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.
Numbers will be updated Sunday morning, along with a full top 10 and specialty box office report.
Based on Friday returns, Flight Risk, which was directed by Mel Gibson, is opening at between $11 million and $12 million domestically. If those projections are accurate, the action-thriller movie will perform on the higher end of the spectrum or even better.
Gibson, who Trump has designated as one of his ambassadors to Hollywood, hasn’t directed a movie since Hacksaw Ridge in 2016.
In Flight Risk, Mark Wahlberg plays a pilot from Lionsgate who is taking an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) and a witness with ties to the mob (Topher Grace) to trial. Tensions rise and trust is put to the test as they traverse the Alaskan wilderness because not everyone on board, including the pilot, is who they seem.
The film’s modest budget hasn’t impressed critics. The same is true for viewers, who gave it a C CinemaScore.
Frank Scheck, a THR reviewer, notes that although it offers some excitement, “its awkward dialogue, erratic performances, and subpar-A special effects ultimately make it the Spirit Airlines of airborne thrillers.”. “”.
Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, currently in its sixth weekend, and Sony and TriStar’s female-led comedy One of Them Days, currently in its second weekend, are vying for No. 2 with between $7 and $8 million. The sixth weekend of Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is also holding strong, with an additional $51 million anticipated to be made.
Disney’s Thanksgiving animated blockbuster Moana 2 and Stephen Soderbergh’s new haunted horror-thriller Presence are also in a close race for fifth place, each with about $3 million.
While audiences gave Soderbergh’s new specialty film a C+ (horror-themed films typically receive a C grade), critics praised it.
Presence is a haunted house thriller about a family that seems to be on the verge of disintegrating. It was filmed in a single location and stars Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, and newcomer Callina Liang.
A complete top 10 and specialty box office report will be released on Sunday morning, along with updated numbers.