Flight Risk is poised to dominate the box office during one of the slowest weekends we’ve seen in quite some time. This unexpected success highlights the film’s unique appeal and its ability to draw audiences in despite the competitive cinematic landscape.
Despite receiving negative reviews (including critical feedback from our own Tyler Nichols), Mel Gibson?s Flight Risk, featuring an unusually malevolent performance by Mark Wahlberg, is on track to top the box office this weekend. The film brought in $4.4 million on Friday alone, with estimates from Variety suggesting a total weekend gross of approximately $11 million. While this figure falls short of our initial prediction of $14 million, Lionsgate has released a statement asserting that ?this is a strong result for the modestly budgeted film,? indicating its potential as a significant financial success for the studio.
However, the film’s box office trajectory may face a sharp decline today, as it has garnered an alarming C CinemaScore grade. This rating is quite unusual for Gibson, whose directorial projects typically resonate well with audiences. It raises the question of whether the thriller genre is the right fit for a director more renowned for epic storytelling in films like Braveheart, Hacksaw Ridge, Apocalypto, and The Passion of the Christ. The disconnect between audience expectations and the film’s execution could be a significant factor in its reception.
On the other hand, Mufasa: The Lion King and the word-of-mouth sensation One of Them Days, featuring Keke Palmer and SZA, are expected to have robust second weekends, with both films likely to earn around $7-8 million each. Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is anticipated to closely trail with a projected $5 million in earnings. In contrast, Neon?s latest release from Steven Soderbergh, Presence, is facing challenges at the box office, projected for a fifth-place finish and struggling to surpass $3 million this weekend. This film, which received a disappointing C+ grade from CinemaScore, may have disappointed horror fans expecting a different narrative, as it turns out to be more of a family drama with supernatural elements. Additionally, there is currently no update on Wolf Man?s performance in its second weekend following a dismal debut. We will provide a comprehensive wrap-up of the weekend box office results tomorrow.
