Despite the turbulence, Mel Gibson’s “Flight Risk” managed to open No. 1 at the box office with a modest $12 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Mel Gibson's new action film "Flight Risk" has topped the North American box office, taking in an estimated $12 million on a slow winter weekend, industry analysts said Sunday.

"Flight Risk"—director Mel Gibson’s new action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg—is targeting a No. 1 debut at the weekend box office.

Wahlberg plays a pilot flying a federal agent (Michelle Dockery) and a fugitive (Topher Grace) across Alaska in the thrilling flick. Wahlberg and his wife Durham, who tied the knot in 2009, share four kids: Ella, 20, Michael, 18, Brendan, 15 and Grace, 14, who all found their dad’s new do rather funny.

Film Review, a movie directed by Mel Gibson, written by Jared Rosenberg and starring Michelle Dockery, Mark Wahlberg

Mel Gibson’s new action film Flight Risk has topped the North American box office, taking in an estimated $12 million on a slow winter

Lionsgate's advertising campaign for "Flight Risk" credits its latest film to "the award-winning director of ‘Braveheart,' ‘Apocalypto' and ‘Hacksaw Ridge'," which seems a circumspect way of recognizing Mel Gibson as its helmer.