Any fans ofDen of Thieveswill loveGerard Butler’sintense action thrillerKandahar. While he’s jumped around just about every genre imaginable,Gerard Butler’s action movieshave become a staple since the 2010s. FollowingOlympus Has Fallen, Butler has rarely stepped away from the genre.
Den of Thieves 2’sendingpromised a third adventure is on the way and while the films aren’t exactly flawless, Butler’s rogue cop “Big” Nick has become one of his most popular characters. BothDen of Thievesbalanced pulpy dialogue, complex characters and thrilling actionsequences.
Butler has been on a run of big action films, but one of his best slipped through the cracks in 2023. Directed by regular Butler collaborator Ric Roman Waugh,Kandaharcast Butler as a CIA operative forced to flee from Afghanistan with his translatorwhile being pursued by mercenaries and assassins.
Den Of Thieves Fans Will Love Gerard Butler’s Kandahar
Kandaharis more serious and po-faced thanDen of Thieves, but it’s arguably even more action-packed. Once the chase begins it rarely lets up, as Butler’s Harris and his reluctant new pal “Mo” (Navid Negahban) are relentlessly pursued across a vast desert landscape. Along the way they dodge helicopters, road bombs and angry warlords.
Despite all the car chases and shootouts,the heart ofKandaharis the friendship between Harris and Mo. Despite coming from very different worlds, they find they have a lot in common. Harris also has to come face-to-face with the complicated politics of the country that he’s intentionally blinded himself to.
Kandaharhas a darker, murkier story thanDen of Thieves,but Waugh finds the right tonal balance between being a drama and a ripping adventure. It also highlights Butler’s talent for picking high concept scripts that still offer fresh twists on a familiar genre.
How Gerard Butler Became A Go-To Action Movie Hero
Kandaharreceived mixed reviewsand had a tepid box office run, nabbing just under $10 million. In stark contrast, his other big 2023 releasePlanewas a surprise smash, grossing three times its $25 million budget and receiving 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. While he has had some duds, Butler’s action run has been very consistent.
Following the success of movies like300andP.S. I Love Youin 2007, Butler was poised to become a major A-lister. Unfortunately, he never quite found his footing outside of action, and while rom-coms likeThe Ugly Truthwere typically financial hits, they were also critical disasters.
After a run of flops, the first outing in theHas Fallenfranchise saved Butler from a freefall. His would-be blockbusters likeGods of Egyptmay have done little business, butButler really found his groove with mid-budget, R-rated actioners likeDen of Thieves, theHas Fallensequels andPlane.
Ric Roman Waugh also directed Gerard Butler inAngel Has FallenandGreenland, and the duo will reunite for the upcomingGreenland: Migration.
Kandaharmay not have made much of a dent in 2023, but its resurgence on Netflix shows thatGerard Butlerfans have rediscovered it. While Butler has some intriguing, non-action projects on the horizon, likeIn the Hand of Dante,he won’t be abandoning the genre either, asDen of Thieves 3is also inbound.
Kandahar
Cast
Kandahar follows an undercover CIA operative trapped in hostile Afghan territory after his mission is compromised. With his Afghan translator, he embarks on a perilous journey to reach an extraction point in Kandahar, all while evading elite enemy forces and foreign spies intent on capturing them. Released in May 2023.
