Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Movie Opens with Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score

Brad Pitt’s latest action movie, F1, has officially gone lights out and it’s making a respectable showing with critics. The high-speed racing drama, directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and co-written with Ehren Kruger, premiered at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on June 16. Just days later, it currently sits at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 60 reviews.

Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former Formula One driver pulled out of retirement to help a struggling team and to guide a rookie, played by Damson Idris, through the chaotic world of elite racing. The film’s fictional Apex Grand Prix team provides the backdrop for a story built on adrenaline, legacy, and pure racing at the highest levels.

Backing the leads is a heavyweight supporting cast: Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem bringing depth to the pit crew and paddock politics. It’s a cast designed for awards-season appeal, but the film is chasing something faster, box office momentum and mass appeal as it looks to recoup a reported $300 budget.

Director Joseph Kosinski’s latest project aims to blur the line between cinema and sport. Cars were custom-built using Formula 2 chassis enhanced with F1-grade components, and scenes were shot on location at actual Grand Prix events. The production even enlisted Mercedes engineers to ensure every turn and pit stop rings true.

Visually, the film leans into its blockbuster DNA. Kosinski, known for aerial spectacle, trades jets for track rubber without losing intensity. Reviewers are praising the immersive racing scenes, with some calling the film a technical marvel.

The comparisons to Top Gun: Maverick are inevitable, and F1’s 85% doesn’t quite catch Maverick’s 96%. Still, for a summer release built on spectacle, it looks like a win. Audiences will weigh in later this month when the film officially releases in theaters.

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