Flight Risk, the new action thriller directed and co-produced by Mel Gibson, has received a lower Rotten Tomatoes score than the star’s previous directorial effort,Hacksaw Ridge. Releasing theatrically in the United States on January 24,Flight Risk’s plot follows a pilot transporting a US Marshall and a government witness across the Alaskan wilderness, where not everyone on board is what they seem, and stars Mark Wahlberg in a rare villainous role. TheFlight Risktrailersuggests high-octane action, spectacular set pieces, and a strong cast, but it seems critical reception has been lukewarm so far.
The movie has crashed to a poor critical score on the review aggregation website,Rotten Tomatoes, being certified ‘rotten’ with an overall critical score of 26% at the time of writing. Thisscore ranks as the lowest-rated movie of Gibson’s career as a director, and only his second-ever ‘rotten’ rated movie as a director, after 2004’s biblical epicThe Passion of the Christ, which scored 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. It ranks considerably lower than Gibson’s previous effort behind the camera, the Oscar-winning war movieHacksaw Ridge, which received a ‘fresh’ rating of 84%, as well as significant critical acclaim.
What This Means For Flight Risk’s Theatrical Run & Gibson’s Directing Legacy
The Movie Could Stutter Due To Poor Reviews, But Things Can Change
Flight Riskhas not been well received so far, and early indicators suggest that the movie could struggle, but there is time to turn things around.Flight Riskhas a strong cast, including Wahlberg, Topher Grace, and Michelle Dockery, and this could play a role in helping to attract viewers and boost the box office run.It is also important to note that the movie only has 34 critical reviews so far, so there is time for things to change in a more positive direction.
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The movie marks the first time Gibson has helmed a full-on action movie, and with his background in the genre as an actor, hopes will be high that the film is a success. TheLethal Weaponicon’s pedigree as a director has been long been established, but after almost a decade out of the director’s chair, expectations would have been sky-high forFlight Risk. However, critical reviews suggest thatthe movie misses the mark in a couple of ways, and this could prompt Gibson to take a prolonged break between his next directorial effort.
Our Verdict On Whether Flight Risk Can Turn Its Rating Around
It’s Early Days, But Signs Do Not Look Good
It is entirely possible for movies to receive poor ratings early on, before ratings improve over time. It is also common for movies to receive poor critical ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, while also enjoying strong audience ratings, and this was the case withThe Passion of the Christ. Whilst Flight Risk does not have the epic and artistic overtones of previous Gibson outings, such asBraveheart,Apocalypto, andHacksaw Ridge, there is a chanceFlight Riskcould enjoy a successful box office run, and turn its ratings around long-term, but it’s going to be difficult.
Flight Risk
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Set in a high-stakes world of international espionage, Flight Risk (2025) follows an elite team of operatives tasked with preventing a global catastrophe. Amid mounting tensions, they unravel a complex conspiracy that challenges their loyalties and skills, leading to a race against time to avert disaster.
