‘F1’ Opens Strong with $55M, Giving Apple Biggest Film Debut/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Apple lands its biggest theatrical hit as “F1 The Movie” opens with $55 million domestically. Brad Pitt headlines the adrenaline-fueled racing film, boosted by IMAX showings and global Formula 1 fanfare. Competition looms with upcoming summer blockbusters.
Apple F1 Movie Box Office Quick Looks
- “F1 The Movie” earns $55 million domestically, $144 million globally
- Marks Apple’s largest theatrical opening to date
- Brad Pitt stars in racing film from “Top Gun” team
- IMAX screenings drive 55% of ticket sales
- Global marketing tailored for regional audiences
- “M3gan 2.0” underperforms compared to original film’s debut
- “How to Train Your Dragon” continues strong run in second place
- Competition ahead includes “Jurassic World Rebirth”
Deep Look
Apple’s ‘F1 The Movie’ Races To $55 Million, Securing Tech Giant’s Biggest Box Office Victory Yet
NEW YORK — Apple has crossed the finish line into blockbuster territory for the first time.
“F1 The Movie” roared into theaters this weekend, raking in $55.6 million in North America and an impressive $144 million globally, according to studio estimates released Sunday. It’s the biggest theatrical debut Apple Original Films has seen, delivering the tech giant its first bona fide box-office hit.
Apple Breaks Into Blockbuster Territory
Since launching its Hollywood ambitions six years ago, Apple has enjoyed critical success — most notably with 2021’s Best Picture winner “CODA.” Yet many of its big-budget films, such as “Argylle,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” have struggled to draw major box-office crowds, serving more as prestige content for Apple TV+ subscribers.
“F1,” however, signals Apple’s first serious leap into summer blockbuster competition. The film stems from a high-stakes bidding war won by Apple, securing much of the production team behind the 2022 hit “Top Gun: Maverick.” Apple partnered with Warner Bros. for distribution, bringing star power with Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon in the cast.
Though made for over $200 million, “F1 The Movie” has zoomed into the fast lane — even if it still needs strong global legs to become profitable.
“The film’s outstanding debut reflects both the excitement of Formula 1 and the deeply emotional and entertaining story crafted by the entire cast and creative team,” said Zack Van Amburg, who oversees Apple’s worldwide video alongside Jamie Erlicht. “Their dedication and innovation have fueled an unforgettable cinematic experience.”
IMAX And Formula 1 Fandom Drive Momentum
Racing films have historically had a bumpy ride at the box office, with films like Ron Howard’s “Rush” and Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” failing to make significant dents. But “F1” capitalized on Formula 1’s recent surge in global popularity, spurred by the hit Netflix series “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.”
Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, both veterans of “Top Gun: Maverick,” delivered an adrenaline-charged spectacle. The film immerses viewers in the action, placing IMAX cameras inside race car cockpits. Large-format screenings were crucial to “F1’s” debut, with IMAX accounting for 55% of ticket sales. The movie has secured a coveted three-week run on IMAX screens during the busy summer season.
Warner Bros. anticipated “F1” would perform strongly overseas, where Formula 1 enjoys a broader fanbase. Jeffrey Goldstein, the studio’s distribution chief, credited Brad Pitt’s global appeal for the movie’s robust international numbers. The $144 million global launch is the biggest opening weekend of Pitt’s career.
“We came up with multiple campaigns based on where you are in the world,” said Goldstein. “We planned for an audience-winner: screen the movie and get it out there. People talking about this movie drove this movie.”
Reviews have been positive, and audiences awarded “F1” an “A” CinemaScore, suggesting solid staying power in the weeks ahead — even as formidable competition looms from Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World Rebirth.”
Other Box Office Highlights
While “F1” sped ahead, other films battled for attention. Universal’s “M3gan 2.0,” the sequel to the 2022 viral horror sensation, debuted with a softer $10.2 million across 3,112 theaters. The original “M3gan” opened to $30.4 million and grossed $180 million globally on a modest $12 million budget.
Despite the slower start, “M3gan 2.0” could still turn a profit, given its $25 million production cost. Blumhouse Productions already has a spinoff, “Soulm8te,” slated for release next year.
Meanwhile, the previous box-office leader, “How to Train Your Dragon,” fell to second place with $19.4 million. The live-action adaptation from Universal Pictures has now crossed $200 million domestically in three weeks.
Pixar’s “Elio” continued its disappointing run, adding $10.7 million in its second weekend for a modest $42.2 million domestic total after two weeks.
Top 10 Movies By Domestic Box Office
Here’s how the North American box office stacked up from Friday to Sunday, according to Comscore:
- “F1 The Movie,” $55 million.
- “How to Train Your Dragon,” $19.4 million.
- “Elio,” $10.7 million.
- “M3gan 2.0,” $10.2 million.
- “28 Years Later,” $9.7 million.
- “Lilo & Stitch,” $6.9 million.
- “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning,” $4.2 million.
- “Materialists,” $3 million.
- “Ballerina,” $2.1 million.
- “Karate Kid: Legends,” $1 million.
With Apple’s first major big-screen hit on its hands, “F1 The Movie” signals the tech giant’s growing ambition to claim a place alongside Hollywood’s biggest players — proving that for Apple, blockbuster dreams might just be achievable at the box office.
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