NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Apple has its first box-office hit.
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 鈥� including the 2021 its theatrical results have been decidedly mixed. Misfires like and and big-budget awards plays like and have been better at driving viewers to Apple TV+ than movie theaters.
But 鈥淔1鈥� was Apple鈥檚 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 鈥淭op Gun: Maverick.鈥� 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, 鈥淔1鈥� still has several laps to go to turn a profit. But for now, 鈥淔1鈥� is full speed ahead.
"The film鈥檚 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.鈥�
Car racing movies have often struggled in theaters; crash-and-burn cases include Ron Howard鈥檚 鈥淩ush鈥� (2013) and (2023). But 鈥淔1鈥� built off the Formula 1 fandom stirred up by the popular series 鈥淔ormula 1: Drive to Survive.鈥� And it leaned on to deliver another adult-oriented action thrill ride.
As in 鈥淭op Gun: Maverick,鈥� the filmmakers sought an adrenaline rush by placing IMAX cameras inside the cockpit in 鈥淔1.鈥� IMAX and large-format screens accounted for 55% 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 鈥淔1鈥� 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 鈥渟ecret sauce.鈥� The $144 million global launch is the actor's biggest opening weekend.
鈥淲e came up with multiple campaigns based on where you are in the world,鈥� said Goldstein. 鈥淲e planned for an audience-winner: screen the movie and get it out there. People talking about this movie drove this movie.鈥�
Reviews have been very good for 鈥淔1鈥� and audience reaction (an 鈥淎鈥� via CinemaScore) was even better. That suggests 鈥淔1鈥� could hold up well in the coming weeks despite some formidable coming competition in Universal Pictures鈥�
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, praised Warner Bros. for making 鈥淔1鈥� a theatrical event. The studio was also behind the year's other big original release,
鈥淔or Apple, this demonstrates to them the prestige factor of having a big theatrical release," said Dergarabedian. 鈥淚t elevates their brand."
鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉补濒鈥檚 had been expected to pose a greater challenge to 鈥淔1.鈥� Instead, the robot doll sequel didn鈥檛 come close to matching the 2022 original鈥檚 box-office launch.
鈥淢3gan 2.0鈥� collected $10.2 million in 3,112 theaters. Memes and viral videos helped propel the first 鈥淢3gan鈥� 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 鈥淪oulm8te鈥� is scheduled for release next year.
M3gan 2.0鈥� ended up in fourth place. The box-office leader of the last two weekends, 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 , the studio鈥檚 鈥淓lio鈥� 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. 鈥淔1 The Movie,鈥� $55 million.
2. 鈥淗ow to Train Your Dragon,鈥� $19.4 million.
3. 鈥淓lio,鈥� $10.7 million.
4. 鈥淢3gan 2.0,鈥� $10.2 million.
5. 鈥�28 Years Later,鈥� $9.7 million.
6. 鈥淟ilo & Stitch,鈥� $6.9 million.
7. 鈥淢ission: Impossible 鈥� Final Reckoning,鈥� $4.2 million.
8. 鈥淢aterialists,鈥� $3 million.
9. 鈥淏allerina,鈥� $2.1 million.
10. 鈥淜arate Kid: Legends,鈥� $1 million.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
