Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Breaks Box Office Records: Gets IMAX Re-Release Today

F1 has surpassed World War Z at the global box office, becoming Brad Pitt’s highest-grossing film. With a total worldwide gross of $549 million, F1 has overtaken the 2013 film’s $540 million. The racing movie earned $174 million in the United States and is set for an IMAX re-release today and will extend through August 15. The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame, stars Pitt alongside Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, and Kerry Condon. It also holds the record as Apple Film’s highest-grossing title.

Despite Pitt’s long career filled with hits such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Ocean’s 11, and Interview with the Vampire, none of his films have crossed $1 billion globally. Pitt tends to choose roles in mature, adult-oriented movies instead of traditional franchise blockbusters, which affects his total box office numbers. After Once Upon a Time in Hollywood earned $392 million worldwide, fans were disappointed when its planned spin-off, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, was announced to be released on Netflix instead of theaters.

F1’s box office performance highlights how perspectives can differ depending on the market. Domestically, it trails behind films like Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, but it ranks higher than those in worldwide earnings. The international success reflects the greater global popularity of Formula 1 racing compared to the United States, where superhero and franchise films dominate.

After some financial disappointments from recent costly films such as Killers of the Flower Moon, Napoleon, and Fly Me to the Moon, F1 proved to be a much-needed success for Apple. Though some critics question calling it an original film given its major sponsorships and ties to the F1 brand, audiences have shown strong interest in the racing action, especially on the big screen. This movie stands out as one of the summer’s unexpected hits.

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