'Flight Risk' Wins a Sleepy Weekend at the Box Office
by EG
The generic action thriller Flight Risk, which was directed by Mel Gibson and stars Mark Wahlberg, had a 'meh' opening weekend, but since most of its competition came from movies that have already been in theaters for weeks, that 'meh' opening was enough to win the week. Given that critics, and even those who paid for tickets to the movie, have given it mostly negative reviews, Flight Risk is unlikely to stay on top for long, though. Read on for details.
The Mel Gibson-directed Flight Risk flew to a $12 million on Sunday, opening from 3,161 theaters to top a quiet weekend at the domestic box office in another needed win for Lionsgate following Den of Thieves 2: Pantera earlier this month.
Flight Risk is the first film Gibson has directed since 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge. The action-thriller hit theaters just days after President Donald Trump named him new ambassador to Hollywood alongside Jon Voight and Sylvestor Stallone. (Gibson provided a moment of levity last week when he revealed he wasn’t even contacted by the new president.)
Flight Risk stars Mark Wahlberg as a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a mob-connected witness (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem — including the pilot.
Reviewers haven’t taken to the modestly budgeted movie. Ditto for audiences, which slapped it with a C CinemaScore. While noting that it does provide some thrills, THR reviewer Frank Scheck writes, “its clunky dialogue, uneven performances and less-than-grade-A special effects ultimately make it the Spirit Airlines of airborne thrillers.”
Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, despite being in its sixth weekend, continued to display sharp claws. It held at No. 2 with $8.7 million from 3,420 theaters to finish Sunday with a domestic total of $221.1 million (fun fact: it has passed up Wonka‘s $218 million) and $627.7 globally.
Sony and TriStar’s female-fronted comedy One of Them Days, now in its second weekend, held in nicely to place third with an estimated $8 million for a domestic cume of $25 million from 2,675 cinemas. The Issa Rae-produced film stars Keke Palmer and SZA.
Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3, in its sixth weekend, came in fourth with $5.5 million from 3,097 theaters for a domestic tally of 2,261. The family film fell a modest 36 percent despite now being available in the home via premium VOD.
Disney’s Thanksgiving animated blockbuster Moana 2 rounded out the top five in its ninth weekend with $4.3 million from 2,550 locations for a domestic total of $1.026 billion as it prepares to become the ninth biggest animated film of all time.
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.