'F1: The Movie' Tops U.S., Canada Box Office with $55.6M Opening

Apple's "F1: The Movie," starring Brad Pitt as a retired Formula 1 racer who returns to save a failing team, has surged to number one at the U.S. and Canadian box office with a weekend gross of $55.6 million. The film's global ticket sales surpassed $88 million, buoyed by strong fan interest in Europe and Latin America, and it marks a significant success in the racing film genre, which traditionally performs modestly in theaters. Industry experts credit the film's appeal to its high-intensity direction by Joseph Kosinski, the popularity of the "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" Netflix series, and Apple's robust marketing campaign, including discounts for iPhone users. Despite the genre's typical challenges, "F1: The Movie" has outpaced films like "Ford v Ferrari" and represents Apple's first major box office blockbuster following underperforming titles such as "Killers of the Flower Moon." The movie received an A rating from CinemaScore, underscoring strong audience approval. Other box office highlights include "How to Train Your Dragon" dropping to second place and the debut of "M3GAN 2.0" at fourth.