‘F1’ opens with $55 million, delivering Apple its biggest big-screen hit

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce, left, and Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in a scene from "F1 The Movie." (Apple TV+ via AP)

NEW YORK — Apple has its first box-office hit.

“F1 The Movie” debuted with $55.6 million in North American theaters and $144 million globally over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, handing the tech company easily its biggest opening yet.

Though Apple Original Films has had some notable successes in its six years in Hollywood -- including the 2021 Oscar-winner “CODA” -- its theatrical results have been decidedly mixed. Misfires like “Argylle” and “Fly Me to the Moon” and big-budget awards plays like Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” have been better at driving viewers to Apple TV+ than movie theaters.

But “F1” was Apple’s first foray into summer blockbuster territory. It won a bidding war for the project from much of the production team behind the 2022 box-office smash “Top Gun: Maverick.” Apple then partnered with Warner Bros. to distributed the film starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon.

With a production budget over $200 million, “F1” still has several laps to go to turn a profit. But for now, “F1” is full speed ahead.

“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, who heads worldwide video for Apple with Jamie Erlicht. “Their dedication and innovation have fueled an unforgettable cinematic experience.”

Car racing movies have often struggled in theaters; crash-and-burn cases include Ron Howard’s “Rush” (2013) and Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” (2023). But “F1” built off the Formula 1 fandom stirred up by the popular series “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” And it leaned on “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to deliver another adult-oriented action thrill ride.

As in “Top Gun: Maverick,” the filmmakers sought an adrenaline rush by placing IMAX cameras inside the cockpit in “F1.” IMAX and large-format screens accounted for 55 per cent of in its ticket sales. IMAX, whose screens are much sought-after in the summer, has carved out a three-week run for the movie.

Warner Bros. expected “F1” to perform well overseas, where the sport is more popular than it is in the U.S. Jeffrey Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros., said Pitt was the movie’s “secret sauce.” The $144 million global launch is the actor’s biggest opening weekend.

“We came up with multiple campaigns based on where you are in the world,” said Goldstein. “We planned for an audience-winner: screen the movie and get it out there. People talking about this movie drove this movie.”

Reviews have been very good for “F1” and audience reaction (an “A” via CinemaScore) was even better. That suggests “F1” could hold up well in the coming weeks despite some formidable coming competition in Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World Rebirth.”

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, praised Warner Bros. for making “F1” a theatrical event. The studio was also behind the year’s other big original release, “Sinners.”

“For Apple, this demonstrates to them the prestige factor of having a big theatrical release,” said Dergarabedian. “It elevates their brand.”

Universal’s “M3gan 2.0” had been expected to pose a greater challenge to “F1.” Instead, the robot doll sequel didn’t come close to matching the 2022 original’s box-office launch.

“M3gan 2.0” collected $10.2 million in 3,112 theaters. Memes and viral videos helped propel the first “M3gan” to a $30.4 million opening and a total haul of $180 million, all on a $12 million budget.

Still, the Blumhouse Productions horror thriller could wind up profitable. The film, written and directed by Gerald Johnstone, cost a modest $25 million to make. A spinoff titled “Soulm8te” is scheduled for release next year.

M3gan 2.0″ ended up in fourth place. The box-office leader of the last two weekends, “How to Train Your Dragon,” slid to second with $19.4 million. The DreamWorks Animation live-action hit from Universal Pictures has surpassed $200 million domestically in three weeks.

After a debut that marked a new low for Pixar, the studio’s “Elio” gathered up $10.7 million in sales in its second weekend. That gives the Walt Disney Co. release a disappointing two-week start of $42.2 million.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

 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.

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press