Mel Gibson's Mark Wahlberg in a rare villain role, the film failed to bring in a strong box office, earning just $34.66 million worldwide since its theatrical release date of January 24, 2025 (via Box Office Mojo). Solid performances by Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace could save Flight Risk from disaster.

With Flight Risk available to purchase and rent on digital VOD on February 14, 2025, the Gibson and Wahlberg collaboration could become an at-home streaming hit. Other recent films such as Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 found much more success on the small screen than on the big screen, an achievement that Flight Risk hopes to emulate. Regardless, Flight Risk snaps an impressive record for Gibson-directed movies.

Flight Risk Breaks A Mel Gibson Streak That Started With Braveheart

All Gibson's Films Since 1995 Have Made More Than $100 Million

Since Braveheart was ​​​​​released in 1995, every movie Mel Gibson directed has made over $100 million at the box office. With Flight Risk gradually approaching a $35 million box office total ahead of its VOD release, it's safe to say that Gibson's 30-year streak is officially over. Flight Risk may not even sur the box office total of Gibson's directorial debut, 1993's The Man Without a Face, which earned $36.6 million worldwide.

At 29%, Flight Risk has the lowest sequel, which Gibson hopes to start filming in 2026.

Nobody who paid for the ticket to see Flight Risk expected an Oscar-contending film based on its somewhat unserious trailer. If anything, Flight Risk was set up to be a fun action thriller with a great cast, meant to be enjoyed rather than analyzed. Even as such, Flight Risk failed to spark life in a typically frigid late-January box office, leaving an unfortunate blemish on Gibson's directing legacy.

What Flight Risk's Box Office Means For Mel Gibson & Mark Wahlberg

Wahlberg Is Due For A Box Office Hit After Gibson's Rare Miss

Wahlberg's villain role in Flight Risk doesn't appear to have many career-changing implications. It would still be great to see him in more antagonist roles, perhaps in a blockbuster with a more serious and grounded tone than Flight Risk. That said, Wahlberg's recent slate of movies has been quite mixed with an alarming number of poorly rated films, including The Union (2024), Me Time (2022), and Infinite (2021).

Wahlberg should continue to have box office appeal, especially if he pivots back to more traditional protagonist roles. His next theatrical release is expected to be Shane Black's Play Dirty, which could give him a much-needed box office pop. As for Gibson, it's unclear if he'll direct again if his ion of the Christ sequel doesn't pan out. Hopefully, Gibson will go back to the same drawing board that turned out Oscar winners like Braveheart and Hacksaw Ridge following Flight Risk's flop.