The checkered flag is waving over the global box office, signaling massive wins for two distinct films. apple Original Films’ high-octane drama F1 has zoomed past expectations, securing a powerful $144 million worldwide debut. This performance marks the biggest opening weekend ever for an Apple title released theatrically. Meanwhile, Sony’s horror sequel 28 Years Later sprinted past a major milestone, crossing the $100 million global threshold to set a new franchise record.
Warner Bros. distributed F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt. The film’s initial numbers significantly outpaced earlier forecasts for its opening weekend. The global tally includes an impressive $88.4 million generated from 78 international box office markets. Overseas, the racing picture secured the No. 1 spot among U.S. films in 74 of those 78 territories. Domestically, the film added another $55.6 million from 3,661 cinemas, contributing to the overall record-breaking launch.
F1’s Strong Performance: Comparing the Numbers
Breaking down the international numbers reveals the scale of F1‘s debut. In like-for-like market comparisons at current exchange rates, the film’s international start tracks favorably against several notable titles. It currently stands on par with Gladiator II. It is also performing 18% ahead of WWZ. Furthermore, it is 34% bigger than Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The film soared 58% above Bad Boys: Ride or Die. It even dramatically outperformed Bullet Train by 152% at similar points in their releases. This paints a picture of strong global appeal right out of the gate.
A key engine driving F1‘s debut was the contribution from IMAX screens. Globally, IMAX generated $27.7 million for the film. Overseas, IMAX contributed $11.1 million. This accounted for over 12% of the weekend total in significant markets like the UK, Japan, and Korea. China saw a particularly strong IMAX showing with $3.8 million. This number represented a massive 43% of the film’s nationwide opening in that country.
The Role of International Markets
The robust international performance was largely anticipated due to Formula 1 racing’s immense global popularity. This high-octane drama was always poised for big business outside North America. Despite a UK heatwave, that market delivered a clear No. 1 start for the racing film. The UK opening weekend reached $9.2 million. Including previews, this debut was roughly on par with Pitt’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It also finished ahead of Fast X (+17%). Impressively, it beat Bad Boys: Ride or Die by a significant +78% in the UK.
Across the entire European region, F1 achieved the biggest opening weekend for any Apple film to date. Eastern European countries showed particularly strong performance. This likely reflects the popularity of F1 racing in those areas. The Middle Eastern region combined for $5.6 million in its opening frame. The UAE notably overperformed, clocking $2.7 million. This set new opening records there for Apple, Brad Pitt, co-star Javier Bardem, and director Joseph Kosinski.
In Latin America, the film dominated the region, landing at No. 1 with a commanding 46% market share. This was also the top start for an Apple film in that region. Asian markets are reporting positive word-of-mouth. This helped the film rank as a clear No. 1 in most territories across Asia.
Key Market Breakdowns for F1
Leading the international charge was the UK with its $9.2 million haul. China followed closely with $9 million. The China debut marked both the biggest opening day for an Apple film and the largest opening day for Brad Pitt in that market. Mexico secured the third spot with $6.7 million. Including previews, this total put Mexico’s debut ahead of Top Gun: Maverick by a remarkable +38% at the same point in release.
Other top international markets included France, which delivered $5.4 million and received strong social scores from audiences. Australia also contributed significantly with $5 million. The Australia debut was the top opening for both an Apple movie and a Brad Pitt film in that territory. These key markets highlight the widespread appeal and strong initial reception for F1 globally. The film’s success underscores the power of combining a globally popular sport with A-list talent and a strong marketing push.
The Production and Marketing Drive
F1 represents a four-year collaboration between Apple Original Films and Formula One itself. Production involved shooting at live F1 races around the world. Key creative figures include producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski, reuniting after their massive success with Top Gun: Maverick. Brad Pitt stars and also serves as a producer. Formula One champion driver Lewis Hamilton is another producer, credited with ensuring the film’s racing realism.
The marketing campaign supporting F1‘s launch was extensive and innovative. Apple leveraged its vast ecosystem in unique ways. They introduced a first-of-its-kind haptic trailer for iPhone. This used the Taptic Engine to align vibrations with on-screen action. They also featured a themed F1 keynote at their Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC25). Apple Pay offered ticket discounts. In-store events at Apple Retail Stores featured appearances by cast members and Apple leadership like Tim Cook. Apple Maps highlighted featured racetracks. The film was also promoted across Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Fitness+.
Warner Bros.’ strategy focused on broadening the film’s appeal beyond existing F1 fans. They highlighted themes of triumph and the underdog. This aimed to attract a wider domestic audience, similar to the approach taken for Top Gun: Maverick. Promotions like a DHL Worldwide sponsored car ‘unboxing’ in Times Square made the stunts feel accessible. A Brad Pitt appearance at an IMAX screening in Austin, TX, specifically targeted NASCAR fans. The campaign involved 33 global promotional partners, including major brands like Mercedes Benz, T-Mobile, Heineken, and KFC. KFC ran its largest-ever promotion for a Hollywood film. Lewis Hamilton used his significant social media following (55.8M fans) to promote the movie, alongside other cast members.
Audience Reception and Technical Achievements
Audience reaction to F1 has been overwhelmingly positive. The film earned an impressive ‘A’ CinemaScore. This marks the second consecutive A or A+ CinemaScore for the Bruckheimer/Kosinski pairing. PostTrak scores were strong with 5 Stars (92%) and an excellent 78% definite recommend. Critics also responded favorably, giving the film an 84% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Social media conversation generally praised the racing action and realism. Director Joseph Kosinski was lauded for bringing the intensity of Top Gun: Maverick to the racing sequences. The involvement of Lewis Hamilton was seen as contributing significantly to the film’s authenticity.
Technically, the film utilized new IMAX digital cameras and miniature cameras mounted directly onto F1 cars. This aimed to capture the intensity of the sport like never before. This focus on large formats paid off handsomely. IMAX screens alone contributed $12.8 million (23%) to the North American debut from just 414 auditoriums. This performance ranks F1 among an elite group of films (eighth in IMAX history) where IMAX accounted for 20% or more of the opening weekend. Premium Large Formats (PLFs) and IMAX combined drove a significant 58% of the stateside opening business.
28 Years Later Sets Franchise Record
Away from the racetrack, the zombie apocalypse delivered a milestone. Danny Boyle and Sony’s 28 Years Later officially crossed the century mark globally this weekend. The film’s worldwide total reached $103 million. This performance makes it the biggest grosser in the history of the 28 Days Later franchise. Over the weekend, the film added another $13.7 million from 63 overseas markets. This represented a drop of 49% from its opening frame internationally.
The running international cumulative total for 28 Years Later now stands at $52.7 million. Comparing this performance to other films at the same point in their release in like-for-like markets, it is tracking ahead of Sinners by 26% and Smile 2 by 18%. It is currently pacing on par with both A Quiet Place Part II and Evil Dead Rise. This strong hold and overall performance solidify its place as a success for the horror genre and the long-running series.
Other Notable Films in the Market
Beyond the headline-grabbing performances of F1 and 28 Years Later, several other major titles continued to make their mark at the global box office. Universal’s live-action How To Train Your Dragon remains a powerful force. In its third weekend, the film added another $32.7 million from 81 international markets. This represented a moderate 41% dip from the previous frame. This strong hold pushed its offshore cumulative total to $254.4 million. The film’s global running total now stands at an impressive $454.4 million.
Notable achievements for How To Train Your Dragon include surpassing Minecraft in China to become the second-highest-grossing studio title of the year there, with $31.1 million. In Mexico, the film has grossed $30 million, successfully overtaking the lifetime gross of Beauty and The Beast in that territory. The top 5 markets for How To Train Your Dragon to date are the UK ($21.8M), Brazil ($15M), and Korea ($11.4M), following China and Mexico.
Pixar/Disney’s animated feature Elio reached $72.3 million globally after its second weekend. Respectable midweek play helped mitigate some larger drops in individual markets. The international sophomore weekend added $11.4 million from 48 material markets, a 38% decrease from its opening. The film’s overseas total currently sits at $30.1 million. Its top 5 markets are Korea ($3M), France ($2.9M), UK ($2.9M), China ($2.7M), and Mexico ($2.3M). The film is still slated for release in Spain and Japan.
The live-action Lilo & Stitch remake from Disney is also performing strongly, nearing the $1 billion mark globally. The charmer is now at $946 million worldwide after this weekend’s performance. It saw a modest 36% dip internationally in the frame. Strong holds were reported in key markets like France (-15%), UK (-18%), Japan (-20%), and Germany (-21%). The film’s offshore cumulative total is $546 million. Its top 5 markets are Mexico ($65.7M), UK ($47.4M), France ($38.8M), Brazil ($35.5M), and Germany ($30M).
Contrast with M3GAN 2.0
While F1 soared, the sequel M3GAN 2.0 from Universal/Blumhouse faced significant challenges. The sci-fi horror film had a disappointing domestic opening weekend, debuting in fourth place with an estimated $10.2M-$10.4M. This figure was considerably lower than earlier projections, even underperforming worst-case scenarios. Internationally, it added $7 million for a meager $17 million worldwide opening. This performance starkly contrasts with the original M3GAN, which launched to a surprising $30 million domestically on a much smaller budget ($12 million vs the sequel’s $25 million).
The underperformance of M3GAN 2.0 is being attributed to several factors. Some analysts suggest the film was perceived as more “campy” and less genuinely frightening than its predecessor. While it received a slightly better CinemaScore (B+) than the original (B), critic reviews were much less favorable, dropping to a 58% “rotten” score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original’s 93%. Marketing that leaned heavily into the doll’s quirky, viral “Hey Queens” persona may have alienated core horror fans seeking scares. Negative social media comments noted issues with the CGI look of the doll and a perceived change in the film’s tone or genre focus. While positioned as counterprogramming, its struggle highlights that not all sequels, even to surprise hits, can replicate initial success if they don’t meet audience expectations for the genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What box office records did the F1 movie opening break?
The Apple Original Films movie F1, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, achieved several box office records during its opening weekend. It secured the biggest global opening weekend ever for an Apple title released theatrically, reaching $144 million worldwide. The film also set a new worldwide opening weekend record for star Brad Pitt. In numerous international markets like the UAE, China (opening day), Mexico (opening day), and Australia (opening day), the film established new top opening records for both Apple films and Brad Pitt’s movies.
How did F1’s marketing strategy contribute to its success?
F1‘s success was significantly bolstered by an innovative and extensive marketing campaign. Apple leveraged its vast ecosystem, including creating a unique haptic trailer for iPhones, featuring the film at WWDC, offering Apple Pay discounts, and holding in-store events. Warner Bros. focused on broadening the film’s appeal beyond Formula 1 fans by emphasizing underdog themes and making promotions accessible. The campaign involved numerous global partners and extensive talent participation, including F1 champion Lewis Hamilton using his social media reach. This multi-platform approach generated substantial media value and built widespread awareness.
What other major movies saw box office milestones this weekend?
Besides F1‘s record debut, several other films achieved significant box office milestones this weekend. Danny Boyle’s horror sequel 28 Years Later crossed $100 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film in its franchise’s history. Universal’s live-action How To Train Your Dragon continued its strong run, pushing its global total past $450 million and becoming the second-highest-grossing studio film of the year in China. Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch remake is nearing the $1 billion mark globally, holding strong in international markets.
The strong box office performance of F1 this weekend underscores the power of event cinema, particularly when tapping into globally popular phenomena like Formula 1. Combined with the franchise record set by 28 Years Later and the continued success of other major releases, the global exhibition market shows moments of significant vitality. Industry observers will watch closely to see if F1 can maintain momentum and if other upcoming releases can match its impressive start.
