Fans of Gerard Butler know that the name of the Scottish actor usually promises action. Now his return as cop “Big Nick” is imminent in the cinema and the first reviews reveal what awaits us in the sequel
Criminal Squad 2 expected. The film recently made it onto the list of the most anticipated films of 2025.
The reviews for Gerard Butler’s Criminal Squad 2 are in
Seven years ago, in 2018, Christian Gudegast delivered a twisted action spectacle with Criminal Squad (originally: Den of Thieves), in which Gerard Butler, as the brutal police bloodhound Nick O’Brien, relentlessly hunted down a gang of bank robbers. Now Butler returns to his creep role and pursues the escaped Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) to Europe, where a diamond coup promises new twists.
Watch the trailer for Criminal Squad 2 here
Criminal Squad 2 – Trailer 2 (German) HD
Criminal Squad 2 starts on January 16, 2025 in German cinemas. If you want, you can watch the first part in advance on Amazon Prime * or WOW *. The reviews for the sequel range from mixed to positive, as shown by the average of 60/100 on Metacritic and the 72 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
This is the positive review sentiment for the Gerard Butler sequel
At Variety, Owen Gleiberman praises the production and Gerard Butler in the action sequel:
For all his indifference to plausibility, Gudegast is an energetic filmmaker. He keeps the melee going and has a sixth sense for how to Butler’s glamorously disheveled version of Dirty Harry meets Popeye Doyle meets lone Lethal Weapon-Wolf shows off best.
Barry Hertz at the Globe and Mail also loves the action star’s return:
In Gerard Butler’s entire cinematic oeuvre, there has never been such a perfect marriage between actor and character, man and name. Big Nick may not understand a word of French, but Butler is simply ‘parfait’.
Chris Evangelista writes at Slashfilm:
Criminal Squad feels less gritty than the first film, almost friendlier. At the same time, there’s still a disgusting, energy drink-infused atmosphere that adds to the film’s charm. This is junk food cinema and sometimes that’s exactly what you’re hungry for.
Christian Zilko certifies that part 2, contrary to all expectations, is one of the “most entertaining reboot of the new year” to be, and even predicts a rosy action future for the Criminal Squad series at IndieWire:
Even if no one has asked for Criminal Squad 2, now might be the time to keep your fingers crossed for Criminal Squad 3. I’m even more excited for Criminal Squad 7. Butler and Jackson’s frenemy dynamic is firing on all cylinders […] and could become one Future of endless adventures lead on both sides of the law.
Not all critics are completely convinced by Criminal Squad 2
There are a few points of criticism about Gerard Butler’s return. For example, Mae Abdulbaki writes at Screen Rant:
A few more action scenes would have helped the narrative pace from being slowed down again and again. And just like its previous film, Criminal Squad 2 is With a running time of two and a half hours, it’s far too long. […] The waiting time for the robbery drags on and on.
Frank Scheck also notes in the Hollywood Reporter:
There is one excellent action sequence in the heist thriller. Unfortunately, the orchestrated car chase/shootout that takes place in tunnels and on windy mountain roads, only after about 2 hours of running time […] and until then, you spend a lot of time watching the characters luxuriously consume croissants, gelato and tiny coffees in a European setting.
Next week, from January 16, 2025you can see for yourself Gerard Butler’s return to action in the cinema.
*. If you purchase through these links or take out a subscription, we receive a commission. .