With a high-octane opening weekend, Apple Original Films’ F1 races to the top of the international box office, delivering the studio’s biggest global launch to date—powered by Brad Pitt, Formula 1 fandom, and overseas dominance.
Apple Original Films’ F1 roared into the global box office with a powerful start, finishing its opening weekend with an impressive $146.3 million worldwide. With $89.3 million coming from 78 international markets and $57 million from domestic theaters, the Joseph Kosinski-directed drama starring Brad Pitt has officially become Apple’s biggest film launch ever—outpacing even the most optimistic industry projections.
With Sunday’s actuals adding $2.3 million to earlier estimates, F1 now boasts a robust $146.3 million global debut, with international markets accounting for a commanding $89.3 million. The racing drama not only exceeded expectations but also clocked in at No. 1 for a U.S. film in 74 out of 78 overseas markets.
From the streets of Seoul to the circuits of London and Latin America, F1 proved its international mettle. The Imax component alone brought in $27.7 million globally, with $11.1 million contributed by international markets. In China, the Imax share was a staggering 43% of the nationwide debut, totaling $3.8 million—Apple’s best-ever performance in the territory.
In key territories, the UK led with $9.2 million (despite a heatwave), followed closely by China ($9 million), Mexico ($6.7 million, outpacing Top Gun: Maverick by 38%), France ($5.4 million with glowing social media buzz), and Australia ($5 million—the top launch ever for Apple and Pitt).
Eastern Europe turned out to be an unexpected powerhouse, with F1 claiming the biggest Apple launch in the region. The Middle East delivered a collective $5.6 million, with the UAE alone contributing $2.7 million—a record for Apple, Brad Pitt, and director Kosinski.
Latin America was another major win, with F1 claiming 46% of regional box office share and ranking as Apple’s highest debut in the area. In Asia, the film secured No. 1 rankings across most markets, with strong word-of-mouth fuelling weekday ticket sales.
In terms of comparable titles, F1 is performing on par with Gladiator II, 18% ahead of World War Z, 34% stronger than Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 58% over Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and a massive 152% above Bullet Train.
Meanwhile, Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon continues to soar with $34 million in its third overseas weekend, lifting its international tally to $255.8 million and global cume to $456.1 million. In China, the film overtook Minecraft to become the second-highest-grossing studio release of the year with $31.1 million. Mexico has now contributed $30 million, surpassing the lifetime gross of Beauty and the Beast. Other top markets include the UK ($21.8M), Brazil ($15M), and Korea ($11.4M).
Sony and Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later crossed the $100M global mark this weekend, reaching $103 million worldwide. The horror sequel added $13.7 million from 63 markets, marking a 49% drop but still outperforming Sinners (+26%) and Smile 2 (+18%) at similar stages.
Disney/Pixar’s Elio added $11.4 million in its sophomore weekend across 48 markets, bringing its international total to $30.1 million and global gross to $72.3 million. Top performers so far include Korea ($3M), France and UK (each $2.9M), China ($2.7M), and Mexico ($2.3M). Spain and Japan are yet to open.
Meanwhile, Lilo & Stitch continues its astonishing run with $946 million globally. The film’s offshore total stands at $546 million after a strong weekend with just a 36% drop internationally. France, the UK, Japan, and Germany all held firm with minimal declines, making Mexico ($65.7M), UK ($47.4M), and France ($38.8M) the top contributors.
Other Notable Titles & Updated Cumes:
- M3GAN 2.0 (Universal): $7M intl weekend | $7M intl total | $17.2M global
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount): $6.7M intl weekend | $376M intl | $562M global
- Materialists (Sony/A24): $1.2M intl weekend | $9.7M intl | $40.1M global
- Karate Kid: Legends (Sony): $1.1M intl weekend | $50.8M intl | $102.3M global
- Final Destination: Bloodlines (WB): $875K intl weekend | $146.6M intl | $283.3M global
- The Phoenician Scheme (Universal): $567K intl weekend | $16.9M intl | $34.7M global
As F1 continues to accelerate through week two, all eyes are on whether it can maintain momentum and challenge for even bigger milestones. With Apple’s global strategy firing on all cylinders, the film’s early triumph might just be the start of a longer podium run.
With a pulse-pounding debut and global markets lining up for the ride, F1 signals not just a win for Apple Original Films, but a resounding endorsement of cinematic spectacle driven by international audiences. The box office finish line is still far off—but for now, Brad Pitt and team are comfortably in pole position.