Mark Wahlberg's latest movie, “Flight Risk”, has gained attention for its box office performance, his unique character portrayal, and the overall response to the production. Here are the main talking points regarding this new action thriller:
- Box Office Success: Flight Risk is a Lionsgate film that was released January 24, 2025, and despite what the reviews might have stated had a successful debut by being #1 for opening weekend..
- Mark Wahlberg's Character: Known for playing likeable good guys this time around Mark Wahlberg takes on the role of a hitman disguised as a pilot which added to unique story telling techniques.
- Mixed Reviews: While the film had a decent performance in theaters many critics found the story flat even with action elements that some said it relied too heavily on to be an engaging experience.
- Director and Star: The movie has a directorial effort from Mel Gibson and also included Mark Wahlberg as a lead, adding dimension and attention to different sides of this film.
- Limited Marketing: Lionsgate did a more minimalist approach to marketing this movie showing only few posters and trailers making this a strategic business decision and one they took with this action adventure.
- Visual Style and Elements: The movie relied heavily on its suspense moments while taking a unique creative direction using a limited amount of location options for a story mostly happening in a small plane with minimal locations changes during the journey.
Initial Box Office Performance of “Flight Risk”
Despite being released during a slower period in theaters, “Flight Risk” managed to claim the number one spot in the box office which marked a second win for Lionsgate. It showcased a pattern where the studio looks for opportunities during times where there is less completion while also delivering the audience a familiar star to give a reliable movie experience. This type of box office strategy was notable during previous Lionsgate releases as well.
Wahlberg's Pulling Power
Mark Wahlberg's participation in "Flight Risk" is said to be one of the key reasons moviegoers got tickets for this particular film. His pull as an actor also attracted more women viewers to the showing than what similar male centric action movies would usually provide for viewership. This creates a new layer in the action movie sphere that many are now starting to notice.
Critical and Audience Reception of the Film
“Flight Risk” faced challenges in its reception with many critiques, many referring to the plot and story progression as generic and that they were too similar to other films. Also viewers gave an unenthusiastic C CinemaScore, and a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes audience meter.
Reviews
Many have noted the film had a lackluster plot along with characters that have become all too familiar. Other reviewers did mention there was an effort in the presentation even if they weren't a great fan. Many reviewers did not shy away from describing the movie's core design flaws with descriptions like "dumb".
Audience Views
Despite those poor ratings it also had reviews such as,"it was entertaining enough to watch at home” implying this form of film experience should be for home viewing as well. These mixed emotions made it hard for those working on the film. Many audience memebers gave an impression that they could tell how this would ultimately turn out in terms of profits at the theaters.
The Actors
The action flick brought Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace to deliver intense portrayals. These choices offered a mix of dynamic personalities in how each of the roles played out
Mark Wahlberg’s Role as the Villain
Wahlberg in this movie, for a change , played the main villain, and the film showcases that by making his presence both creepy but also fun. He made sure he was fully in character through methods on the set even when the cameras were not rolling.
Michelle Dockery as US Marshal Madelyn Harris
Michelle Dockery who plays a strong yet intelligent marshal while using strategic skills throughout to navigate danger while keeping a sense of reality was what she brought to the film. Her actions added another element to the complicated narrative.
Topher Grace as the Fugitive
Topher Grace who is not always cast into an action role brought humor which made him seem out of place which he intentionally incorporated into his character to cause some confusion for those watching. That mix made the dynamic feel off balance as the film progressed.
Production and Direction of “Flight Risk”
Mel Gibson’s directing style in Flight Risk is more focused in its approach compared to some of his previous epic-scale movies, creating more intimate experience for a low budget action movie. The limited setting and focus on the airplane throughout showcased more challenges that came to the fore because of creative constraints.
Pacing and Tone
Due to pacing issues the tonal shift would not settle, changing from suspense to violence and into silly moments making it seem more clumsy than dynamic. This has also been mentioned in other publications which caused them to feel some unease with the overall production aspects.
Marketing and Promotional Strategies
Lionsgate chose a more subtle approach with “Flight Risk” by limited releases of posters, trailer, and press releases. Their budget constraints for marketing also impacted the outcome. As opposed to overspending on promotional materials for a movie that might not be worth that cost they approached this project carefully.
Box Office vs. Streaming
Though having a lower success in box offices releases there is a noted success in the ability for a streaming service to boost movies that were originally ignored. Many studios now count on home viewership for movies that may not be successful on opening weekends.
Altering Physical Appearances for a Role
Wahlberg used a more practical approach for his role in "Flight Risk". He made the choice to shave the center of his head instead of using prosthetics for his bald spots. This allowed him freedom to be immersed into character during off times as well with ease.
His Wife's Reaction
Wahlberg states that his wife Rhea's initial shock to his shaved head made it priceless as a reaction. Later she embraced this change for his work.
Key Takeaways
- “Flight Risk” has had an odd showing by being a box office leader that has mixed critical reception with a great number of mixed ratings by audiences.
- Mark Wahlberg’s role was to create a portrayal that was new while keeping a notable level of familiarity for previous viewers.
- Mel Gibson's directing style was constrained which also impacted the creative process of the overall picture.
- The movie performed well on streaming and had solid theatre turnout even after reviews and word of mouth from the community that may not have been positive overall.
- The decision to limit advertising proved to be both beneficial but may have impacted how the movie was viewed overall for its reach.
- The themes of character study along with questionable moral values that come into play bring an element of complexity.