Brad Pitt’s “F1: The Movie” is off to a powerful start at the domestic box office, earning $25 million on Friday, including $10 million from previews. The Apple Original Films release is projected to open between $55 million and $58 million across 3,661 theaters. Internationally, it’s expected to earn another $85 million, bringing the global debut to around $140 million — the biggest of Pitt’s career unadjusted for inflation.
Apple partnered with Warner Bros. for distribution, and “F1” has locked down Imax and other premium screens for the next three weeks. Directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, the film stars Pitt as a retired driver teaming up with a rising star, played by Damson Idris. It’s a key milestone for Apple’s push into theatrical releases after previous box office disappointments.
“M3GAN 2.0” Struggles with $10M Debut
Universal’s “M3GAN 2.0” is falling flat in its opening weekend with a projected $10.3 million, a steep drop from the original film’s $30.4 million launch in 2023. Despite a modest $25 million production budget, the horror sequel only managed $3.4 million on Friday, including $1.5 million in previews.
Blumhouse and Atomic Monster hoped the film would attract young female audiences as counter-programming to “F1,” but interest lagged. The sequel, which earned a B+ CinemaScore compared to the first film’s B, features returning cast members Violet McGraw and Allison Williams alongside new additions like Jemaine Clement. Critics and some fans noted the character has lost her charm, becoming too robotic.
Other Box Office Movers
DreamWorks’ live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” is performing steadily in its third weekend, earning $19 million and approaching the $200 million domestic mark. Meanwhile, Pixar’s “Elio” continues its rocky run, dropping nearly 50 percent with an estimated $10.5 million to $11 million in its second weekend.
Sony’s “28 Years Later” is also fading fast, falling 68 percent to an estimated $9.5 million, bringing its 10-day total to $50 million.
For more updates on their box office success or fail, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.