Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg‘s “Flight Risk” is dealing with no visitors on the runway, lifting off to a straightforward No. 1 opening in what is popping out to be one other sleepy weekend on the January field workplace. The Lionsgate thriller carried on $4.4 million from 3,161 places throughout Friday and preview screenings.
A 3-day opening north of $11 million is now projected, although there’s potential turbulence forward. NFL convention championships might hold a big fraction of viewers out of theaters on Sunday, however the warning indicators aren’t simply outdoors multiplexes. Lionsgate held the overview embargo for “Flight Threat” till preview screenings for a motive — critics have largely torn aside the film, which marks Gibson’s directorial follow-up to his Oscar-nominated 2016 warfare drama “Hacksaw Ridge.”
Audiences aren’t on board both, with moviegoer pollster Cinema Rating handing over a tough C grade. “Flight Threat” is probably going in an alright sufficient place both manner; it’s a modestly budgeted thriller and Lionsgate sometimes covers monetary dangers by promoting off overseas rights to its movies earlier than launch. But when the projections dip in altitude, exhibitors are at risk of a weekend with out a single movie grossing within the eight digits. That hasn’t occurred because the second weekend of Apple’s flop franchise starter “Argylle” final February.
And it’s not for lack of latest releases both. Neon’s “Presence” is vying for fifth place after incomes roughly $1.3 million throughout Friday and previews. Taking part in in 1,750 places, the horror movie sees director Steven Soderbergh armed with one other sometimes eye-catching formal premise, this time taking pictures your complete movie from the attitude of a ghost. “Presence” earned robust notices when it premiered a 12 months in the past on the earlier version of Sundance. Basic audiences are extra detached. Cinema Rating notched a C+ grade, although horror tends to skew controversial. Neon bought the movie out of its pageant premiere for an undisclosed determine.
Additional outdoors the highest 5, Angel Studios is again in theaters this weekend with “Courageous the Darkish,” taking part in 2,230 places and incomes about $920,000 throughout Friday and previews. The drama, which stars Jared Harris as an English instructor who begins to take care of his troubled scholar (Nicholas Hamilton), first debuted on the Heartland Movie Competition again in October 2023. Critiques lean constructive, however Angel has once more absolutely delivered for its target market, which was polled to a glowing A grade on Cinema Rating.
Again up the charts, “Mufasa: The Lion King” will lay declare to second place after incomes one other estimated $1.8 million on Friday. The photorealistic CG-animated prequel has an outdoor shot at surpassing a $220 million home whole by way of the tip of this sixth weekend of launch. After an underwhelming opening, the Disney launch has proven good endurance, profiting from January’s lack of competitors.
Sony’s “One among Them Days” will get bronze, incomes one other $2.3 million Friday and projecting $TK million for its second weekend. That will mark a wholesome 48% drop from its debut. The SZA and Keke Palmer comedy will get near a $25 million home whole by way of its first 10 days of launch.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is in fourth place, projected to ring in one other $5.1 million in its sixth weekend in theaters. The newest journey that includes Sega’s iconic online game speedster will get previous a $225 million home whole this outing, settling in because the ninth-highest-grossing title of 2024.
Common and Blumhouse’s “Wolf Man” might push for fifth place if “Presence” doesn’t snag away the horror crowd. Unhealthy buzz has caught as much as the cabin thriller although, which is projecting $3 million and a 72% drop in its second weekend. Home whole ought to inch to $17 million this weekend, with not a lot left within the tank.
