Box Office: ‘Flight Risk’ Gets Off the Ground With $4.4 Million Opening Day

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As a movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share that “Flight Risk,” starring Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg, is taking off without any hiccups this weekend, securing the top spot at the box office. This Lionsgate thriller soared to an impressive start, earning $4.4 million from 3,161 screens on its opening day and preview screenings. It seems like another quiet weekend at the January box office.

A projected opening weekend earnings of approximately $11 million over three days are anticipated, although there might be some bumps in the road ahead. The NFL conference championship games could draw a considerable number of viewers away from cinemas on Sunday. However, it’s not only the external factors that should concern theater owners; the internal ones do as well. Lionsgate decided to keep the reviews for “Flight Risk” under wraps until the preview screenings took place, and there’s a good reason behind this – the film, which is Mel Gibson’s directorial sequel to his 2016 Oscar-nominated war drama “Hacksaw Ridge,” has largely been criticized by critics.

The movie “Flight Risk” is not doing well with its audience, as indicated by Cinema Score’s B-grade assessment. Regardless, the film seems to be in a somewhat stable position due to its moderate budget and thriller genre. Lionsgate usually mitigates financial risks by selling foreign rights of their films before release. However, if the box office predictions drop significantly, cinemas could face a weekend with no movies earning over 10 million dollars. This hasn’t happened since the second weekend of “Argylle,” Apple’s struggling franchise kick-starter, last February.

Additionally, “Presence,” Neon’s new release, is making a significant impact, with earnings of approximately $1.3 million over the weekend and previews, placing it in contention for fifth position. Showing in 1,750 theaters, this horror film has director Steven Soderbergh once again employing an intriguing formal concept, this time by shooting the movie from a ghost’s perspective. Critics praised “Presence” when it debuted last year at Sundance’s previous event. However, general audiences seem ambivalent towards it. Cinema Score gave it a C+ grade, but horror films often generate debate. Neon acquired the film following its festival premiere for an undisclosed amount.

Beyond the initial top five films, Angel Studios is set to return to cinemas this weekend with “Brave the Dark,” screening at 2,230 locations and grossing approximately $920,000 over Friday and previews. This drama, featuring Jared Harris as an English teacher caring for his challenging student (Nicholas Hamilton), initially premiered at the Heartland Film Festival in October 2023. Critics’ responses have been largely favorable, and Angel Studios has once more catered well to its intended audience, who gave it an A grade on Cinema Score.

Based on projected earnings of approximately $1.8 million on Friday, “Mufasa: The Lion King” is expected to secure the second position in the box office chart. With potential earnings reaching around $220 million by the end of its sixth weekend, this photorealistic CG-animated prequel could be on track for a significant total domestic revenue. After a somewhat lackluster initial release, “Mufasa: The Lion King” has proven to have strong longevity, capitalizing on the relatively sparse competition in January.

On the heels of its successful opening, Sony’s film “One of Them Days” secured the bronze position this past Friday, bringing in an additional $2.3 million. Estimates suggest it will earn around $TK million during its second weekend, which represents a steady 48% decrease from its initial release. With SZA and Keke Palmer leading the comedy, it’s projected to approach a total domestic gross of approximately $25 million within its first ten days in theaters.

In its sixth week in cinemas, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is expected to earn an additional $5.1 million, placing it fourth at the box office. This new installment featuring Sega’s famous video game character is projected to surpass a domestic total of $225 million, making it the ninth highest-grossing film of 2024 when all is said and done.

If “Presence” doesn’t attract the horror audience, “Universal and Blumhouse’s ‘Wolf Man'” might secure the fifth spot at the box office. However, negative reviews have affected the cabin thriller, which is expected to earn around $3 million and experience a 72% decline in its second week. The domestic total for this weekend could reach approximately $17 million, with limited potential for further earnings.

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2025-01-25 19:46