Brad Pitt and Damson Idris just made racing cool again.
Apple Original Films’ F1, released via Warner Bros., crossed the finish line in first place this weekend, grossing a stunning $140 million globally — the biggest opening weekend ever for an Apple Studios release. That’s $85 million from overseas and $55 million from the domestic box office, dethroning How to Train Your Dragon for the No. 1 spot and setting a new personal best for Pitt’s global openings, surpassing World War Z’s $112 million.
Pitt stars as fictional Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes, a veteran racer making a comeback to mentor a rising star. That rising star? Played by Idris, who portrays Joshua Pearce, a young, talented driver shaking up the sport. Rounding out the star-powered cast are Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) as the team’s sharp, no-nonsense technical director, and Javier Bardem as the team owner who brings Hayes back into the fold.
The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and produced by Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer, and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, who consulted to ensure the racing sequences stayed grounded in authenticity.
Box Office Breakdown
- Friday: $25 million domestic
- 3-day domestic total: $55 million
- Global total: $140 million
It’s also Pitt’s second-highest opening ever at the domestic box office, falling just shy of World War Z’s $66.4 million. Premium formats powered the performance, with IMAX alone accounting for 25% of the take and PLFs contributing a total of 58%.
Audiences are loving it — F1 earned an A CinemaScore, 92% on PostTrak with 78% of moviegoers saying they’d definitely recommend it. That’s the second straight A for Kosinski and Bruckheimer following Top Gun: Maverick.
Who’s Watching?
Younger audiences are showing up in force, with:
- 29% aged 13–24
- 53% of the crowd under 35
- 40% said they came specifically because it’s a racing movie
- 35% said they came for Pitt
Demographically, the audience breakdown is 52% white, 23% Latino and Hispanic, 11% Asian American, and 10% Black — showing broad, diverse interest in the film.
F1 had a steep $200 million budget, but this early performance — plus the upcoming Apple TV+ streaming window — positions it for long-term success. It’s already the biggest start ever for an Apple Studios title, easily surpassing Killers of the Flower Moon‘s $23.2 million opening in 2023.
The film also proves racing movies can bring in big numbers, revving higher than Ford v. Ferrari‘s $31.4 million opening and even Bruckheimer’s Days of Thunder (1990), which topped out at $157.9M worldwide. It’s another win for Warner Bros., which continues to find success launching original films like Argo and Sinners amidst a sea of franchises.
What’s Next?
With strong word-of-mouth, global interest in Formula 1 at an all-time high, and solid legs expected in IMAX and premium screens, F1 could have a long road ahead at the box office — and a high-octane legacy as a new sports drama classic.