Apple has finally crossed the finish line with a blockbuster. “F1,” the high-octane racing drama starring Brad Pitt, roared to a $55.6 million opening weekend in North America, marking Apple’s first commercial hit in theaters.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski of “Top Gun: Maverick,” “F1” follows Pitt as a retired Formula One driver returning to mentor a rookie and save a struggling team. The film also made $88.4 million overseas from 78 markets, bringing its global total to $144 million after just three days.
That strong start is especially notable because “F1” isn’t based on a familiar franchise. Instead, the film drew crowds with its authentic racing sequences, which were shot on real F1 circuits using IMAX cameras. Premium formats were a major draw, accounting for more than half of domestic sales, with IMAX alone contributing nearly \$28 million globally.
This debut nearly eclipsed the entire theatrical run of Apple’s previous prestige efforts, including “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
While Apple funded the film’s massive budget—estimated between \$200 million and \$300 million—the company turned to Warner Bros. for distribution. As box office milestones are reached, Warner will collect a larger share of ticket sales.
Elsewhere, Universal’s horror sequel “M3GAN 2.0” stumbled with a $10 million domestic debut, a far cry from the original’s breakout success. Meanwhile, “How to Train Your Dragon” placed second with $19.4 million, and Pixar’s “Elio” fell to third with $10.7 million.
Source: Variety