Flight Risk Budget
ActionThriller1h 31mUpdated
Synopsis
A pilot transports an Air Marshal accompanying a fugitive to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.
What is the budget of Flight Risk?
"Flight Risk," an action released in 2025, was directed by Mel Gibson and stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery. The production budget was $25,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for action productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:
- Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.
- Production: In December 2020, Jared Rosenberg's screenplay Flight Risk was voted onto the year's "Black List" of the most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.
How Does Flight Risk's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $25,000,000, Flight Risk sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1408 (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $133,000,000
- A Journal for Jordan (2021): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,700,000
- Abandon (2002): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,719,357
- All My Life (2020): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $2,000,000
- August Rush (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $66,122,026
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Flight Risk Box Office Performance
"Flight Risk" earned $29,783,527 domestically and $48,703,174 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $25,000,000
- Estimated Prints & Advertising (P&A): approximately $30,000,000
- Total Estimated Investment: approximately $55,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $48,703,174
- Net Return: approximately +$23,703,174
- ROI: approximately +95%
At approximately +95%, Flight Risk returned roughly $1.95 for every $1 of production budget invested during its theatrical run.
At 94.8%, "Flight Risk" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
N/A
Flight Risk Production History
Flight Risk originated from a screenplay by Jared Rosenberg that made the prestigious 2020 Black List, an annual survey of the most liked unproduced screenplays circulating in Hollywood. The high-concept thriller, set almost entirely aboard a small aircraft, attracted attention for its contained setting and escalating tension.
Director Mel Gibson and star Mark Wahlberg were announced in May 2023, reuniting Gibson with a mainstream studio project after years of focusing on independent productions. Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace joined the cast in January 2024, with Leah Remini and Paul Ben-Victor contributing voice roles.
Principal photography took place from June through August 2023, with primary filming in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additional shooting occurred in Mesquite, Nevada over two days in July 2023, and further sequences were filmed in Alaska to capture the film's remote wilderness setting. The production was approved by SAG-AFTRA to continue filming during the 2023 actors' strike.
Wahlberg committed to a notable physical transformation for the role, partially shaving his head daily rather than wearing a bald cap, adding a layer of authenticity to his performance as a menacing pilot. The production was handled by Icon Productions (Gibson's company), Davis Entertainment Company, and Hammerstone Studios.
Lionsgate distributed the film theatrically in the United States, releasing it on January 24, 2025. Flight Risk opened at number one with $11,600,000 on its opening weekend, though it dropped to fifth place in its second weekend with $5,400,000. The film's theatrical run lasted 63 days.
Critical Reception
Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it a 70% positive score. In a mixed review, Wendy Ide of The Guardian praised Wahlberg's performance, calling it "enormous" and "pulpy fun", though she found the movie "diminished in terms of scope and ambition" compared to Gibson's other directorial efforts. In his review, critic Mark Kermode called it "one of the worst films I've ever seen".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Flight Risk?
Flight Risk was produced on a budget of $25,000,000. The film was a collaboration between Icon Productions (Mel Gibson's company), Davis Entertainment Company, and Hammerstone Studios. Marketing costs were estimated at an additional $20,000,000.
How much did Flight Risk earn at the box office?
Flight Risk earned $48,700,000 worldwide, comprising $29,800,000 domestically in the United States and Canada and $18,900,000 from international markets. The film opened at number one with $11,600,000 on its opening weekend of January 24, 2025.
Was Flight Risk profitable?
Flight Risk's profitability is marginal. With $48,700,000 in worldwide gross against a $25,000,000 production budget plus an estimated $20,000,000 in marketing, the total investment was approximately $45,000,000. Accounting for the standard theatrical revenue split where studios receive roughly half of ticket sales, the film likely broke close to even theatrically before home video revenue.
What were the biggest costs in producing Flight Risk?
The primary cost drivers included cast salaries for Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace, the construction and rigging of aircraft interiors for the confined cockpit setting, location filming across Las Vegas and Mesquite in Nevada plus Alaska, aerial and stunt photography, and Mel Gibson's directing fee.
How does Flight Risk's budget compare to similar thrillers?
Flight Risk's $25,000,000 budget is typical for mid-range genre thrillers with recognizable stars. Con Air (1997), a comparable airborne thriller, cost $75,000,000 (approximately $143,000,000 adjusted for inflation). Non-Stop (2014) with Liam Neeson cost $50,000,000. Flight Risk operated at a leaner budget point while still delivering a star-driven action premise.
Did Flight Risk go over budget?
There are no public reports of budget overruns on Flight Risk. Principal photography proceeded from June through August 2023 across locations in Las Vegas, Mesquite (Nevada), and Alaska. The production was approved by SAG-AFTRA to continue filming during the 2023 actors' strike.
What was the return on investment for Flight Risk?
Flight Risk's gross ROI based on production budget alone was approximately 95%. The formula: ($48,700,000 minus $25,000,000) divided by $25,000,000 times 100 equals 94.8%. However, when factoring in the estimated $20,000,000 marketing spend, the total investment of $45,000,000 reduces the effective ROI to approximately 8.2% on gross receipts.
What awards did Flight Risk receive?
Flight Risk did not receive any major awards or nominations. The film received a CinemaScore of C from audiences and holds a 29% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Mark Kermode called it "one of the worst films I've ever seen," though some critics found entertainment value in Wahlberg's committed performance.
Who directed Flight Risk?
Flight Risk was directed by Mel Gibson, the Academy Award-winning director of Braveheart (1995) and Hacksaw Ridge (2016). The screenplay was written by Jared Rosenberg, whose script appeared on the 2020 Black List of most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.
Where was Flight Risk filmed?
Flight Risk was filmed primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada, with additional shooting in Mesquite, Nevada (two days in July 2023) and Alaska. The Nevada locations provided the desert and urban environments, while Alaska captured the remote wilderness setting central to the film's plot.
Filmmakers
Flight Risk
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