Flight Risk (film)

Flight Risk
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMel Gibson
Written byJared Rosenberg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJohnny Derango
Edited bySteven Rosenblum
Music byAntônio Pinto
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • January 24, 2025 (2025-01-24)
Running time
91 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million[3]
Box office$4.4 million[4]

Flight Risk is a 2025 American action thriller film produced and directed by Mel Gibson and written by Jared Rosenberg. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace, the plot follows a pilot transporting a U.S. Marshal and a government witness across the Alaskan wilderness, where the identities and intentions of those onboard come into question.[5]

Flight Risk was released in the United States by Lionsgate on January 24, 2025, and received negative reviews from critics.

Plot

A U.S. Marshal escorts a government witness to trial after he is accused of getting involved with a mob boss, only to discover that the pilot who is transporting them is also a hitman that had been sent to assassinate the informant. After they subdue him, they are forced to fly together after discovering that there are others attempting to eliminate them.

Cast

Production

In December 2020, Jared Rosenberg's screenplay Flight Risk was voted onto the year's "Black List" of the most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.[6][7] In May 2023, it was reported that Mel Gibson would direct and Mark Wahlberg would star.[8] In January 2024, Topher Grace and Michelle Dockery joined the cast.[9]

The film is a co-production between Icon Productions and Davis Entertainment Company. It was produced in association with Media Capital Technologies (a film financing company[10]), Hammerstone Studios and Blue Rider Pictures.[11] Gibson directed and produced the film along with Bruce Davey, John Davis, and John Fox.[11]

Principal photography began in Las Vegas in June 2023.[12] Filming occurred for two days in Mesquite, Nevada in July 2023. Filming also took place in Alaska.[13] SAG-AFTRA granted the filmmakers approval to allow filming during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[14] Filming concluded in August 2023.[13] Wahlberg partially shaved his head each day while filming for the role of a balding pilot instead of wearing a bald cap.[15]

Release

Flight Risk was released in the United States by Lionsgate on January 24, 2025.[16] It was originally set to be theatrically released on October 18, 2024.[17]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, Flight Risk was released alongside Presence and Brave the Dark, and is projected to gross $9–11 million from 3,161 theaters in its opening weekend. It made $4.3 million on its first day, including $950,000 from Thursday night previews.[18]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 21% of 68 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.3/10.[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 38 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[20] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it a 70% positive score.[18]

Clint Worthington of RogerEbert.com gave the film one and a half out of four stars and wrote, "Flight Risk, with its bonkers casting (Mark Wahlberg as a crazy balding charter pilot assassin) and ridiculous poster tagline ("Y'all need a pilot?"), occasionally teases out the kind of sleazy fun action-movie enthusiasts might reclaim in a few years' time. But as it sits in this passenger's estimation, Flight Risk is a supremely bumpy ride that doesn't quite justify its logline."[21]

References

  1. ^ "Flight Risk (2025) - Movie". Moviefone. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  2. ^ "Flight Risk (15)". BBFC. October 8, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  3. ^ "'Flight Risk' Leads a Slowing Box Office With $12 Million Opening". January 24, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  4. ^ "Flight Risk – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  5. ^ "Flight Risk | Synopsis". flightrisk.movie. Lionsgate. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 14, 2020). "The Black List 2020 Unveiled: Sophie Dawson's 'Headhunter' Tops List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Fleming Jr., Mike (May 12, 2023). "Mel Gibson Returns To Director's Chair For First Time Since 'Hacksaw Ridge' With Lionsgate's 'Flight Risk' Starring Mark Wahlberg — Cannes Market Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Earl, William (May 12, 2023). "Mel Gibson to Direct Suspense Film 'Flight Risk,' Starring Mark Wahlberg". Variety. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 4, 2024). "'Flight Risk': Topher Grace & Michelle Dockery Join Mark Wahlberg In Mel Gibson-Helmed Lionsgate Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Lang, Brent (June 18, 2024). "Lionsgate, Media Capital Technologies Sign 'Significant' Multi-Year Slate Financing Deal (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (June 27, 2024). "Mel Gibson Directs a Bald, Bloody Mark Wahlberg for 'Con Air'-Style Thriller 'Flight Risk'". IndieWire. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Sherlock, Ben; Hemenway, Megan (April 28, 2023). "Every Upcoming Mel Gibson Movie (Including Lethal Weapon 5)". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Katsilometes, John (August 18, 2023). "Wahlberg: 'Flight Risk' free of strike concerns". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  14. ^ Maddaus, Gene (July 18, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Approves 39 Indie Projects to Shoot During Strike, Including Two A24 Films". Variety. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  15. ^ McArdle, Tommy (June 27, 2024). "Mark Wahlberg Surprised Wife with His Shaved Head for Flight Risk Role: Her Reaction Was 'Priceless' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Grobar, Matt (September 6, 2024). "Lionsgate Pushes Mel Gibson's 'Flight Risk' To 2025". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 20, 2024). "Lionsgate Dates Dave Bautista & Mark Wahlberg Movies For Fall; Gerard Butler's 'Den Of Thieves: Pantera' For 2025". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  18. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 24, 2025). "'Flight Risk' Lifting Lionsgate To Second No. 1 Opening Of 2025 With $11M+ – Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  19. ^ "Flight Risk". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  20. ^ "Flight Risk". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  21. ^ Worthington, Clint (January 24, 2025). "Flight Risk". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.