A Gerard Butler-led heist film will be added to Netflix’s content library next week. While critics were unimpressed upon its initial release, audiences responded more positively, helping the film have a good run at the box office and even spawn a sequel.
Gerard Butler’s Den of Thieves to hit Netflix next month
Netflix subscribers can stream Den of Thieves on the platform from Friday, May 1, 2026, per What’s on Netflix.
The film explores the conflict between an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, led by Detective “Big Nick,” and a highly skilled crew of bank robbers led by Ray Merrimen. As the criminals plan a seemingly impossible heist, the deputies use aggressive strategies to prevent it.
The cast features Gerard Butler as Big Nick, Pablo Schreiber as Ray, O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie, 50 Cent as Enson, Meadow Williams as Holly, Eric Braeden as Ziggy, and Dawn Olivieri as Debbie, among others.
Christian Gudegast helmed Den of Thieves, co-writing the script with Paul Scheuring. Reportedly, the two wrote the screenplay sometime between the late 1990s and early 2000s (via Variety). Given its scope, they planned to make it into a series and had NBC’s initial commitment. However, it never happened. After years of being in a development hell, the script ended with Diamond Film Productions.
The California-based independent studio, STXfilms, took charge of Den of Thieves’ global distribution. It debuted in theaters on January 19, 2018, and was panned by critics, earning a low 42% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience, however, gave it a higher rating of 64%.
Furthermore, the positive reception worked in the film’s favor, as it ended its theatrical run, earning $80.5 million globally against a reported $30 million budget, funded by Diamond Film Productions.
The sequel, Den of Thieves: Pantera, was released in January 2025. Gudegast returned to write and direct the film. Meanwhile, some of the original cast, including Butler and Jackson Jr., also returned to reprise their roles. Interestingly, the sequel’s ratings are comparatively higher than the original.
