Actor Mark Wahlberg stars in the new Lionsgate thriller movie Flight Risk . Wahlberg plays a character who is a hit man disguised as a pilot. His targets are U.S. Marshal Madelyn Harris portrayed by Michelle Dockery and fugitive Winston played by Topher Grace.
Mark Wahlberg Immersed Himself in Villain Role for Flight Risk Movie
For his role in Flight Risk Mark Wahlberg adopted a method approach. He remained in character throughout the production process. Wahlberg stated in an interview with People that he deliberately isolated himself from the cast during filming to stay focused on his villainous role. His last time portraying a villain was in the 1996 film Fear.
Mel Gibson Directs Mark Wahlberg in Action Packed Flight Risk Thriller
Mel Gibson directed Flight Risk marking his first directorial project in nine years since Hacksaw Ridge. This film is another collaboration between Gibson and Wahlberg who previously worked together on "Father Stu" and "Daddy's Home 2". However Flight Risk is the first time Gibson directed Wahlberg in a movie .
Filming for Flight Risk was completed in a concise 22-day schedule. Wahlberg praised Gibson's directing style for its clarity efficiency and collaborative nature. Gibson's past directorial successes include Braveheart and Apocalypto.
Plot and Character Dynamics in Flight Risk Movie Unveiled
Flight Risk is set on a small plane and centers on U.S. Marshal Madelyn Harris escorting a witness. The witness is a fugitive. The pilot portrayed by Wahlberg is revealed to be a hired killer. This sets up a tense dynamic among the three main characters within the confined aircraft setting.
Critical and Audience Reception of Flight Risk Movie Mixed to Negative
Flight Risk received largely negative reviews from critics. Reviewers described the film as unimpressive crude and lacking suspense. Some critics pointed to the script and inconsistent tone as weaknesses. Despite mostly unfavorable reviews some critics acknowledged the film's ability to maintain viewer attention and adhere to thriller genre conventions.
Audience reception was also lukewarm. Flight Risk earned a C CinemaScore indicating average audience satisfaction. Its Rotten Tomatoes audience score is 63% suggesting moderate audience approval.
Box Office Performance of Flight Risk Movie Opens at Number One But Overall Numbers are Low
Flight Risk debuted at number one at the box office during a slow weekend in January 2025. Despite reaching the top spot its opening weekend gross was relatively low. The film earned between $11 million and $12 million in its opening weekend. This box office performance is considered modest for a Mark Wahlberg-led movie.
Compared to other movies in the plane thriller genre Flight Risk's opening was less impactful than films like Non-Stop or Flightplan. Lionsgate released Flight Risk acknowledging potential limitations in its box office draw. The studio focused on cost-conscious marketing given the film's modest budget and anticipated performance.
Despite negative critical reception and moderate audience scores Lionsgate considers theatrical release important for Flight Risk. The studio aims to leverage theatrical performance to boost its home entertainment and streaming prospects. Mark Wahlberg was identified as a key factor in attracting moviegoers to Flight Risk according to PostTrak surveys.