Los Angeles, California — Brad Pitt’s racing film, “F1 The Movie,” surged to the top of the box office this weekend, showcasing Hollywood’s resolve to attract audiences during the summer season. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for his work on “Top Gun: Maverick,” and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film garnered an impressive $55.6 million in its opening weekend across the United States and Canada, outpacing projections that had anticipated earnings between $40 million and $50 million.
The film’s popularity is fueled by the global fascination with Formula One racing, pulling in an additional $88 million from international markets. However, with production costs exceeding $200 million and excluding marketing expenses, “F1” must continue to draw in ticket sales to reach profitability. As of now, only three Hollywood releases in 2023 have crossed the $500 million mark globally, all of which had stronger domestic openings than “F1.”
This weekend’s results mark a crucial victory for Apple TV+, which has achieved critical acclaim for original series such as “Severance” and won an Academy Award for Best Picture for “CODA.” While the streaming service has enjoyed success on critical fronts, its films had yet to connect with box office audiences until now. Previous attempts, like the spy comedy “Argylle” and the romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon,” have struggled to resonate with theatergoers.
“F1” benefited from a high-profile Imax release, with Imax screens contributing 23% of its domestic weekend revenue. More broadly, large-format screenings, including Imax and Dolby Cinema, represented about 55% of the film’s domestic sales. Apple partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures for the theatrical distribution, adding to the studio’s recent successes with titles like “A Minecraft Movie” and “Final Destination Bloodlines.”
The appeal of “F1” goes beyond just star power; the film has received high praise from both critics and audiences. It earned an “A” rating from CinemaScore and boasts an 83% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, reflecting on the film’s emotional depth and entertainment value, expressed his commitment to creating captivating cinema. “It’s the reason I got into this business—to make movies that thrill you on that big screen,” he stated.
Zack Van Amburg, head of worldwide video for Apple, remarked on the film’s successful debut, attributing it to the excitement surrounding Formula One and the heartfelt storytelling that the cast and crew delivered. His comments highlight the collaborative effort involved in making “F1” a standout cinematic experience.
In contrast, Universal Pictures’ horror sequel “M3GAN 2.0” fell flat, debuting with only $10 million and landing in fourth place at the domestic box office. Initially forecasted to open around $20 million, the film faltered significantly compared to its predecessor’s strong start. Meanwhile, family-friendly favorites like “How to Train Your Dragon” continued to thrive, demonstrating the enduring appeal of such films.
Despite the success of films aimed at younger audiences, not all animated features are faring well. Pixar’s “Elio,” released recently, experienced a dismal opening weekend, marking the studio’s worst performance in its history, with just $11 million accumulated. The film has thus far gathered an unimpressive total of $42 million in the U.S. and Canada against a production budget of $150 million.
As summer unfolds, the battle for audience attention at the box office continues, with “F1 The Movie” setting a compelling stage for future releases amid a backdrop of both successes and disappointments in the film industry.