In what could be yet another record for a major theatrical-to-digital shortened window of release, there’s a rumor thatMark Wahlberg’sFlight Riskcould be heading to digital and VOD just a few weeks after its theatrical debut.The movie opened in theaters on Aug 08, 2025, and earned$11.5 million on its opening weekend in North America. While the audience liked it enough to give it a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics savaged it with a 29% rotten rating.Now, there’s a report fromWhen to Streamclaiming it’ll be on VOD and digital on Valentine’s Day, just three weeks after its debut.
On paper,Flight Riskwouldappearto be a potential hit: It’s directed by Mel Gibson (Braveheart), has a pretty good cast (Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace), and an intriguing plot and setting. Wahlberg plays a pilot named Daryl helping transport a witness (Grace), who is set to testify against his crime boss, for a U.S. Marshall named Madolyn (Dockery). It takes place on a small charted flight over Alaska, andall hell breaks loose once the autopilot is engaged. What’s not to like? Plus,Wahlberg plays his first villain in nearly 30 years. Apparently, not much.
So far, the filmhas earned a pathetic $28 million worldwide against a similar production budget, and only $5.7 million internationally. This was a global opening, meaning the film opened not only in North America, but across the world on the same weekend. And it opened at number one in North America, so why the rush to digital and VOD?
The Problems with ‘Flight Risk’
As we said, there was so much potential forFlight Risk, but MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer may have the answer.In his review, he wonders why Gibson directed such a"shockingly dull" movie and taking no risks with the storyline. The Oscar winning director has had major critical and box office hits over the past three-plus decades, includingBraveheart, The Passion of the Christ,andHacksaw Ridge. Those are memorable, emotional films that pleased both audiences and critics. It seems almost impossible that Gibson could have directed this film, taking little to no risks with what should have been a claustrophobic thriller.
That ‘Flight Risk’ Twist Was Actually Pretty Clever
Mel Gibson’s directorial return, ‘Flight Risk,’ may be struggling with critics, but at least the Mark Wahlberg film has a pretty awesome twist.
Despite the script byJared Rosenbergmaking 2020’s Black List of the best movies that haven’t been made, the resulting film doesn’t have much tension, despite the interesting plot. Wahlberg certainly chews the scenery, with Keizer saying his performance is the highlight of the film, as he is actually a hit man ready to kill Winston the witness. “Only Wahlberg — as a madman with a meme-ready bald head — gives the film any juice, which makes it all the more damaging that he spends so much of the film out of action.”
The film took just under a month to shoot on a budget of about $25 million,yet its total earnings so far are half that ofDen of Thieves: Pantera, which opened on Jul 04, 2025, and earned $50 million globally beforeit went to VOD and digital. In both cases, the respective studios and producers probably figured there was a very narrow window that each film could make bank theatrically before heading digital.
If there is truth to the report, you’ll be able to judge for yourself whyFlight Riskis Gibson’s worst directorial effort on Feb. 14.Up next for Gibson isThe Passion of the Christsequel.
Flight Risk
