In a landmark weekend for both Apple and Hollywood, Brad Pitt’s high-octane racing drama F1 roared into the global box office with a strong $55.6 million in domestic earnings and $88.4 million from 78 international markets. This pushes its worldwide total to an impressive $144 million within just three days, making it Apple’s first theatrical blockbuster.
Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski and co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, the film casts Pitt as a retired Formula One driver making a comeback to mentor a young rookie, played by Damson Idris.
Unlike most current box office hits built on superhero franchises or familiar brands, F1 is an original, adult-oriented sports drama. Its success, reflected in rave reviews and an “A” grade on CinemaScore, signals a refreshing shift in audience preferences.
Apple, which financed the film for a reported $200–300 million, partnered with Warner Bros. for its theatrical release. “We’re thrilled by the global response to F1 and grateful to the audiences who’ve embraced it so enthusiastically,” said Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of worldwide video.
The tech giant strategically promoted the film via Apple TV+ home screen takeovers and iPhone push notifications, including ticket discounts through Fandango. Despite assumptions about hardware sales tie-ins, Apple CEO Tim
Cook insisted the project was driven by storytelling.
Much of F1’s appeal lies in its striking realism. Filming on actual Formula 1 tracks and featuring Pitt driving at speeds of up to 180 mph, the production’s immersive racing scenes, shot with Imax cameras, accounted for 55% of domestic
ticket sales.
Meanwhile, Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon held second place with $19.4 million, while Pixar’s Elio slid to third. Universal’s M3GAN 2.0 opened at $10.2 million, and Sony’s 28 Years Later wrapped up the top five.
