Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg teamed up for a recent action movie, but it has been dividing audiences. Gibson is a controversial but renowned director. Though he began his career as an actor, he eventually shifted into directing and producing, as he worked on Braveheart (1995), The Pᴀssion of the Christ (2004), Apocalypto (2006), and Hacksaw Ridge (2016). He is currently working on Pᴀssion of the Christ‘s two-part sequel, The Pᴀssion of the Christ: Resurrection. The first part is set to be released on April 18, 2025.

Wahlberg, another acclaimed star, worked together with Gibson repeatedly. The two partnered for Daddy’s Home 2 (2017) and Father Stu (2022), where they served as co-stars. Still, they were not Wahlberg’s only major projects. He also appeared in Planet of the Apes (2001), The Italian Job (2003), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Uncharted (2022). He has appeared consistently in Hollywood since his 1989 debut and enjoyed roles under numerous directors. Recently, he finally had an opportunity to reunite with Gibson. This time, his co-star was his director for a 2025 action movie. Unfortunately, it has been a critical failure.

Flight Risk Is Extremely Divisive

Responses Range From Mediocre To Terrible

The two stars reunited for Flight Risk, an action movie that sees Wahlberg as its antagonist. Taking place almost entirely in a small airplane, the movie has three major stars: Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), and Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3). Dockery plays a government agent, working to help deliver an informant (Topher Grace) into safe custody. Wahlberg plays Daryl Booth, the pilot, who is also secretly attempting to kill the informant.

The premise is original and compelling, but it has not thrilled its critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned a 21% Tomatometer score and a 63% score on the audience-led Popcornmeter. The critics generally argued that it is nothing but a bland and tiring movie, which benefits only from its stellar cast and overall absurdity. Audiences, at least, enjoyed the over-the-top performances, high stakes, and thrilling narrative. Even so, the audience score is not exceptionally high.

What The Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For Flight Risk

It Is Performing Well At The Box Office

A divisive Rotten Tomatoes score is not necessarily a nail in the coffin for Gibson, who has seen this before. The $612 million Pᴀssion of the Christ, for instance, earned an 80% Popcornmeter score and a 50% Tomatometer score. Flight Risk is already leading the weekend box office with a $12 million take. Given that it has a $10 million budget, it will need around $25 million to start profiting. It is already on a good pace to reach that total, even in a slow January. Poor reviews may not hurt Gibson and Wahlberg as much as it seems.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes