The theatrical engine is running hot, and leading the charge is F1: The Movie, which pulled off a $55.6M domestic debut this weekend. That not only puts it squarely at number one—it marks a record-shattering bow for Apple Original Films, more than doubling Killers of the Flower Moon’s $23.3M debut in 2023. Add in international markets, and F1 is already lapping the field with a global start of $144M.
Produced by Apple and distributed by Warner Bros., F1 stars Brad Pitt as aging racer Sonny Hayes, who returns to the Formula 1 world to mentor a young rookie, played by Damson Idris. Shot during real Grand Prix weekends at Silverstone and Monza with full access to the sport’s behind-the-scenes workings—and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on board as technical advisor—F1 is nothing if not authentic.
It’s also expensive. The production budget clocks in at $200M, which means profitability doesn’t kick in until somewhere around $500M globally. That’s a steep curve, especially with Jurassic World: Rebirth opening July 2 and Superman just behind it on July 11. Still, a strong start is a strong start, and F1‘s pedal is firmly to the metal.
Critics gave it a solid 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences went all-in with a sky-high 97% score. Whether that’s enough fuel for the long haul is the million-dollar question—but one thing’s clear: Pitt still knows how to move the needle. At 61, this is his 37th lead role, with a career box office now totaling over $5B.
Other Notable Weekend Moves:
2. How to Train Your Dragon (Live-Action)
After two weeks at #1, Universal’s hybrid remake dropped 47%, pulling in $19.4M for a 17-day domestic total of $200M. With $454.4M globally and counting, it’s on pace to become the top-grossing entry in the franchise. Universal has already announced a sequel for 2027.
3. Elio (Pixar)
In a sobering sign for Pixar, Elio added just $10.7M in weekend two, bringing its 10-day domestic total to $42.2M—well below Elemental’s $65.5M at the same mark. With only 42% of revenue from overseas, the $150M budgeted film is on thin ice. Analysts are already calling it Pixar’s weakest performer in a decade.
4. M3GAN 2.0
The killer doll’s second outing opened to a disappointing $10.2M, less than half of the original’s $30.4M. With critics split (58% RT) and audiences more receptive (84%), this action-horror-comedy remix may have missed its moment. The $25M budget is modest, but profitability is looking unlikely.
5. 28 Years Later
The long-awaited third entry in the “28” franchise plummeted 68% in its second weekend, earning $9.7M for a 10-day total of $50.4M. With steeper drops than its predecessors (28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later), Sony may want to rethink its future “28” timelines—or at least its budget.
Year-to-Date Update:
As of June 26, the domestic box office is up 17% from 2024, but still lags 2019 by 28%. With big titles like Jurassic World: Rebirth, Superman, and the Jaws 50th anniversary re-release on deck, Q3 has a shot to keep momentum high.
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