Dutch III: International Gangster – Review
The Dutch franchise may have hit its third movie, but it seems like this story is far from over.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Dutch III: International Gangster” Film Details
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 21 Minutes
- Released On: BET Plus
- Public Release Date: July 31, 2025
- Director(s): Salvatore Scalfani
- Writer(s): Manny Halley, Salvatore Scalfani
- Based On Work By: Kwame Teague, Teri Woods
- Primary Language: English | Non-English (Italian)
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama
- Rating: Rated TV-14
- Distributor: BET+
Movie Summary
Now settled in Italy, Dutch claims he is trying to work his way into bigger things, before potentially leaving the game, but it seems too many need or want him alive and operating. Clearly, Angel and Craze, who enjoy the fruits of his labor, may not know what else to do with themselves, and Agent Yates? She sees Dutch as her white whale.
But for Dutch, he’s getting older, and the idea of being on the run might be something he has accepted, but struggles to commit to without having something to show for it. So through Renato, he plans to set him and his people up for life.
Cast and Characters
Dutch (Lance Gross)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Considered dead to many in the world, Dutch has been making moves, so if his mortality is ever discovered, he is in a position where he is either untouchable or gone before an enemy and/or authority would have the ability to catch him.
Angel (Rocsi Diaz)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Still a hot head, but deeply loyal to Dutch, while her attempts to reposition herself may have failed, she still has her main crew to fall back on and her skills which make her an asset.
Craze (Jeremy Meeks)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: As Dutch’s man who works behind the scenes, Craze doesn’t live up to his name as he makes logical and sound moves, which often include trying to keep Angel from getting herself killed.
Agent Yates (Liz Benoit)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: After the death of a federal agent in Dutch II, Agent Yates hungers for revenge and especially wants Angel and Dutch in jail, if not dead. However, her vendetta is starting to wear on her peers to the point of losing support.
Renato (Massi Furlan)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Renato is Dutch’s partner in Italy, who he hopes to learn enough from, especially regarding diamonds, to eventually break off.
What To Expect In “Dutch III: International Gangster” (Rated TV-14) – Content Overview
- Dialog:
- Cursing: Throughout
- Violence:
- Gun Violence: Full-On BattlesGore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding, Depiction of Open Wounds
- Notable Violence: Intense Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content:
- Nudity: Non-Sexual/ Tantalizing | Chest
- Sexual Situations: Implied
- Miscellaneous:
- Drinking: Yes
- Drug Use: Hard Drugs
- Smoking: Yes
- Could This Make You Cry: No
Links
- Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.
- Official Site/ Watch Link
Review and Commentary
On The Fence
It Struggles To Hold Attention [73/100]
Dutch III: International Gangster lacks the elements you’d expect from a major franchise on a network like BET+. There’s no real hook beyond a few recognizable faces. And while the franchise has now gone international—with Dutch in Italy—and the budget might be larger, it doesn’t feel like a bigger movie.
If anything, it feels like there are just more opportunities to cover up the franchise’s ongoing weaknesses. These include its inability to deliver a satisfying ending, make villains like Agent Yates feel formidable, or present characters whose survival you actually worry about when they’re in life-or-death situations.
In trying to go bigger, Dutch III: International Gangster ends up highlighting the very issues that plague a lot of Black-led media that gets a marketing push but doesn’t appear on Tubi or pop up in theaters at random. There’s often no clear vision—just a desire to make something that looks cool. And sure, creating an international gangster story centered on a Black man surrounded by other Black people—even if most of them pass the paper bag test—is noteworthy.
However, the superficial nature of it all, especially in this third entry, makes it frustrating to admit this isn’t an outlier. This is the standard. This franchise now spans three movies with room for a fourth, and its BET+ peers are of similar quality—not all made by the same production company.
And let’s be clear: we’ve watched all three films and the spin-off. So it’s not just about rooting for more Black-led productions. But too often, what we’re seeing feels like content churn—productions made to keep people working and pay SAG dues. These aren’t stories or characters that feel like they have something to say. They’re not full meals—just sustenance while we wait for something meaningful, something with real substance, to finally arrive.
Overall
Our Rating (73/100): Mixed (Divisive)
As a film franchise, Dutch continues to feel like a brand at risk of being mishandled. As shown through Angel, good stories can emerge—even if they’re a bit rough around the edges. But with the Dutch movies, especially Dutch III: International Gangster, there’s a sense that reaching a third installment meant things had to get bigger. In chasing that larger scope, however, the film loses—or outright ignores—the development of meaningful characters and a story truly worthy of a third entry.
Overall, it feels like Dutch is benefiting more from BET+’s limited access to notable talent than from its own merit. The result is a franchise that continues to set a standard for the platform: one where you’re constantly torn between wanting better and recognizing that every creative has to start somewhere.
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