[A Formula 1 race car speeds around a track. Photo Credit: Pexels]

Apple’s new film F1: The Movie, released on June 25, 2025, has become the tech giant’s highest-grossing film to date, earning over $293 million worldwide.

Distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery, the film surpassed Apple's previous highest-grossing film record held by Napoleon and proved that the tech firm can compete with giant Hollywood studios.

Although Apple has rarely sent many of their movies out to the cinemas, F1 was a notable exception. 

Other titles such as  “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Argylle” made significantly less money, highlighting how successful this venture has been.

What is so incredible about F1 is how it dominated the attention of those beyond Formula 1 fans.

With Apple's huge market and smart promotion across its devices and platforms, fans who never even supported the sport turned up in the cinemas.

Apple even advertised the movie via the Wallet App on iPhone, a move that drew backlash from  some users who received unexpected push notifications advertising the film. 

F1, starring Brad Pitt, was filmed at actual Grand Prix races, and showcased Apple’s technology within the movie. 

Filmmakers utilized custom cameras made from iPhone parts, as well as placing AirPods in many of the scenes. 

The film also greatly benefited from its release in IMAX theatres. 

Apple secured an early agreement to use IMAX's higher-end cameras and reserved a special three-week engagement in IMAX theaters, making the movie all the more thrilling and cinematic.

The use of IMAX cameras and real racetracks were two of the biggest reasons why F1 appealed to non-racing fans. 

This authenticity meant that the intense, high-speed action made audiences feel like they were right in the driver’s seat. 

Moreover, rather than relying heavily on CGI, the movie emphasized practical effects and genuine racing sequences.

Audiences unfamiliar with Formula 1 found themselves captivated by the immersive experience and emotional storytelling, which is sometimes not the case with movies that are based on a particular sport. 

F1 even displaced another blockbuster, Jurassic World Rebirth, from IMAX screens within the U.S., which goes to show how much of an influence Apple has in the industry.

Potentially, a staggering $60 million of F1’s overall gross came from IMAX alone, much of which came from the U.S. and Canadian marketplaces. 

Despite the strong box office performance, F1 has not yet turned a profit. 

Production costs were reportedly as high as $300 million to produce, and another $100 million to market. 

Apple will also have to share ticket revenue with movie theaters and Warner Bros.

Nonetheless, Apple’s financial resources allow it to undertake  ambitious and potentially risky business endeavors such as making filmmaking. 

Often, Apple has had a solid presence in entertainment, through mediums such as music and TV.

Apple has already established itself with hit series such as “Ted Lasso” and “Severance,” and was the first streaming platform to take home Best Picture at the Oscars with “Coda” in 2021.

Now, with the success of F1, Apple has shown how they can be successful in a number of industries. 

Only time will tell whether Apple will continue to produce blockbuster movies such as F1 in the future.