Flight Risk Box Office Performance: A Mixed Bag for Mel Gibson’s Thriller

Mel Gibson’s latest action thriller, Flight Risk, hit theaters on January 24, 2025, with a star-studded cast featuring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. The high-octane film, which follows a tense journey across the Alaskan wilderness, promised suspense, action, and unexpected twists. While the movie opened at #1 at the box office, its overall financial performance has been underwhelming.

Opening Weekend: A Strong Start

Flight Risk debuted in 3,161 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film managed to secure the top spot at the box office during its opening weekend.

• First-day earnings: $4.4 million (including $950,000 from Thursday night previews).

• Opening weekend total: $11.6 million, exceeding projections of $9–11 million.

• Number-one debut: It became Lionsgate’s second #1 opener of 2025, following Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.

These numbers indicated solid initial interest, driven by Mark Wahlberg’s star power (32% of attendees cited him as their main reason for watching) and Mel Gibson’s directorial return.

Total Box Office Collection: Falling Short

While Flight Risk started strong, it struggled to maintain momentum. As of now, the film has grossed $19.5 million worldwide, significantly below expectations.

• Domestic earnings: $15 million (approximately 78.5% of total revenue).

• International earnings: $4.5 million, highlighting limited overseas appeal.

  
  

With a production budget of $25 million, the film has yet to break even, making it a box office disappointment despite its promising opening weekend.

Why Did Flight Risk Underperform?

Several factors contributed to Flight Risk’s struggle at the box office:

1. Mixed-to-Negative Reviews – Critics were unimpressed, leading to poor word-of-mouth. The film currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 42% and a CinemaScore of B-.

2. Lack of International Appeal – Unlike other action thrillers, Flight Risk didn’t resonate strongly outside the U.S. and Canada.

3. Limited Marketing & Competition – The film faced competition from other releases and lacked a robust marketing push.

Future Prospects

While Flight Risk may not be a theatrical success, it could still recoup losses through streaming and digital sales. Lionsgate may leverage Mark Wahlberg’s popularity to promote the film on VOD platforms and streaming services in the coming months.

Despite a strong opening weekend and a #1 debut, Flight Risk has fallen short at the box office, struggling to reach profitability. While Mel Gibson’s direction and Mark Wahlberg’s performance drew initial interest, negative reviews and limited international appeal ultimately hindered its success. Will the film find a second life on streaming? Only time will tell.