‘F1 The Movie’ roars to $144 Million in opening weekend

'F1 The Movie' starring Brad Pitt has taken pole position at the global box office, delivering a stunning $144 million in revenue in its opening weekend – a commercial triumph that marks the biggest debut of the Hollywood star’s career.

Released globally on June 27, ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, the Apple Originals production pulled in $55.6 million in North America and a further $88.4 million internationally, surpassing expectations for a racing-themed drama.

The film, directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, has benefited not only from star power and a big production budget – estimated between $200–300 million, with another $175 million reportedly spent on marketing – but also from a global surge of interest in Formula 1 itself.

F1 The Movie outperformed in key international markets included the United Kingdom, which contributed $9.2 million, followed by China with $9 million, Mexico with $6.7 million, the Middle East with $5.6 million, and France with $5.4 million.

This performance not only outpaced expectations but also secured the biggest opening weekend ever for a Brad Pitt-led film, eclipsing his previous high of $112 million with World War Z in 2013.

Critics have pointed to the heightened realism of the racing scenes and the emotional weight of the story as major draws for both longtime F1 fans and general moviegoers.

Zack Van Amburg, head of Apple’s worldwide video, praised the film’s creative team and the response from audiences around the globe.

“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,” he said.

“Their dedication and innovation have fuelled an unforgettable cinematic experience.”

IMAX: A game-changer for racing on screen

One of the driving forces behind the film’s appeal has been its IMAX release, which accounted for a significant 23% of North American ticket sales, generating $12.8 million in revenue.

The large-format experience has proven especially popular among fans drawn to the movie’s hyper-realistic racing sequences.

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Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, emphasized how well the format complemented Kosinski’s technical vision.

“With the most realistic racing sequences ever committed to film, F1 The Movie quite simply demands to be experienced in IMAX and audiences around the world clearly got that message,” he said.

“Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer innovated and pushed our technology to new frontiers to deliver a film tailormade for IMAX, and we expect moviegoers will continue to seek out our screens for F1: The Movie through the U.S. holiday weekend ahead.”

While racing dramas have historically struggled to break through commercially – with Ron Howard’s Rush topping out at just under $100 million globally, and Ford v Ferrari grossing $225 million – F1 The Movie looks to be bucking the trend.

If its early momentum continues, it may not only surpass its big-budget predecessors but also set a new benchmark for motorsport storytelling on the big screen.

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