Lionsgate’s action thriller FLIGHT RISK outsold all other movies this weekend with an estimated $12M in its opening. All titles together grossed $67.7M, the lowest total of the four weekends so far in 2025. That said, it was higher than last year on this weekend when the total came in at $54.5M, led by Paramount’s MEAN GIRLS with $6.9M in its third weekend in theatres. Looking back nostalgically to brighter days, the fourth weekend of 2019 produced $103.5M, led by M. Night Shyamalan’s GLASS with $18.9M in its second weekend.
Exhibitors cannot survive on a run of sub-$80M weekends, such as the last three weekends this year. These disappointing results are due to a relatively unappetizing menu of new releases over the past month. Next week, Universal and DreamWorks’ animated DOG MAN and Warner Bros.’ horror film COMPANION will try to break the spell.
FLIGHT RISK is Lionsgate’s second movie to win first place in 2025, following DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA which won the race two weeks ago with $15.0M in its opening. FLIGHT RISK was directed by Mel Gibson whose last outing as director came in 2016 with HACKSAW RIDGE. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, who plays a balding hitman and pilot named Daryl Booth. Wahlberg is said to have partially shaved his head every day to fully immerse himself in the character.
The limited cast is filled out by Michelle Dockery (DOWNTON ABBEY) and Topher Grace (HERETIC), with only these three characters appearing on screen for the majority of the movie. With Wahlberg as the pilot, Dockery as the air marshall, and Grace as the fugitive, the three set out in a small plane flying over the Alaskan wilderness to transport Grace to a trial.
During the flight, the hidden agendas of the three characters are revealed, and their plans unravel in very tight quarters. The story explores themes of deception, survival, and human resilience as the characters battle against a harsh environment and conflicting motives.
FLIGHT RISK is fast-paced, with a short running time of 91 minutes. Gibson’s HACKSAW RIDGE was nominated for the Best Picture and Best Director Oscar, but there’s little chance of that outcome in this case, with critics panning the film with a lowly 21% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience’s 62% rating is better, but not strong enough to drive the box office in subsequent weeks.
The Associated Press describes FLIGHT RISK as a “truly forgettable thriller-comedy,” with each actor seemingly playing a role in a different genre, leading to a disjointed experience. The Wall Street Journal says the film is a “painfully stiff thriller,” The Guardian praises the movie for its blend of action, suspense, and humor with a surprising twist. The performances of Wahlberg, Dockery, and Grace are noted as effective, despite the film’s silliness. Finally, Metacritic reports that the film manages to deliver some high-altitude thrills in its concise run time.
“However, clunky dialogue, uneven performances, and subpar special effects make it less impressive overall”. With a production budget of $26M, the film will need to earn at least $65M in worldwide box office to turn a profit. Based on an opening of $12M and negative reviews, the movie seems to be on track to have an unpleasant landing.
Finishing second, yet again, is Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING with $8.7M and a drop of only 28%. The Disney movie has wound up in first or second place for all six weeks since it opened, earning $221.1M domestic and $626.7M worldwide over the past 38 days. MUFASA continues its climb closer to the box office totals of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, which opened together on December 20th. Here is where these two films stand as of today.
MUFASA: THE LION KING vs. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 after 38 Days
- MUFASA: THE LION KING (12/20/2024) – Domestic Opening $35.4M (4,100 Locations), Domestic 10-Day $113.5M, Domestic 17-Day $168.6M, Domestic 24-Day $188.7M, Domestic 31-Day $205.8M, Domestic 38-Day $221.1M, RT Critics/Audience 58%/89%
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12/20/2024) – Domestic Opening $60.1M (3,761 Locations), Domestic 10-Day $137.6M, Domestic 17-Day $187.5M, Domestic 24-Day $204.5M, Domestic 31-Day $216.5M, Domestic 38-Day $226.1M, RT Critics/Audience 86%/95%
After SONIC 3 ran out to an early lead over MUFASA in their opening weekend, the Lion King has outperformed the video game Hero every week since then, with its total box office equal to 98% of SONIC 3’s. We expect that MUFASA will overtake SONIC 3 by next weekend.
Sony’s ONE OF THEM DAYS finished third with $8.0M and a drop of 32%. Propelled by last weekend’s strong start, the urban buddy comedy has accumulated $25.1M domestic in ten days. It has earned excellent Rotten Tomatoes scores of 94% and 91% with critics and audiences respectively, leading to word-of-mouth recommendations from moviegoers who have enjoyed it.
With only $14M spent on its production, the comedy is well on its way to earning the $35M worldwide box office necessary for it to be profitable. The on-screen chemistry between KeKe Palmer and SZA has worked so well that Sony may already be thinking about a sequel, choosing from an almost unlimited number of potential storylines showcasing the two stars in comedic situations.
Paramount’s SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 finished fourth with $5.5M, a drop of 36%. This brings its 38-day total to $226.1M domestic and $446.6M worldwide. Each SONIC movie has outgrossed its predecessor, which is a feat that is seldom achieved in a franchise series.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Franchise History
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (2/14/2020) – Domestic Opening $58.0M (4,167 Locations), Domestic 10-Day $106.5M, Domestic 17-Day $128.6M, Domestic 24-Day $140.5M, Domestic 31-Day $145.8M, Domestic 38-Day $146.1M, Domestic Total $149.0M, Worldwide Total $319.7M, Budget $85M, RT Critics/Audience 64%/93%
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (4/8/2022) – Domestic Opening $72.1M (4,234 Locations), Domestic 10-Day $119.9M, Domestic 17-Day $146.3M, Domestic 24-Day $161.1M, Domestic 31-Day $169.7M, Domestic 38-Day $175.8M, Domestic Total $190.9M, Worldwide Total $405.4M, Budget $110M, RT Critics/Audience 69%/96%
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12/20/2024) – Domestic Opening $60.M (3,761 Locations), Domestic 10-Day $137.6M, Domestic 17-Day $187.5M, Domestic 24-Day $204.5M, Domestic 31-Day $216.5M, Domestic 38-Day $226.1M, Budget $122M, RT Critics/Audience 86%/96%
Finishing in fifth place is Disney’s MOANA 2, which earned $4.3M and dropped 28%. Now in its ninth week, Disney’s sequel has earned $450.0M domestic and $1.026B worldwide over 61 days in theatres. This makes it the seventh highest-grossing animated film of all time in the domestic market, passing SHREK 2 which earned $441.4M in 2004.
Still playing in 2,550 theatres, MOANA 2 now has its sights set on sixth place, closing in on FROZEN II from 2019 which earned a domestic box office of $477.4M. This is quite an achievement considering all the competition for the family moviegoing audience that MOANA 2 has had to face over the last two months.
Where Are We as of 1/23/2025
The domestic box office for the first three film weeks of 2025 stands at 106% compared to the same period in 2024 and 64% compared to 2019.