The Mel Gibson-directed Flight Risk is flying to an $11 million to $12 million opening at the domestic box office, according to Friday returns. If those estimates hold, the action-thriller film will come in on the higer end of expectations, or even ahead. It’s the first film Gibson — whom Trump has named one of his ambassadors to Hollywood — has directed since 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge. From Lionsgate, 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.
Chalk up another low-budget success for Lionsgate. After the No. 1 release of “Den of Thieves: Pantera,” the studio has topped the charts again with the Mark Wahlberg thriller “Flight Risk,” which is opening to $12 million from 3,161 theaters amid a wider slowdown for the box office. Overall grosses for the weekend are expected to slide to approximately $64 million, slightly higher than the $59.3 million grossed on this weekend a year ago, but still a sign of an early-year slump with a lack of major titles. Business is expected to stay this way until Valentine’s Day weekend and the release of Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Brave New World,” which early projections peg for a $95 million opening.
It flew to number one. “Flight Risk” landed in first place in the box office on its opening day Friday, earning $4.4 million, according to The Numbers. The action thriller, directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mark Wahlberg, is expected to enjoy an $11 to $12 million opening weekend. Remaining in second place was “One of Them Days,” the buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and singer SZA, with a $2.3 million dollar take. In its first week in theaters, it earned $16.2 million, according to Screen Rant. “Mufasa: The Lion King” stayed in the third spot, with $1.9 million in revenue.
