Brad Pitt and ‘F1 The Movie' zoom to $55.6 million in Apple's biggest box office debut
The Brad Pitt-led racing film 'F1 The Movie' sped to the top of the box office this weekend, another in a string of big summer movies that Hollywood hopes will keep driving people to theaters.
The big-budget film from 'Top Gun: Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer hauled in $55.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates. That's better than analysts had expected for a non-sequel racing movie. People who read pre-release audience surveys had anticipated a debut of $40 million to $50 million.
Powered by the global appeal of Formula One racing, the film took in an additional $88 million internationally. Still, with a reported budget of more than $200 million, not including marketing costs, 'F1' will still need significantly more ticket sales to break even.
Only three Hollywood films so far this year have grossed more than $500 million globally — 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' — and each of those opened above 'F1.'
Nonetheless, with 'F1,' the iPhone maker has its first box office hit.
While Apple TV+ has found critical success with its shows, including 'Severance,' 'The Studio' and 'Your Friends & Neighbors' — and notched its first best picture Oscar win in 2022 with 'CODA' — its films had not yet clinched box office gold.
Its previous star-studded and filmmaker-driven movies have struggled at theaters, including the 2024 spy comedy 'Argylle' and space-age romantic comedy 'Fly Me to the Moon,' starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum.
'F1' benefited from a heavily promoted Imax run, which help make it seem like a must-see on the big screen. Imax screens accounted for 23% of the domestic weekend revenue for 'F1,' the cinema technology provider said Sunday. Around 55% of domestic sales came from large screen formats including Imax, Dolby Cinema and motion seats.
As usual, Apple worked with a major studio to handle the theatrical release. 'F1' is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, adding to the studio's winning streak that includes 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Sinners' and 'Final Destination Bloodlines.'
Quality also helped.
'It's emotional, it's exciting, it's got romance, it's got humor,' producer Jerry Bruckheimer told The Times earlier this month. 'It's the reason I got into this business — to make movies that thrill you on that big screen, that you walk out feeling you've been on a real journey and got lost for a couple of hours. That's the goal every time.'
Strong reviews from audiences and critics bode well for the film's future grosses and its eventual performance on streaming for Apple. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the movie a grade of 'A,' while the movie holds a critics' score of 83% 'fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes.
Not faring as well was Universal Pictures' murderous doll sequel 'M3GAN 2.0,' which debuted with a weak $10 million and landed in fourth place at the domestic box office, behind holdovers 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'Elio.'
The Blumhouse film was expected to open with around $20 million. It fell far short of the success of the original, which opened with $30 million in 2023 and eventually collected $180 million worldwide.
Overall, though, it's been a strong last few months for the horror genre, starting with Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' which has now grossed $364 million worldwide, and followed by 'Final Destination Bloodlines' and zombie franchise revival '28 Years Later.'
The staying power of movies like 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'Lilo & Stitch' shows the continued draw of family-friendly films at the box office, which have been major winners since the spring. The exception has been Disney and Pixar's original animated movie 'Elio,' which notched Pixar's worst opening weekend ever last week.
'Elio' collected about $11 million Friday through Sunday, bringing its total to a poor $42 million in the U.S. and Canada for the $150-million animated picture.
Times staff writer Josh Rottenberg contributed to this report
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
an hour ago
- Digital Trends
Relive the iPhone launch exactly 18 years ago via this TV news report
Can you believe that the first iPhone launched exactly 18 years ago on June 29? Do you remember what you were doing that day? Oh hang on, maybe you weren't even born then. The late Steve Jobs, then Apple's CEO, had unveiled the revolutionary smartphone five months earlier, in January 2007. In the intervening months, the company created enough hype to encourage hordes of people to descend upon Apple Stores in the U.S. and beyond to purchase the device that was to truly transform the fortunes of the California-based tech company. Recommended Videos An old ABC News clip about the iPhone's launch day features tech writer Steven Levy, now editor-at-large at Wired, summing up the level of excitement that surrounded the iPhone's launch. 'There's been nothing like this in my memory,' Levy tells ABC News reporter John Berman. 'I've been covering technology for over 20 years and I can't recall the anticipation for a product like this has.' Berman, meanwhile, has clearly been bedazzled by Apple's ad campaign, telling Levy: 'I consider myself at least of average intelligence, but they're in my head. Apple is in my head. Must get iPhone. Must get iPhone.' Levy responds with a comment that's aged well: 'Apple has always, throughout its history, struck a chord among people who like technology, and like it done really really well … it's a religion almost, for some people.' An unnamed contributor then takes up the religious theme: 'Steve Jobs — master marketer,' she says. 'The guy is incredible at bringing the Mac faithful to a fever pitch, and then those early adopters, those high-end geeks, go forth and spread the gospel of Apple.' Jessica, a woman waiting in line outside an Apple Store in New York City on iPhone launch day, offered her own take, telling Berman: 'Steve Jobs is an innovator, he always comes up with new creative things before anybody thinks of them.' She adds that everything Jobs comes up with is 'top notch,' prompting the reporter to mention the Apple Lisa, the failed PC launched by the company in 1983. But Jessica has never heard of it. Next, we see the Apple Store opening and the first customers heading inside to collect their brand new iPhone. Jessica buys two of them — one for her sister — and is shown counting out more than a thousand bucks for her purchase. 'I feel like I won the Olympic gold medal,' she says. The original iPhone featured a tiny 3.5-inch display and a basic 2-megapixel camera and went on sale for $499 (4GB) and $599 (8GB). The iPhone has been an astonishing success for Apple, generating around $1.5 trillion for the company over the years. Many iterations of the device have come and gone, with Apple expected to release the iPhone 17 later this year. Below is another news report from the same day, this one from CBS News:
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Thinking of Watching Brad Pitt's 'F1' at Home? Think Again
Brad Pitt's latest film is a full-throttle, high-octane tribute to Formula 1 racing—and it's built to be seen on the biggest, loudest screen available. Shot with immersive race footage and anchored by Pitt's signature ease and intensity, the film is part sports spectacle, part character study, and all energy. Critics are already calling it 'velociously loud and exceedingly exciting,' with Rotten Tomatoes praising Pitt's 'effortless charisma' as the engine driving the story forward. And while there's no shortage of sports dramas on streaming platforms, F1 isn't trying to fit neatly into that lane. It's going for speed and scale. The film follows a former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes (played by Pitt) who returns to the circuit to mentor young rising star, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). It's classic redemption-arc stuff, but what makes it hit harder is the visceral, ground-level view of the racing world. Pitt reportedly trained on actual F1 tracks and filmed during real Grand Prix weekends, which gives the racing scenes a lived-in authenticity that's hard to fake. But what really sets F1 apart is how it looks and sounds in IMAX because it was "Filmed For IMAX." In fact, the whole movie is in the 1.90:1 aspect ratio. The roar of the engines. The tension of a corner taken just a little too fast. The vibration in your chest when tires peel off the track. It's the kind of sensory overload that streaming can't replicate—no matter how nice your soundbar is. It's not just a movie; it's a rush. Whether you're a diehard F1 fan or just here for peak Pitt, F1 rewards you for showing up to the theater. And in an era where most action gets watered down into safe, streaming-ready content, this one doesn't flinch. It floors it. Watch it big. Watch it loud. Watch it in IMAX. Thinking of Watching Brad Pitt's 'F1' at Home? Think Again first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 29, 2025
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Box Office: ‘F1' Revs to $144 Million Globally, ‘Lilo & Stitch' Nears $950 Million Milestone
Brad Pitt's original racing drama 'F1' drove to the top of the box office charts, collecting a sizable $88.4 million internationally and $144 million globally in its opening weekend. The film, from director Joseph Kosinski and producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton, follows a retired driver (Pitt) who returns to the popular motorsport to coach a cocksure rookie (Damson Idris) and save a failing team. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, where 'F1' zoomed to $55.6 million, the top-earning territories were the United Kingdom with $9.2 million, China with $9 million and Mexico with $6.7 million. More from Variety 'M3GAN 2.0' Star Allison Williams on Making The Android an 'Action Star' and Crafting Another Unforgettable Musical Moment Brad Pitt's 'F1' Delivers Apple's First Box Office Hit With $55.6 Million Debut, 'M3GAN 2.0' Fizzles With $10 Million 'M3GAN 2.0' Costume Designer on How Farrah Fawcett and Judy Jetson Inspired M3GAN's Armor 'F1' marks the first commercial win for Apple, which has previously backed underperforming big screen offerings like 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Napoleon' and 'Argylle.' Against a nearly $250 million production budget and massive marketing spend, 'F1' will need significantly more ticket sales to break even and turn a theatrical profit. But this is Apple's closest attempt to all-audience blockbuster status and will soon overtake 'Napoleon' ($221 million globally) as the company's highest-grossing release. And 'F1' is expected to benefit in the coming weeks from solid reviews, positive word-of-mouth and Imax screens before landing on the company's streamer, Apple TV+. Since Apple doesn't have a distribution arm, the tech giant is paying Warner Bros. to put the film in theaters; the Burbank-based studio will also receive a percentage of theatrical revenues that increases with certain box office benchmarks. 'F1' also represents a victory for Imax, whose cameras were used to film the ultra-immersive, high-speed racing sequences. Imax screens accounted for $11.1 million overseas and $27.7 million globally, representing 19% of overall revenues — the fourth-highest percentage in Imax's history. ''F1' has inspired audiences around the globe with its underdog story and perfect blend of high-octane racing and human-centered storytelling,' says Apple's head of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg. '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. Their dedication and innovation have fueled an unforgettable cinematic experience.' In terms of other newcomers, Universal and Blumhouse's A.I. thriller 'M3GAN 2.0' flatlined with $7 million from 80 international markets. Mexico earned a leading $1.2 million, followed by the U.K. and Ireland with $700,000 and Brazil with $400,000. Along with $10.2 million domestically, 'M3GAN 2.0' has grossed a soft $17 million in its first weekend of release. With weak reviews and seemingly diminished audience interest, the campy horror sequel failed to achieve the box office heights of 2023's 'M3GAN,' which ignited to $15 million overseas and $45 million globally. The original became a sleeper hit with $180 million worldwide, which explains the studio's justification for the follow-up film set around the scream queen who became a meme queen. Fortunately for the studio, 'M3GAN 2.0' cost a modest $25 million, so potential theatrical losses won't be too painful. Plus, Universal is flying high with 'How to Train Your Dragon,' which added $32 million internationally in its third frame. The live-action remake has earned $254 million overseas and $454 million worldwide to date, underscoring the enduring appeal of the fantastical property. Universal has the live-action sequel set for 2027. PG films have been dominating at the box office with 'Lilo & Stitch' adding $13.1 million from 52 markets for a massive overseas tally of $545 million. After six weekends on the big screen, the live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' is about to cross the $950 million milestone (with $946 million globally so far) and has $1 billion on the horizon. A live-action sequel to 'Lilo & Stitch' is also in the works. Not every movie with a family friendly rating is electrifying the box office. Disney's original Pixar adventure 'Elio' brought in just $11.4 million from 48 territories in its sophomore outing. After notching the worst start in Pixar history, 'Elio' has grossed $30 million overseas and $73 million worldwide. Though positive word-of-mouth should help the film endure throughout the summer, 'Elio' is nowhere near on track to earn enough to justify its $150 million production budget.
