A hitman in the cockpit: the high-stakes thriller that divided critics and audiences

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 2025 action thriller Flight Risk, a Deputy U.S. Marshal transports a mob informant across Alaska, only to discover their pilot is a disguised assassin. Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mark Wahlberg, the film explores a claustrophobic mid-air struggle where trust is the most dangerous variable of all.

The plot centers on Madolyn Harris, a U.S. Marshal tasked with moving Winston, an accountant who turned informant against the Moretti crime family. During a flight in a Cessna 208 Caravan, Harris realizes her pilot, Daryl Booth, is an imposter—a hitman sent to eliminate the witness. The situation escalates as Harris discovers high-level corruption within the Marshals, including her superior, Caroline Van Sant, and the agency's director, Coleridge, who are both compromised by the mob. The film builds tension through a series of betrayals, forcing Harris to navigate the plane with ground-based assistance while fending off the assassin in the cabin.

Production of the film was marked by unique choices, most notably Mark Wahlberg’s commitment to the role of the balding pilot; rather than using a prosthetic bald cap, he partially shaved his head daily. Principal photography began in June 2023 in Las Vegas, with additional filming in Mesquite, Nevada, and Alaska. Despite the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the production secured approval to continue filming, which concluded in August 2023. The screenplay, written by Jared Rosenberg, had previously gained industry attention in 2020 when it was selected for the Black List of highly regarded unproduced scripts.

Upon its January 24, 2025 release, the film faced a polarized reception. While it debuted at number one at the domestic box office with $11.6 million, it ultimately grossed $48.7 million worldwide against a $20 million promotional budget. Critical response was largely negative, with a 29% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 38. Critics like Clint Worthington described it as a "bumpy ride," though some reviewers, such as Wendy Ide, found Wahlberg’s performance to be "pulpy fun." The film’s theatrical run lasted 63 days, leaving a legacy as a polarizing entry in the action-thriller genre.

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