Brad Pitt’s "F1" movie smashes box office with record-breaking $144 million debut

Apple Original Films has finally won. After countless attempts at a box office hit, the company eventually found success in F1: The Movie. The much-awaited film starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris has blown the doors off its box office expectations with an impressive $144 million worldwide debut - a record for the production company behind it.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the summer blockbuster claimed $55.6 million domestically and $88.4 million internationally, making it the most successful Apple Original creation to come from the brand. It also makes it Pitt's most successful movie launch of his career, with it beating World War Z which made $112 million in 2013. 

For Apple, it beat Killers of the Flower Moon which had a $23.2 million opening, and Ridley Scott's Napoleon, which made just $20.6 million. After several failures, the technology company now has an example of success - something it can replicate moving forward.

F1 Movie scene

Photo by: Apple

"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," said Zack Van Amburg, head of Apple's worldwide video alongside Jamie Erlicht. "Their dedication and innovation have fuelled an unforgettable cinematic experience.”

While Ron Howard's Rush grossed almost $100 million globally in the box office, racing movies have struggled historically. Ford V Ferrari saw only $52 million globally despite the star power of Matt Damon and Christian Bale.

For F1, having IMAX was a major appeal for viewers, with 23% of North American ticket sales coming from the format. This alone generated $12.8 million in revenue.

The CEO of IMAX, Rich Gelfond, is naturally keen for viewers to use the IMAX format to enjoy the movie.

"With the most realistic racing sequences ever committed to film, F1: The Movie quite simply demands to be experienced in IMAX and audiences around the world clearly got that message. Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer innovated and pushed our technology to new frontiers to deliver a film tailormade for IMAX, and we expect moviegoers will continue to seek out our screens for F1: The Movie through the U.S. holiday weekend ahead.”

With 4 July just around the corner, the success of the F1 movie can only grow.