
Lionsgate’s Flight Risk, an action thriller directed by Mel Gibson, soared to the top of the box office this weekend with an estimated $12 million opening. This brings the total domestic box office gross for the weekend to $67.7 million, a modest improvement from last year’s comparable weekend of $54.5 million but far below pre-pandemic highs, like the $103.5 million weekend in 2019 led by M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass.
Despite its top placement, Flight Risk faces an uphill battle to profitability. Starring Mark Wahlberg as a balding hitman-turned-pilot, Michelle Dockery as an air marshal, and Topher Grace as a fugitive, the film received mixed reviews, with critics panning its clunky dialogue and uneven tone (21% on Rotten Tomatoes).
However, audiences were slightly more favorable, giving it a 62% rating. The film’s production budget of $26 million requires a worldwide gross of at least $65 million to break even, but its tepid reception may ground its future box office potential.
Mufasa Roars Steadily in Second
Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King secured the second spot with $8.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $221.1 million and worldwide earnings to $626.7 million. Despite a smaller opening than its competitor Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mufasa has consistently outpaced the video game adaptation weekly and is poised to surpass Sonic in total box office revenue by next weekend.
One of Them Days Holds Strong in Third
Sony’s urban buddy comedy One of Them Days dropped just 32%, earning $8 million and bringing its domestic total to $25.1 million. Starring Keke Palmer and SZA, the film has been buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and stellar Rotten Tomatoes scores of 94% (critics) and 91% (audiences). With a modest $14 million production budget, the film is already on track to profitability, and Sony is reportedly considering a sequel.
Sonic and Moana Continue Their Box Office Runs
Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 landed in fourth with $5.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $226.1 million and its worldwide haul to $446.6 million. Meanwhile, Disney’s Moana 2 earned $4.3 million in its ninth weekend, crossing $450 million domestically and $1.026 billion globally.
The animated sequel now ranks as the seventh highest-grossing animated film in the U.S., with sights set on surpassing Frozen II’s domestic total of $477.4 million.
The domestic box office for the first three weeks of 2025 is up 6% compared to the same period in 2024 but lags far behind pre-pandemic figures, sitting at just 64% of 2019’s year-to-date total. Industry insiders are optimistic that upcoming releases like Universal’s animated Dog Man and Warner Bros.’ horror film Companion can reignite interest and draw audiences back to theaters.
With the box office struggling to regain pre-pandemic momentum, next weekend’s releases will be crucial in determining whether 2025 can sustain its modest early gains. All eyes are on Dog Man and Companion to deliver the excitement moviegoers have been craving.

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