Apple’s Investment in ‘F1’ Begins to Yield Results: A $350 Million Success Story

Apple took a big risk with its original film “F1: The Movie,” and it’s starting to pay off big time. The movie has become Apple’s most successful theatrical release ever, raking in over $293 million worldwide within just ten days, according to Variety.

Variety reports that “F1: The Movie” made a whopping $146 million globally during its opening weekend, surpassing other Apple hits like “Napoleon” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” On the flip side, Apple’s films “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Argylle” didn’t fare as well at the box office.

A big part of the revenue came from IMAX screenings, pulling in $60 million globally—about 20% of all ticket sales. The movie did particularly well in the United States and Canada, where it earned $109.5 million. Internationally, top markets included China, the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, and Australia.

Looking at costs, producing “F1” reportedly cost over $250 million with another $100 million invested in marketing. While the film has outperformed previous Apple theatrical releases, the total earnings might not cover the combined budget just yet. Typically, studios split box office returns with theaters, and Apple probably hasn’t hit the break-even point yet.

After its theater run, “F1” is set to land on Apple TV+ later this year. So if you missed it in theaters, you’ll still get a chance to catch it on Apple’s streaming service.