As Brad Pitt’s F1 film lands on Apple TV on 12 December, American followers are about to get an at-home replay of a movie that has achieved one thing fairly particular: it made Method 1 really feel like a mainstream US blockbuster.
Lengthy earlier than the film’s streaming debut, F1 already had quite a bit to inform of its success within the States. As we have talked about numerous instances earlier than on this web site, Netflix’s Drive to Survive had primed the nation, persuading it to embrace the championship, which was for thus lengthy stubbornly European. Now, the US “accounts for the most important share of respondents of any particular person nation”, in line with the 2025 World F1 Fan Survey, with 52 million followers.
Viewership exploded and social media stats skyrocketed as a youthful, extra digitally switched-on demographic started tuning in. ESPN noticed a 135% leap over eight seasons. When the film was launched, with Pitt of all individuals main and Lewis Hamilton one of many many proficient individuals sitting behind the digicam, followers of F1 may do nothing however embrace it.
A New York premiere for a European sport
The film’s public second got here within the US with a suitably scaled premiere at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor in New York Metropolis. Full with purple carpets and even a shock go to from Hollywood’s Tom Cruise, the premiere noticed Apple’s advertising and marketing machine come out in full to have a good time a world championship.
Because the streets of the Massive Apple have been lined with automobiles, staff principals and drivers, the US was absolutely woke up to what solely years in the past was a distinct segment obsession.
Field workplace success
The obvious signal of the US’s heat welcome got here on the field workplace. It opened to $57million in the US and Canada, topping the home field workplace on its first weekend forward of projections.
By the tip of its cinematic run, F1 earned round $189.5million within the US and Canada, with $631million globally. It grew to become the highest-earning racing movie ever made and probably the most profitable a part of Pitt’s filmography.
Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise
Picture by: Getty Pictures
In a rustic the place F1 is dwarfed by the likes of the NFL, NBA, MLB and even NASCAR, these numbers have been a shock. It does, nevertheless, show that with A-list expertise, real-world entry and heart-stopping visuals, US audiences are very happy to purchase a ticket.
What American audiences actually thought
F1 earned combined critiques. Some shops beloved it whereas others believed that the human story did not fairly match the racing pleasure. However the public – the actual audiences that sought out tickets and paid to observe – was overwhelmingly constructive.
Rotten Tomatoes sits on a 97% viewers rating.
Did the film truly transfer the needle for F1 in America?
There may be an increasing number of proof that the film did extra than simply promote popcorn. It is attracted hundreds of thousands of individuals to the championship who merely weren’t followers earlier than this, boosting curiosity in races and TV protection. Quite a lot of circuits this 12 months noticed report ticket gross sales, and the recognition of races within the US hasn’t been larger.
The timing of this fits, too. In October, Apple gained the US media rights to Method 1 with a five-year contract beginning in 2026. This may see the know-how firm broadcast reside grands prix, qualifying, and different periods to the US market.
For US viewers, this implies the identical platform internet hosting the film may even be the house of the championship itself. And it comes simply in time for People to cheer on the grid’s new staff, Cadillac.
It is all coming collectively for F1 in America.
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– The Motorsport.com Staff
