Flight Risk Takes Off with Modest Opening
Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg’s action thriller “Flight Risk” has secured the number one spot at the box office, despite facing a lackluster start and mixed reviews. The Lionsgate release earned a modest $4.4 million from over 3,100 theaters on Friday, including preview screenings.
Despite the underwhelming gross, “Flight Risk” marks Lionsgate’s second number one debut of the year, following “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.” However, projections for a three-day opening above $11 million are tempered by potential turbulence ahead, with the NFL conference championships likely to keep viewers out of theaters on Sunday.
Critics have panned “Flight Risk,” which marks Gibson’s directorial follow-up to his Oscar-nominated war drama “Hacksaw Ridge.” Audiences have also given the film a rough C grade on Cinema Score, indicating a disconnect between critical and popular reception.
Nevertheless, “Flight Risk” is unlikely to face significant financial risks due to its modest budget and Lionsgate’s strategy of selling off foreign rights before release. However, if projections continue to dip, exhibitors may face a weekend without a single film grossing over $10 million, a situation that has not occurred since last February.
Other Releases
Neon’s horror film “Presence” is vying for fifth place, earning approximately $1.3 million on Friday and previews. Playing in over 1,700 locations, the film features director Steven Soderbergh’s unique perspective of shooting the entire movie from a ghost’s point of view.
Despite strong critical notices upon its premiere at Sundance a year ago, general audiences have given “Presence” a more indifferent C+ grade. Neon acquired the film after its festival debut for an undisclosed amount.
Angel Studios’ drama “Brave the Dark” has also returned to theaters, earning around $920,000 across Friday and previews in 2,230 locations. The film stars Jared Harris as an English teacher who mentors a troubled student played by Nicholas Hamilton.
While reviews for “Brave the Dark” lean positive, Angel Studios has once again catered to its target audience, which awarded it a glowing A grade on Cinema Score.
In second place, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” continues to show strong staying power, earning another $1.9 million on Friday. The photorealistic prequel is on track to surpass $220 million domestically by the end of its sixth weekend.
Sony’s comedy “One of Them Days,” starring SZA and Keke Palmer, takes the bronze for the weekend, earning $2.3 million on Friday and projecting $7.2 million for its second weekend, marking a healthy 40% drop from its debut.
Sega’s iconic video game speedster returns in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which is estimated to bring in another $5.1 million in its sixth weekend, pushing the domestic total past $225 million.
Universal and Blumhouse’s “Wolf Man” could potentially secure fifth place, but negative buzz has impacted its box office performance, resulting in a projected $3 million and a steep 72% drop in its second weekend.
Surprisingly, Disney’s “Moana 2” remains in the mix for the top five, earning $850,000 on Friday in its ninth weekend of release. This extended presence at the box office highlights the current scarcity of new releases.
Overall, the box office remains in a sluggish state, with few films generating significant revenue. The NFL conference championships and a lack of compelling new releases are contributing to the lackluster performance.