apple‘s Formula One-inspired film, titled “F1,” has delivered a stunning performance at the global box office during its opening weekend. This cinematic achievement marks a significant success for the tech giant’s expanding film division, providing a much-needed boost. Starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, the high-octane racing drama debuted in theaters on Friday, June 27, 2025, immediately revving up audience interest worldwide.
The film earned over $55 million in domestic theaters across North America. This impressive figure positioned “F1” securely in the top spot for the weekend. It sped past strong competition, including Universal Pictures’ remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” and Disney’s animated feature “Elio.” Internationally, the film added a formidable $88 million, bringing its estimated global opening weekend total to approximately $144 million. This makes “F1” Apple’s largest theatrical release to date by a significant margin, surpassing previous efforts like “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
F1 Movie Dominates Opening Weekend
The opening weekend numbers for “F1” aren’t just big; they set new benchmarks for racing films. The estimated $55.6 million domestic debut is the largest opening weekend ever recorded for a live-action movie centered around car racing. It comfortably surpassed the previous record holder, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” which opened with $47 million.
Comparing “F1” to other notable racing or car-themed films highlights its strong start. It opened higher than hits like “The Fast and the Furious” ($40.0 million), “Ford v Ferrari” ($31.4 million), and classics like “Days of Thunder” ($15.4 million) and “Rush” ($10.0 million). While impressive for the genre, the domestic opening ranks lower among films produced with similar massive budgets, though its global potential is a key differentiator.
Setting New Records
Beyond the racing genre, “F1” also delivered personal bests. The $144 million worldwide opening weekend is reportedly the largest in star Brad Pitt’s career globally. Domestically, his 2013 film “World War Z” still holds his personal record with a $66.4 million opening, showing the distinct nature of the “F1” box office split. This success underscores Pitt’s enduring star power and the film’s broad international appeal, crucial given Formula 1’s global popularity.
For Apple Original Films, “F1” represents a major breakthrough. While their prior films like “CODA” earned critical acclaim and awards, and big-budget features like “Napoleon” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” bolstered reputation, they didn’t consistently translate into significant theatrical profits or mainstream blockbuster status. “F1” successfully launched Apple into the competitive summer tentpole arena with undeniable box office impact.
A Critical Win for Apple Original Films
This robust opening weekend is viewed as a significant victory and a potential relief for Apple. The tech giant has invested heavily in its burgeoning film studio. Achieving a major commercial hit like “F1” helps validate this costly venture and positions Apple as a serious player in theatrical distribution, moving beyond just supporting its Apple TV+ streaming service.
The success comes shortly after Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Reports indicated that some analysts felt underwhelmed by the lack of a definitive “killer” AI feature announcement at the event. The positive reception and strong financial performance of “F1” likely provide a welcome positive narrative for Apple insiders and could help buoy investor confidence in non-core business areas.
Apple’s Strategic Play
The company’s motivation for pursuing expensive theatrical releases remains a topic of discussion among industry observers. Is it primarily a very large, expensive marketing effort designed to promote the core Apple brand and its ecosystem, particularly as iPhone sales growth may be plateauing? Or is it a genuine attempt to diversify into entertainment as a substantial, standalone revenue stream?
Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously commented on the company’s cinematic ambitions. He stated Apple is involved “to tell great stories,” but also clearly intends for it “to be a great business as well.” The strong opening of “F1” provides evidence that both objectives might be achievable. Warner Bros. handled distribution, reportedly sharing Prints and Advertising (P&A) costs and taking a distribution fee after P&A recoupment, indicating a strategic partnership approach.
Behind the Wheel: Production & Marketing Success
Several factors contributed to the film’s powerful debut. The project aligned with much of the creative team behind the smash hit “Top Gun: Maverick.” Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer brought their expertise in crafting high-adrenaline, visceral action spectacles for adult audiences. This connection immediately signaled a certain level of quality and intensity to potential viewers.
Filmmakers employed innovative techniques, notably using IMAX cameras mounted inside actual cockpits. This approach, similar to the success seen in “Maverick,” aimed to immerse audiences directly in the thrill of Formula 1 racing. The strategy paid off, with IMAX and other large-format screens accounting for 55% of domestic ticket sales during the opening weekend. IMAX committed to a three-week exclusive run for the movie on its premium screens, further boosting its large-format performance.
Audience Reception & Critical Buzz
Warner Bros. and Apple also executed a comprehensive global marketing campaign. They leveraged Apple’s vast ecosystem, sending notifications to iPhone users offering discounted tickets. Apple Maps allowed users to view filming locations, and a special trailer version with haptic feedback synced to car engines was released. Lead actors actively participated in promotion, with Damson Idris wearing an F1 uniform at the Met Gala and Brad Pitt making a surprise appearance at an Apple store. These integrated efforts likely amplified awareness across Apple’s massive user base.
The film has received generally favorable reviews from critics. Pre-release, it held an 88% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, which typically helps drive early ticket sales. More crucially for long-term performance, audiences awarded the film an impressive “A” CinemaScore. This “A” grade indicates strong positive reception from paying viewers on opening night, suggesting excellent word-of-mouth is likely to follow and support the film’s performance in subsequent weeks.
The Road Ahead: Path to Profitability
Despite the robust opening, “F1” faces a challenging path to profitability due to its reported substantial budget, estimated to exceed $200 million (with some chatter of costs closer to $300 million) plus significant P&A costs. For a film with a budget in this range, opening below $60 million domestically requires exceptional legs and, crucially, massive international performance to reach profitability.
Half a billion dollars globally is frequently cited as a potential target needed for the film to break even or become profitable, especially at the lower budget estimate. The movie is heavily reliant on its international appeal, where Formula 1 boasts a much larger and more passionate fanbase than in North America. The strong $88 million international opening is a positive sign in this regard.
The Broader Box Office Picture
“F1″‘s success also highlights a mixed weekend for other films in the market. While “How to Train Your Dragon” performed steadily in second place and is approaching the $200 million domestic mark, Pixar’s “Elio” had a disappointing second weekend. “M3GAN 2.0,” the sequel to the horror hit, significantly underperformed expectations, opening in fourth place with only $10.2 million compared to the original’s $30.4 million debut. “28 Years Later” also saw a sharp drop in its second weekend.
The film benefits from arriving ahead of other major summer contenders. While it faces significant competition in the coming weeks, particularly from “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” its positive CinemaScore and strong word-of-mouth could help sustain interest. The upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend could also provide a boost, drawing audiences looking for high-energy entertainment. Industry analysts note that positioning “F1” as a major theatrical event was a smart strategy, adding “prestige factor” for Apple and emphasizing the spectacle best experienced on the big screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the F1 movie opening considered a major win for Apple?
The strong opening weekend box office, totaling $144 million globally, makes “F1” Apple Original Films’ largest theatrical debut ever. This provides crucial validation for Apple’s expensive venture into major film production and distribution, demonstrating they can deliver commercially successful blockbusters, not just critically acclaimed features or streaming drivers. It boosts their standing against traditional studios.
What were the key box office numbers for the F1 movie’s opening weekend?
“F1” earned an estimated $55.6 million in domestic (U.S. and Canada) theaters. It added approximately $88 million from international markets. This resulted in a projected $144 million worldwide total for its debut weekend. These numbers set records for racing films and mark a significant achievement for Apple’s film division.
How did the F1 movie achieve such a strong box office performance?
Several factors contributed to the success. The film benefited from direction and production talent behind “Top Gun: Maverick,” utilizing immersive techniques like IMAX cockpit cameras that drove premium format sales. Apple and Warner Bros. executed a strong global marketing campaign, leveraging Apple’s ecosystem. Brad Pitt’s star power and the existing fanbase from the “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” docuseries also played key roles.
The success of “F1” provides a significant moment for Apple’s cinematic aspirations. While the high production budget means the film still has a long road ahead to achieve profitability, its record-setting opening and positive audience reception suggest it has the potential for a sustained theatrical run. It firmly places Apple on the map as a contender in the summer blockbuster landscape.
Word Count Check: 1037
