Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg are two of Hollywood’s most renowned actors and producers and have done several movies together. Though Gibson began his career as an actor, he eventually shifted into directing and producing, as he worked on Braveheart (1995), The Passion of the Christ (2004), Apocalypto (2006), and Hacksaw Ridge (2016). Several of his movies even became award-nominated and winning movies, including a Best Director accomplishment for Braveheart. He is currently working on Passion of the Christ’s two-part sequel, with the first half set to be released on April 18, 2025.

Gibson played Max Rockatansky in the 1979 movie, Mad Max.

Wahlberg, another acclaimed star, worked together with Gibson repeatedly. The two partnered for Daddy’s Home 2 (2017) and Father Stu (2022), where they served as co-stars, but they were not Wahlberg’s only major projects. He also appeared in Planet of the Apes (2001), The Italian Job (2003), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Uncharted (2022). He has appeared consistently in Hollywood since his 1989 debut and enjoyed roles under numerous directors. Recently, he finally had an opportunity to reunite with Gibson, who served in a directorial capacity. Unfortunately, it has been a critical failure.
Flight Risk Is Extremely Divisive

Responses Range From Mediocre To Terrible

The two stars reunited for Flight Risk, an action movie that sees Wahlberg as its antagonist. Taking place almost entirely on a small airplane, the movie’s three main cast are Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), and Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3). Dockery plays a government agent, working to help deliver an informant (Topher Grace) into safe custody. Wahlberg plays Daryl Booth, the pilot, who is also secretly attempting to kill the informant.

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The premise is original and compelling, but it has not thrilled its critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned a 21% Tomatometer score and a 63% score on the audience-led Popcornmeter. The critics generally argued that it was a bland and tiring movie, which benefits only from its stellar cast and overall absurdity. Audiences, at least, enjoyed the over-the-top performances, high stakes, and thrilling narrative. Even so, the audience score is not exceptionally high.
What The Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For Flight Risk

It Is Performing Well At The Box Office

A divisive Rotten Tomatoes score is not necessarily a nail in the coffin for Gibson, who has seen this before. For instance, the $612 million Passion of the Christ earned an 80% Popcornmeter score and a 50% Tomatometer score. Even though it is one of Gibson’s lower-performing movies, Flight Risk is already leading the weekend box office with a $12 million take. Given its $10 million budget, it will need around $25 million to start profiting, which shouldn’t be too difficult. It is already on a good pace to reach that total, even in a slow January. Thus, poor reviews may not hurt Gibson and Wahlberg as much as it seems.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Flight Risk

Release Date

January 23, 2025

Runtime

91 minutes

Producers

Bruce Davey, John Davis, Russell Hollander, Christopher Woodrow, Petr Jákl, K. Blaine Johnston