Mark Wahlberg has been dominating streaming as of late, but most probably would not have guessed which 2025 film has risen up the charts during the Thanksgiving festivities. Despite being labeled a “crude” and “unimaginative” action thriller by critics, Wahlberg’s first collaboration with Mel Gibson as his director is finally soaring after an underwhelming theatrical run at the box office. If you have ever wanted to see Marky Mark pull off an unexpectedly funny villain performance, now is the time to do so during the holiday weekend.
Flight Risk has risen to the top of the streaming chart on HBO Max in the United States following its debut on the platform on November 26. Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace star in the claustrophobic thriller, which mostly takes place on an airplane. Dockery plays an Air Marshal tasked with transporting a fugitive, potrayed by Grace, in an airplane piloted by a mysterious man with a hat (Wahlberg). Beneath that hat, however, is a severely balding head with a blood thirst, as it is immediately made clear that he is not who he claims to be. Read the official plot synopsis:
In this high-stakes suspense thriller, Academy Award® nominee Mark Wahlberg (2006, Actor in a Supporting Role, The Departed) plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (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.
Unfortunately, when it comes to critic consensus, Flight Risk scored poorly in nearly all marks. Despite being marketed as an airtight, 90-minute thriller, reviews had a hard time justifying the derivative plot and lack of intrigue. With a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, not even an eccentric, cartoonish villain performance from Wahlberg could keep the action thriller airborne for critics. Meanwhile, audiences have had a far more positive experience with the film, as it has a more respectable 62% score on the Popcornmeter based on over 1,000 user ratings. And, judging by its quick climb on streaming in past months, Flight Risk has managed to outdo itself again after a less-than-stellar run in theaters earlier this year.
Was ‘Flight Risk’ a Box Office Flop?
It’s hard to say Flight Risk was a complete flop at the box office. Made on a $25 million budget, it reached the top spot during a low-spending weekend in January, grossing $11.6 million domestic. At the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed $29.8 million domestically, while hauling in nearly $48.7 million globally. Compared to the budget, it’s not a terrible overall gross, especially since Lionsgate elected to spend as little as possible for marketing (reportedly around $20 million). That said, it’s hard to imagine that the film was able to turn a profit for the studio, at least before a dominant run on digital platforms and streaming.
After its modest theatrical run, Flight Risk has jumped through several streamers throughout the year in addition to being available on digital rental/purchase platforms. The thriller has managed to soar high in nearly every instance, with HBO Max now being the latest winner. Perhaps Lionsgate was better off sending the film straight-to-digital and streaming, as it does with their other low-budget action flicks, but Flight Risk was still able to find success at home.
- Release Date
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January 24, 2025
- Runtime
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91 minutes
- Writers
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Jared Rosenberg
- Producers
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Bruce Davey, John Davis