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. The Flight Risk trailer suggests 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. This score 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 epic The Pᴀssion 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 movie Hacksaw 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 Risk has not been well received so far, and early indicators suggest that the movie could struggle, but there is time to turn things around. Flight Risk has 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.

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. The Lethal Weapon icon’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 for Flight Risk. However, critical reviews suggest that the 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 with The Pᴀssion of the Christ. Whilst Flight Risk does not have the epic and artistic overtones of previous Gibson outings, such as Braveheart, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge, there is a chance Flight Risk could enjoy a successful box office run, and turn its ratings around long-term, but it’s going to be difficult.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes