Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Is Apple’s First Box Office Hit — Could a Sequel Be Next?

After a string of misfires and critical flops, Apple Studios has finally found its theatrical breakthrough. The studio’s racing drama F1, led by Brad Pitt and directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, crossed the $57 million mark domestically and hit $146.3 million globally in its opening weekend. For a tech company still finding its footing in the movie business, that’s a clear win.

The film, centered around Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes a veteran driver pulled out of retirement to guide a rising star, marks Apple’s first commercial success on the big screen. While the project’s price tag reportedly hovered near $250 million, its performance offers rare momentum for an Apple original outside of its TV hits.

“‘F1’ is going to be Apple’s biggest release at the box office by far,” David A. Gross of FranchiseRe told Variety. “This film looks like the successful business model Apple has envisioned and wanted to execute for several years.”

Until now, Apple’s theatrical ambitions were more promise than payoff. Despite prestige releases like Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon, the company hadn’t managed a financially viable feature. Recent titles such as Argylle and Fly Me to the Moon were met with shrugs from both critics and audiences.

The success of F1 could point to a shift. A report from Variety confirms that work is quietly underway on a possible sequel, although there’s no confirmation on returning cast or direction. With Sonny Hayes now eyeing the Baja 1000 after a dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi, the door is wide open.

Still, it’s not clear if Apple plans to go all in. Though it once pledged to spend $1 billion a year on theatrical films, its release slate beyond 2024 is sparse. Projects like Mayday, starring Ryan Reynolds, and a UFO thriller reuniting Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are still in development.

For now, F1 has given Apple a reason to keep racing. Whether that means building a full theatrical pipeline or staying selective with big swings remains the billion-dollar question.

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