LOS ANGELES, California – Lionsgate’s latest film, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” has made a strong start at the box office, pulling in $5.8 million on its opening day from 3,008 theaters. This sequel to the original “Den of Thieves” is the studio’s first film to top the domestic charts since “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was released in November 2023.

Despite not showing a significant increase from its predecessor, “Pantera” is expected to have a steady performance throughout the traditionally slow month of January. With a modest $40 million production budget, Lionsgate has a strategy in place to sell foreign rights before the release to help mitigate financial risks. Critics have given the film mixed reviews, but early audiences seem to be enjoying it, giving it a B+ grade on Cinema Score.

Directed by Christian Gudegast, “Pantera” brings back Gerard Butler as Big Nick, a Los Angeles cop on the hunt for a master thief in Europe. The film is a collaboration between Tucker Tooley Entertainment, eOne Features, G-Base, and Diamond Film Productions.

In a weekend marked by the aftermath of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, other films in theaters are also making their mark. “Better Man,” a biopic on Robbie Williams, opened with $580,000 in 1,291 venues. Despite strong reviews at fall festivals, the film struggled to find an audience, with its unique premise of representing Williams with a CGI chimpanzee failing to resonate with moviegoers.

Meanwhile, “Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” continue to maintain their positions at the box office, with the latter expected to surpass $200 million domestically soon. Focus Features’ “Nosferatu” and the animated sequel “Moana 2” are also holding strong in the top five, adding to the diverse offerings in theaters this weekend. With a mix of sequels, biopics, and horror films, audiences have a variety of options to choose from at the movies.