Brad Pitt’s latest film, the highly anticipated racing drama “F1,” has hit the gas pedal right out of the gate, securing a massive global opening weekend of $144 million. This impressive performance not only marks a career-high box office debut for the Oscar-winning actor but also represents a significant milestone for Apple Original Films’ theatrical ambitions. The movie’s immediate success is positioning it as a potential summer box office champion, drawing comparisons to Joseph Kosinski’s previous hit, Top Gun: Maverick.
The film, which sees Pitt diving into the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing, garnered an estimated $55.6 million from theaters in North America during its debut. Crucially, it pulled in an even larger sum internationally, racking up $88.4 million from overseas markets. This split underscores the global popularity of Formula 1 itself, which was a key factor in the film’s anticipated international appeal. Top performing international markets included the United Kingdom ($9.2 million), China ($9 million), and Mexico ($6.7 million).
A Career-Defining Opening for Brad Pitt
For Brad Pitt, this opening weekend is unprecedented. The $144 million global figure represents the biggest launch of his extensive and celebrated career. Previous major openings, such as “World War Z,” topped out at lower figures before adjusting for inflation. At 61 years old, Pitt continues to demonstrate his star power and ability to draw audiences into theaters, proving to be, in the words of Warner Bros. Distribution Chief Jeffrey Goldstein, the film’s “secret sauce.” While the popularity of the sport certainly contributed to the international draw, Pitt’s involvement was clearly a major driving force behind these record-breaking numbers.
Apple’s First Major Theatrical Win
The “F1” film’s debut is particularly impactful for Apple Original Films. Partnering with Warner Bros. for theatrical distribution, Apple has been aiming to establish a stronger presence on the big screen after primarily focusing on streaming for many of their original productions. Previous high-profile films like Killers of the Flower Moon ($158 million total worldwide) and Napoleon ($221 million total worldwide), while critically acclaimed, didn’t achieve blockbuster status in their theatrical runs compared to their significant budgets. Argylle ($96 million total worldwide) and Take Me to the Moon ($42 million total worldwide) also saw more modest returns.
The $144 million opening weekend for “F1” surpasses the entire theatrical run of Argylle and nearly matches the opening weekend of Napoleon. While the film carries a substantial production budget estimated between $200 million and $300 million (including marketing), requiring strong box office legs to reach profitability theatrically, this start is a significant leap forward. It immediately becomes Apple’s highest-grossing theatrical release and is projected by industry analysts to potentially reach a total worldwide gross of $500 million to $600 million. Apple’s head of worldwide video, Zack Van Amburg, hailed the opening as “outstanding,” praising the blend of Formula 1 excitement and the compelling human story crafted by the team.
The Power of Premium Formats and F1’s Global Reach
A major contributor to the film’s strong opening was its performance on premium large-format (PLF) screens, particularly IMAX. These screens accounted for a significant 58 percent of the opening weekend ticket sales globally. IMAX alone generated $27.7 million worldwide, representing 19.2 percent of the film’s total revenue, a percentage ranking among the highest in IMAX history. The film secured a prominent run on IMAX screens, highlighting the value of large-screen experiences for high-octane action films.
The film’s subject matter, Formula 1, enjoys immense popularity outside North America, which heavily influenced the skewed domestic-international split. While F1 racing is growing in the U.S., its cultural footprint overseas is massive. This allowed “F1” to outperform historical comparisons for racing films like Ron Howard’s 2013 F1 drama Rush ($97 million global total) and even opened significantly ahead of Ford v Ferrari ($31.5 million opening). The film’s timing capitalized on this global fanbase.
Behind the Wheel: Pitt’s Role and Enthusiasm
In “F1,” Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a former Formula 1 driver who returns from retirement. He joins a struggling team, APXGP, at the request of his friend and former teammate, Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem. Hayes is paired with a talented but arrogant rookie driver, Joshua Pearce, portrayed by Damson Idris. The narrative centers on their dynamic and efforts to elevate the team’s performance. Kerry Condon also features as the team’s technical director.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a veteran of cinematic spectacles, spoke about Pitt’s dedication and genuine passion for the role, especially getting into the race car. Bruckheimer revealed that Pitt “couldn’t wait” to drive and was so invested in the experience during the two years of filming that “we had to tear him out of the car” when shooting wrapped. He noted the final day was the “saddest day for Brad” because he thoroughly enjoyed the racing aspect. This personal enthusiasm likely translated into a compelling performance that resonated with audiences.
Broader Box Office Landscape
The success of “F1” stood out in a mixed box office weekend. While the racing drama surged to the top, other new releases and holdovers saw varied results. Universal and Blumhouse’s horror sequel M3GAN 2.0 underperformed significantly, opening at a modest $17 million globally compared to its predecessor’s strong debut, indicating diminshed audience interest despite a higher production budget.
However, family-friendly films continued to demonstrate strength. Universal’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon added substantial international earnings, pushing its global total to $454 million. Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch also continued its impressive run, crossing the $946 million mark globally and approaching the $1 billion threshold, showcasing the enduring appeal of established PG properties. In contrast, Pixar’s original film Elio struggled, with a global total significantly below its production cost. Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later also saw mixed results, surpassing the original film’s global total but receiving divisive audience reactions despite initially strong critical reviews. The performance of F1, therefore, represents a clear victory in a competitive market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records did the F1 movie break in its opening weekend?
The “F1” movie achieved several significant records in its opening weekend. Its estimated $144 million global debut is the largest opening weekend of Brad Pitt’s acting career. It also marks the biggest opening weekend for an Apple Original Film released theatrically. The film’s performance on IMAX screens contributed significantly, with 19.2% of its global total coming from IMAX, ranking among the highest percentages in IMAX history.
What is Brad Pitt’s F1 movie about and who else is in it?
In the “F1” movie, Brad Pitt portrays Sonny Hayes, a former Formula 1 driver who returns from retirement to join a struggling team, APXGP. He mentors a talented rookie driver, Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. The film also features Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes, Hayes’ longtime friend and former teammate who enlists him, and Kerry Condon as the team’s technical director. The story follows their efforts to improve the team’s performance.
How does the F1 movie’s box office compare to other recent films?
The “F1” movie’s $144 million global opening significantly outperforms previous Apple Original Films like Killers of the Flower Moon ($158M total global), Napoleon ($221M total global), and Argylle ($96M total global) in their opening weekends. It also opened higher than previous racing films like Rush ($97M total global) and Ford v Ferrari ($31.5M opening). While successful, it contrasts with the disappointing debut of M3GAN 2.0 ($17M global opening) during the same weekend, but falls short of the continued strong performance of films like Lilo & Stitch (nearing $950M global) and How to Train Your Dragon ($454M global).
Conclusion
The “F1” movie’s electrifying $144 million global opening weekend is a significant success story for both Brad Pitt, marking a new career high, and Apple Original Films, securing its biggest theatrical debut to date. Driven by the global popularity of Formula 1, Brad Pitt’s enduring star power, the directing prowess of Joseph Kosinski, and strong performance on premium screens, the film has raced into the summer movie season with powerful momentum. While its substantial budget means the road to profitability is long, this record-breaking start positions “F1” as a major contender and a pivotal moment in Apple’s expanding presence in the world of theatrical distribution. The industry will be watching closely to see if it can maintain its pace and become a true summer blockbuster.