NEW YORK — Apple has achieved its first major box-office success with “F1 The Movie,” which opened to $55.6 million in North American theaters and went on to gross $144 million globally over the weekend, according to studio estimates. The film’s debut marks Apple’s biggest box-office opening yet, surpassing the tech company’s previous cinematic endeavors.
Apple Original Films, since its inception six years ago, has seen varying degrees of success in Hollywood, with the Oscar-winning “CODA” in 2021 being a notable highlight. However, many of their theatrical releases have not performed as well as hoped. Films such as “Argylle” and “Fly Me to the Moon” failed to make a significant impact in theaters, and projects like Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” have been more successful in driving subscriptions to Apple TV+.
“F1 The Movie” marks Apple’s first venture into the summer blockbuster scene. The company acquired the project after a competitive bidding process, bringing on much of the production team responsible for the 2022 hit “Top Gun: Maverick.” Apple teamed up with Warner Bros. to distribute the film, which stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon. Despite its impressive start, given the production costs exceeding $200 million, the film still has a way to go before it turns a profit.
Zack Van Amburg, who leads worldwide video operations at Apple with Jamie Erlicht, praised the film’s opening: “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.”
Historically, car racing films have faced challenges at the box office, with films like Ron Howard’s “Rush” and Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” not meeting expectations. However, “F1 The Movie” capitalized on the existing enthusiasm around Formula 1, fueled by the popular show “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” Additionally, the film benefited from the expertise of “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, delivering a seat-gripping action experience.
The filmmakers used IMAX cameras placed inside the cockpit to create the adrenaline-pumping experience, which paid off handsomely. IMAX and other large-format screens accounted for 55% of the film’s ticket sales, illustrating the film’s draw on bigger screens. IMAX has secured a three-week run for the movie during the competitive summer season.
Warner Bros. anticipated strong international performance for “F1” given the sport’s worldwide appeal. Jeffrey Goldstein, Warner Bros. distribution chief, cited Brad Pitt as the film’s “secret sauce.” The film’s $144 million global launch marks the actor’s biggest opening weekend in his career.
The film garnered positive reviews and received an exceptional “A” rating from CinemaScore, indicating it might maintain strong performance despite competition from upcoming releases like Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World Rebirth.”
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, applauded Warner Bros. for making “F1” a theater event, asserting, “For Apple, this demonstrates to them the prestige factor of having a big theatrical release. It elevates their brand.”
Meanwhile, Universal’s “M3gan 2.0” did not pose as significant a challenge to “F1” as expected. The horror sequel brought in $10.2 million from 3,112 theaters, failing to reproduce the success of its predecessor, which achieved a $30.4 million opening on a much smaller budget. Nonetheless, the movie, made with a budget of $25 million, could still be profitable, and a spinoff titled “Soulm8te” is set for release next year.
Elsewhere at the box office, “How to Train Your Dragon” slipped to second place with $19.4 million, taking its total domestic earnings past the $200 million mark within three weeks. Pixar’s “Elio” gathered $10.7 million in its second weekend, totaling a disappointing $42.2 million after two weeks.
The top 10 films at the domestic box office for the weekend, according to Comscore estimates, were as follows:
1. “F1 The Movie,” $55 million.
2. “How to Train Your Dragon,” $19.4 million.
3. “Elio,” $10.7 million.
4. “M3gan 2.0,” $10.2 million.
5. “28 Years Later,” $9.7 million.
6. “Lilo & Stitch,” $6.9 million.
7. “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning,” $4.2 million.
8. “Materialists,” $3 million.
9. “Ballerina,” $2.1 million.
10. “Karate Kid: Legends,” $1 million.