The China Mail - Mel Gibson's 'Flight Risk' lands atop N.America box office

The Lionsgate movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace in a story about a US marshal transporting a mobster-turned-informant across the Alaskan wilderness. The flight proves bumpy when the pilot is revealed to have an ulterior motive.

"This is a good opening for an original action thriller," said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. Though reviews have been "poor," he said, "business should be good in all parts of the world."

Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King," slipped to second spot, earning an estimated $8.7 million. Its domestic take stands at $221.1 million, and it has sold $405 million in tickets abroad.

Also dropping one spot, to third, was Sony comedy "One of Them Days," at $8 million. Keke Palmer and singer SZA star in the Issa Rae-produced film, playing roommates scrambling to pay rent or face eviction after a boyfriend squanders their money.

Holding steady at fourth, in its sixth weekend out, was Paramount's animated "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," at $5.5 million.

And holding in fifth was Disney animation "Moana 2." It took in $4.3 million in its ninth weekend out and should soon become the ninth biggest animated film of all time, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"Presence" ($3.42 million)

"Wolf Man" ($3.4 million)

"A Complete Unknown" ($3.1 million)

"Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" ($3 million)

"The Brutalist" ($2.9 million)

P.Ho--ThChM