streaming sales is expected to bolster its overall commercial success.

Lionsgate’s 2025 Outlook

Despite a lacklustre 2024, Lionsgate’s future may not be as bleak as box office returns alone suggest. For many of its underperforming titles, the studio only shouldered distribution costs, while high-budget projects like Borderlands were significantly financed through international licensing agreements.

Looking ahead, Lionsgate’s upcoming slate includes several promising titles, such as the Mark Wahlberg-led Flight Risk, the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, and highly anticipated sequels like Saw XI and Now You See Me 3. These films have the potential to secure multiple number-one openings, further stabilising the studio’s position.

A Quiet Runway for Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera also benefits from a favourable release window, facing minimal competition from major blockbusters. Its primary rival during its second weekend will be Blumhouse’s Wolf Man remake, with no significant competition until Captain America: Brave New World arrives on 14 February. This relatively quiet box office landscape allows the film ample opportunity to maintain strong audience interest well into early 2025.

While Better Man struggles to find its footing, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera has set the tone for what could be a much brighter year for Lionsgate.