On August 6, 2025, Apple’s original film F1: The Movie achieved a remarkable box office milestone, becoming the biggest theatrical hit in Apple Studios’ history by surpassing $546 million globally. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a retired Formula One driver who makes a dramatic return to the racetrack after a debilitating injury. Since its release on June 27, 2025, F1: The Movie has garnered widespread acclaim and strong audience turnout, cementing its status as a summer blockbuster.

The film opened strongly with $57 million domestically in the United States and Canada, and continued to dominate the box office in subsequent weeks, reaching $174 million in North America. Internationally, it amassed over $372 million across more than 80 countries, pushing its worldwide total to $546.9 million. F1 dethroned several high-profile competitors in the summer season, including Ridley Scott’s Napoleon and Apple’s own previous releases like Killers of the Flower Moon ($158 million) and Argylle ($96 million), setting new standards for Apple Original Films in theatrical performance.

Significantly, the film also became Brad Pitt’s highest-grossing movie to date, surpassing the $540 million earned by World War Z in 2013, placing F1 among the top five highest-grossing films starring Pitt in a leading role. This success is notable given the industry trend where streaming platforms are increasingly prioritizing digital releases over theatrical runs.

Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, highlighted how F1 exemplifies the evolving entertainment landscape: “F1: The Movie serves as an exemplary case of how a streaming platform can create a film specifically designed for theaters while also marketing it across countless smaller screens that their technology places directly in front of subscribers.” The film’s strategic collaboration with IMAX has been particularly lucrative, contributing about $60 million globally from IMAX screenings alone, emphasizing the importance of premium format releases in attracting cinema-goers.

Apple’s investment in F1 reportedly ranged between $200 million and $300 million in production costs, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing. Despite revenue-sharing agreements with Warner Bros. and theater chains, the impressive box office haul positions Apple well to recoup its investment through theatrical channels alone. Unlike traditional film studios, Apple views theatrical success partly as a complement to its broader ecosystem and streaming service, where such high-profile films boost subscriber interest for Apple TV+, to which F1 is expected to be released later this year.

F1: The Movie blends adrenaline-fueled racing action with compelling character drama, drawing on the global appeal of Formula One racing and its passionate fanbase. The film’s release reignites broader cultural interest in the sport, likely contributing to increased viewership of actual Formula One events, which Apple reportedly secured streaming rights for. Industry experts see this as a savvy cross-promotional effort that leverages cinematic storytelling to deepen engagement with live sports.

In summary, F1: The Movie stands as a milestone in Apple’s entertainment ambitions, illustrating how premium theatrical films can succeed in an era dominated by streaming. Its impressive box office trajectory, combined with Brad Pitt’s star power and strategic partnerships, suggests further integration of sports and cinema under Apple’s expanding media umbrella. For audiences and industry watchers, the next phase will focus on the film’s availability on Apple TV+ and the impact on Formula One’s popularity in the coming seasons.

Readers interested in experiencing F1: The Movie can anticipate its streaming debut on Apple TV+ later in 2025, while Formula One fans can look forward to expanded coverage and new content facilitated by Apple’s growing role in the sport’s media rights landscape.