This Surprising $75 Million Hit From Last Year Bodes Well For Mark Wahlberg's Upcoming Villain Movie

Summary Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg as a villain, may replicate the success of the similar film "Plane" from 2023.

The new movie, directed by Mel Gibson, follows an air marshal lured into a trap by a hitman posing as a pilot.

With Wahlberg's star power and the potential for global box office success, Flight Risk could easily reach $100 million worldwide.

Mark Wahlberg's upcoming film Flight Risk could prove to be a surprise success, especially when taking into account the box office of a similar blockbuster from last year. In Flight Risk, Wahlberg is set to play against type, as instead of his usual heroic persona he is taking on the role of a psychotic hitman. The trailer for the film recently debuted at CinemaCon, and Flight Risk will likely premiere either late 2024 or early 2025.

Flight Risk began its life as a script on the famous Black List screenplay competition. In the film, an air marshal (played by Michelle Dockery) is transporting a crucial informant but is lured into a trap by a hitman (Walhberg) who is posing as the pilot for the small plane they're using. It's a role that bodes well considering a recent similar hit.

Mark Wahlberg's Flight Risk Sounds Like A Similar Action Movie To 2023's Plane

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Flight Risk is broadly similar in premise and genre to another recent blockbuster, Jean-François Richet's 2023 action film Plane. Both films take place on aircraft, involve the transportation of fugitives, and take a dire turn for the protagonists. They also both occupy similar niches of moderately lower-budget action films that still feature well-known actors, although Mark Wahlberg is currently a higher-profile star than Gerard Butler. Both films seem to embrace an older Hollywood approach to action filmmaking, with the focus on pairing a star with an intriguing concept rather than a piece of branded IP.

Plane Was A Big Office Success - And Flight Risk Could Be Even Bigger

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When it was released in January 2023, Plane proved to be a sleeper hit, no doubt helped by its modest budget of $25 million. While the budget of Flight Risk hasn't been shared yet, the premise suggests it could be in a similar range, and it could potentially do even better. Wahlberg is still a big name in Hollywood and is capable of drawing impressive returns for films like Father Stu and Uncharted. Flight Risk is also directed by Mel Gibson, who, despite a history of antisemitic and racist statements, is still a known name and occasional box office draw.

It wouldn't be surprising if Flight Risk becomes a similar modest hit like Plane. With the right marketing behind it, the film could easily reach $100 million worldwide in its gross, and become a well-liked action film on any streaming service that gets the rights to feature it. The track record of Mark Wahlberg, plus the novelty of him playing a villain instead of the typical hero, could be enough to push it over the edge just like what happened with Plane.