With “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” (Lionsgate), Gerard Butler displayed his bona fides as one of the most reliable draws for action releases. Opening at #1 with $15.5 million, it came in a little ahead of projections and led #2 “ Mufasa: The Lion King” (Disney).

Pantera” took first place in box office with sales of $6 million on Friday, its theatrical debut, according to The Numbers. The heist flick, a sequel to the 2018 film, is expected to earn $15 million its opening weekend,

Warning: The following review contains spoilers for the Den of Thieves franchise. Five years after the original Den of Thieves was released and earned $80 million at the box office, its sequel is now playing in theaters everywhere.