Gerard Butler's "terrific" heist thriller that's "full of twists" is now streaming for free

A heist thriller hailed as "slick" and "terrific" is streaming now for free on Channel 5. Den of Thieves follows a group of thieves made up of ex-MARSOC Marines who forge a plan to rob the Federal Reserve in Los Angeles.

The star-studded flick brings together Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, Curtis Jackson, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Evan Jones, Dawn Olivieri, Mo McRae, and Max Holloway among others in its ensemble cast.

It was released in 2018 to mixed reviews and was followed by a sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, in 2025.

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On IMDB, the film has been hailed as "terrific" and "full of twists", while it holds a 42% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

The critics' consensus reads: "Den of Thieves pays energetic homage to classic heist thrillers of the past; unfortunately, it never comes close to living up to its obvious inspirations."

In their review, The Australian said: "Butler and Schreiber deliver commanding performances. They are men who could explode at any moment, at work or at home. That nonstop ticking beneath their calm exteriors fills the film with a gripping tension."

However, Empire called the film: "Slick and solid in moments, Den of Thieves disappoints with its reliance on easy plotting and gruff, overcooked acting. One for Butler completists only."

Newsday reasoned: "Den of Thieves may not be as moody as To Live and Die in L.A. or as clever as The Usual Suspects, but it works well on its own terms. As for Butler, it's like discovering him all over again."

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On the other hand, The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The loser is the audience for Den of Thieves, an over-the-top crime saga mainly indicating that its writer/director has seen Michael Mann's Heat too many times."

Speaking to Forbes about Den of Thieves, Hollywood icon Butler explained why he continues to make movies.

"I don't think I was ever really concerned with money and I never grew up with money," he began.

"I remember the first time I got paid for a job going, 'Oh my God! I never dreamed of this amount!' and that was kind of enough to keep me going.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't want to make more money than that, but I'm not driven by money. I'm driven by making movies, and I still love to make big, fun, old-fashioned action movies even if I get shot to death for it."

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He continued: "I still enjoy getting to mix it up with a Shakespeare movie or an animated movie or a surf movie or a cancer movie.

"I'm firstly about the material, whether I judge it correctly or not, but you also have to think about your longevity every now and again.

"You sign up for a movie that you hope will do well at the box office because otherwise, they're not going to want to make those big movies with you anymore."

Den of Thieves is streaming now on Channel 5.

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Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more. Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club. LinkedIn