Owen Gleiberman of Variety calls Den of Thieves 2: Pantera a satisfying impersonation of a high-end crime film, saying that Gerard Butler is good enough to lift “a piece of pulp so it almost seems like a real movie.” The critic continues:

Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. are back in "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" for more white-knuckled heist action. The sequel puts Big Nick back on the path of Donnie, who has managed to get embroiled in the world of international diamond theft.

Butler's brusque, beady-eyed, scowling-hulk charisma has aged well. A quick-fire actor in a caveman's body, he has the ability to lift a piece of pulp so that it almost seems like a real movie.