The Finish Line Just Got Faster
The first time I saw F1's trailer—Brad Pitt in a fireproof race suit, Hans Zimmer's score revving like a V12 engine—I thought, This could either be Top Gun: Maverick on wheels or an expensive Apple ad. Turns out, it was both. And audiences? They're flooring it.
As of this weekend, F1 has crossed $545.6 million globally, officially surpassing World War Z's $540.4 million to become Brad Pitt's highest-grossing film ever. The Joseph Kosinski-directed racing epic, shot during actual Grand Prix weekends with modified F2 cars, is also Apple Studios' biggest theatrical hit, outgunning Napoleon, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Argylle combined.
Why It's Winning
- The Maverick Formula – Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer recycled their Top Gun: Maverick playbook: real-world stakes (filming at live F1 races), tactile action (no weightless CGI cars), and a grizzled mentor (Pitt's Sonny Hayes) clashing with a cocky rookie (Damson Idris). It's Days of Thunder meets Ford v Ferrari, with Apple's deep pockets ensuring IMAX-worthy spectacle.
- Overseas Fuel – While domestic numbers are solid ($175M), the film's real turbo boost came internationally. South Korea, typically a tough market for Hollywood, saw a 36% surge in its sixth weekend. Europe and Australia followed suit, pushing overseas earnings to $372.3M.
- Pitt's Late-Career Velocity – At 61, Pitt's filmography is a mix of prestige (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and paycheck gigs (Bullet Train). F1 splits the difference—a crowd-pleaser with just enough soul to avoid being a corporate algorithm. And unlike World War Z, which required reshoots and apocalyptic headaches, this one cruised smoothly.
The Rest of the Box Office Grid
- Fantastic Four: First Steps – Marvel's reboot stumbled domestically but clawed to $369M worldwide, with Asia underperforming.
- The Naked Gun – Paramount's reboot snagged $11.5M in 46 markets, outpacing Game Night by 44%.
- Jurassic World Rebirth – Still chomping at $766M globally, though its legs are wobbling (-35% overseas).
What's Next?
Rumors of an F1 sequel are already in the pits, with whispers of a Days of Thunder crossover (Tom Cruise vs. Pitt? Take my money). Meanwhile, Apple's eyeing F1's U.S. broadcast rights—because if there's one thing tech giants love, it's turning sports into subscriptions.
Final Lap Verdict: F1 isn't just Pitt's biggest hit; it's proof that old-school star power + real-world spectacle still sells tickets. Now, about that sequel—can we get a Monaco heist scene?
