F1 The Movie Roars Past $100M, Surpassing Dozens of Brad Pitt’s Iconic Hits
F1 The Movie has put the pedal to the metal at the box office, crossing the $100 million mark domestically and leaving a trail of Brad Pitt’s earlier films in its rearview mirror. Directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame and powered by Pitt’s charisma, the Formula 1 drama has already left over thirty of the actor’s other box office projects in the dust.
Opening on June 27 with a roaring $57 million, which marked the biggest domestic debut ever for an Apple Studios release, the movie now stands as a significant theatrical feat—especially given Apple’s relatively young history in film distribution. As of this weekend, the movie is estimated to have made $109 million in the U.S. alone, according to Deadline.
Timeline of Events
- June 27, 2025: F1 The Movie debuts in theaters, opening to $57 million.
- First Weekend: Sets a studio record for Apple Studios with the highest-ever launch.
- Second Weekend: Revenue drops by about 55%, a typical decline for a summer release.
- Current Estimate: $109 million in domestic earnings, placing it as the 12th top-grossing Brad Pitt film.
Brad Pitt’s Racing Rise
At $109 million, F1 The Movie comfortably ranks above more than three dozen prior Brad Pitt films including Moneyball, Interview with the Vampire, and Se7en. That’s no small feat considering Pitt’s filmography spans decades of successes and cult favorites.
“It has already outperformed over three dozen major projects in his career, including Interview with the Vampire, Se7en and Moneyball,” wrote ScreenRant.
While it’s sitting just outside his top 10, there’s still room for it to climb. At #12 now, the movie needs roughly $12 million more to push past Inglourious Basterds, which made $120 million domestically. Will it get there? Well, it depends on how the film holds up in its third and fourth weekends.
What’s Ahead for the Box Office Race?
Looking a bit ahead, things could get tricky. Major summer blockbusters like Jurassic World Rebirth, a fresh take on Superman, and a new Fantastic Four installment are all scheduled to debut soon. These titles will likely battle for the same premium screens and high-demand weekend slots. That could cut into F1 The Movie’s momentum.
If the film experiences another 50 to 55 percent dip in its next weekend, it might still pull in $10 to $11 million by mid-July. That would be just enough to secure a spot among Pitt’s top 10 highest earners. But breaking into the top five? That’s a much taller order—it would require at least another $40 million. Still, with the right mix of viewer loyalty and strong word-of-mouth, it’s not out of the question.
Apple Studios Finds Victory Outside Tradition
Even with theatrical profits not soaring as high as traditional expectations might dictate, this is a big win for Apple Studios. F1 is now Apple’s most successful film in theaters to date, beating out Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon.
The reason this matters for Apple doesn’t always tie back to ticket sales. Their broader strategy hinges on theatrical releases fueling buzz and anticipation for upcoming Apple TV+ drops. In that context, F1 The Movie is already a success story—and maybe even a turning point for how the tech company approaches theatrical premieres in the years ahead.
Community Response and Cultural Buzz
The buzz online and among fans has been relatively strong. Pitt’s massive fan base and the nostalgia-heavy, high-octane appeal of the Formula 1 theme seem to be working hand in hand. For some viewers, there’s even talk that this may be their first theater visit in months. One viewer tweeted—well, paraphrased—something like, “I didn’t think I cared about racing, but yeah, this movie made me care.”
That human element, the emotional pull, might be what’s keeping theatergoers engaged weekend after weekend. Many attendees talked about how the film wasn’t just for racing fans. It was about intensity, comeback stories, and… somehow, family. There’s something universal about that, even if you don’t care what horsepower means.
Factors Driving F1’s Performance
So what’s steering this film toward success?
- Star Power: Brad Pitt remains a magnetic presence on screen, even after decades in the industry.
- Director’s Vision: Joseph Kosinski knows how to choreograph adrenaline—his work on Top Gun: Maverick pretty much speaks for itself.
- Production Quality: From cinematography to sound mixing, the movie delivers a genuine trackside experience.
- Apple’s Strategy: The tech giant has been savvy in timing marketing, platform crossover plans, and release windows.
And let’s be honest, the Formula 1 fanbase is growing. Netflix’s Drive to Survive helped introduce millions of new eyeballs to the sport. F1 The Movie rides neatly along that curve.
Still Room to Grow
While not every movie needs to dominate, F1 The Movie‘s current arc tells a pretty clear story. It’s already one of Apple’s most talked-about films ever—and among Pitt’s most successful stateside titles. If ticket sales hold steady or see a surprise boost from awards chatter or global momentum, things could look even better a month from now.
For now, the film continues to get traction among both racing professionals and weekend moviegoers. It straddles spectacle and cinema in a way that doesn’t always hit… but this time, it mostly did. Perhaps that’s the quiet magic of it—it’s a sports movie, but not just a sports movie.
What’s Next?
Industry eyes are now starting to shift toward digital release timelines. Apple hasn’t confirmed when F1 The Movie will land on Apple TV+, but based on past releases, it could be anywhere from four to eight weeks post-theatrical run. Which means, if you’re waiting it out at home, you’d be looking at late July or early August. Maybe sooner if the theatrical legs slow down.
In the meantime, the movie continues to fuel interesting conversations around the role of platforms like Apple in Hollywood’s future. Is this a flash in the pan? Or just the start of Apple becoming a major player in theatrical film?
