Here are the key highlights of “Flight Risk”:

  • "Flight Risk" starring Mark Wahlberg, directed by Mel Gibson opened number one in theaters with a $11M-$12M domestic gross.
  • The film follows a pilot transporting an Air Marshall with a mob-connected witness, in a tale that turns dangerous when the pilot reveals his true self.
  • Critics did not find favor with the movie citing "dumb" story and cheesy special effects with audiences also reporting a mixed reception.
  • Although the movie debuted number 1 this type of film generally sees moderate success in theaters.
  • Despite not being a high grosser in box office, the film had good traction with a targeted demographic making it a worthwhile investment.

Flight Risk's Box Office Performance

"Flight Risk," directed by Mel Gibson starring Mark Wahlberg achieved the number one spot in its box office debut however it was one of the lowest weekends of 2025 with a total gross of only $63 Million between all movies. While it still managed to do well Lionsgate had their second opening win of the year but also saw a decline in movie goer activity.

Limited Box Office Success

Despite its opening status, the overall tone around Flight Risk is that it was still not a huge success. Other movies that also followed the genre performed better despite being created from what others consider a small and more niche category of thrillers.

The Plot and Character Dynamics

The storyline involves Mark Wahlberg as a pilot . He is secretly a hitman while carrying an Air Marshal with Topher Grace who is a government witness. These three come together to test loyalties. Each of them bring a type of intensity which allows audiences to engage on an intellectual as well as a human level to understand motives.

Familiar Themes and Tropes

The film utilizes familiar tropes of plane in peril scenarios and characters. Critics say it is formulaic, as a result audiences feel they have seen this story unfold already. Viewers feel a sense of having seen these specific plots used multiple times prior.

Reception of the Movie

Flight Risk received a mix of feedback from both critics and general viewers. Many felt that it missed opportunities and created elements that could be deemed "dumb" making it an overall miss. Audiences who saw the movie gave it a CinemaScore of “C,” and a Rotten Tomatoes audience meter of 63%. This means it did not get well regarded ratings, reviews or high praise from the general public.

Mixed Critical Reviews

Critics stated "Flight Risk" had clunky dialog, an uneven cast with lack luster special effects making for an overall bad viewing. Other critics stated it was a "suspenseful Spirit Airlines commercial”. Other complaints had mentioned that many choices from director Mel Gibson fell flat.

Mark Wahlberg's Box Office Drawing Power

the recent film has many questioning his performance as of late. This showing, like previous films of his is not hitting the previous high points of before like "Deep Water Horizon" or "Lone Survivor". However, "Flight Risk" is still ahead of his solo performances for "Arthur the King" and "Father Stu"

Reaching Female Audiences

A notable point about "Flight Risk", as opposed to "Den of Thieves 2" was the success with the women demographic making 46% of viewership whereas "Den of Thieves 2" received 37%. These kinds of numbers shows that Wahlberg as a male action hero still has the ability to pull different views across the demographic that others might not.

The Directorial Impact of Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson's approach in making the movie did not generate high praise like previous films with intense imagery or character delivery. Some felt as if "Flight Risk" was not up to par as some of his most known works and lacked a higher quality of storytelling.

Past Successes as A Director

Gibson is known for his very impactful directing skills such as with "Braveheart" and "Hacksaw Ridge" which are notably known for their dramatic scope but they were not replicated here, by focusing solely on the intensity of character driven choices. There were calls for him to make another movie based on the Bible due to the potential audience connection for him in a particular demographic.

Limited Marketing and Promotional Efforts

Lionsgate did have minimal spend on marketing efforts which focused on very few trailers and one sheets, most likely because they knew that its potential reach had limitations due to audience engagement with this kind of film. The studio chose to spend less due to limited performance predictions.

Reliance on Theatrical Release

It shows with this style of picture, even with it's limitations a movie still needs a theatrical release to drive its appeal through various outlets of on demand or streaming releases. Lionsgate typically aims for movies like "Flight Risk" which rely on the performance of theaters before any other opportunity for profit.

Key Takeaways

  • "Flight Risk" featuring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Mel Gibson debuted at number one but fell short in other areas.
  • The plot and style of the movie did not offer the creativity viewers had wanted in a film like this.
  • Critics cited issues with dialogue and performance choices making for an over all lack luster story.
  • The film also highlighted the different preferences among demographics. With women making up almost half of its views in comparison to "Den of Thieves 2" which shows it was not as male dominated of a preference.
  • Though reviews were mixed, its placement at the top on debut and minimal spend, shows Lionsgate a glimpse of success while other studios saw financial losses with the weekend's total earnings.