Flight Risk may not have had a smooth takeoff at the box office, but the Mark Wahlberg-led thriller is climbing the charts now – at least on streaming. The Lionsgate action flick, directed by Mel Gibson, is currently sitting at #2 on Starz, marking a surprising turnaround for a film that struggled to find its footing when it debuted in theaters.
Despite a promising cast – including Wahlberg as a psychotic pilot, Michelle Dockery as a no-nonsense Air Marshal, and Topher Grace as a nervous fugitive – Flight Risk barely made it past $42 million worldwide. With a critical score of just 30% on Rotten Tomatoes and box office returns that disappointed even modest projections, most had already written the film off as a mid-budget misfire. But streaming audiences seem to be giving it a second chance.
If the title didn’t already tip you off, this is a high-altitude pressure cooker. Wahlberg plays a deeply unhinged bush pilot hired to transport a federal fugitive across the remote wilderness of Alaska. Grace’s character seems like a simple white-collar criminal, and Dockery’s air marshal has the confidence to match. But as the flight progresses and the isolation of the skies takes its toll, identities blur, secrets emerge, and the real danger becomes all too clear. Think Con Air meets Misery – in a single-engine plane with no parachutes. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Wish it was.
Is ‘Flight Risk’ Worth Watching?
Written by Jared Rosenberg and directed by Gibson, the film has all the trappings of a taut, claustrophobic thriller. And while it didn’t land with critics, there’s no denying that Gibson’s knack for tension and Wahlberg’s unpredictable turn as the villain are drawing renewed attention now that the movie is just a click away. Collider’s Jeff Ewing noted the film’s awkward balancing act, writing that Flight Risk “struggles to keep pace with its own ambitions.” Ewing continued:
“Some performances are far better than others, and they aren’t all consistently memorable or engaging enough to carry the film over the finish line.”
He also pointed out that the tight, contained setting put added pressure on the cast to elevate what he described as a “sometimes repetitive, underdeveloped, or nonsensical” plot. Still, streaming viewers – particularly Starz subscribers – seem unfazed by the film’s flaws.
For those who are morbidly curious to catch the movie, Flight Risk is streaming on Starz. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson.
Flight Risk
- Release Date
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January 24, 2025
- Runtime
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91 Minutes
- Writers
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Jared Rosenberg