F1: The Movie Races to Box Office Glory as M3GAN 2.0 Stalls

F1: The Movie has taken pole position at the global box office, crossing the finish line with a lightning-fast $144 million debut. With Brad Pitt actually driving real Formula 1 cars at breakneck speeds, this Apple-backed blockbuster is proving to be a rare theatrical triumph for the tech giant.

Its $55.6 million domestic haul and $88.4 million international boost put it well ahead of Apple’s previous big-screen efforts, leaving Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon in its rearview mirror.

Critics gave F1 a solid 7/10. It plays the sports movie formula straight but sharp, revving up thrills across a 156-minute runtime that ultimately lands in the winner’s circle. And for audiences? It’s a slick, high-octane crowd-pleaser anchored by Pitt’s commitment behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, it’s a bumpy road for M3GAN 2.0. The sequel to the viral horror-sci-fi hit struggled to match its predecessor’s energy or earnings, debuting at just $17.158 million globally – a steep drop from the original’s eventual $180 million triumph. Blumhouse’s sequel steers into a more sci-fi/action lane, and while M3GAN’s sass and sinister choreography remain entertaining, the shift in tone seems to have thrown audiences off. IGN gave it a 6/10, citing the genre shift as “mixed results.”

Elsewhere in theaters, 28 Years Later has clocked $103 million globally – a franchise record, albeit a modest one. How to Train Your Dragon’s live-action debut continues to soar with $454.4 million, while Pixar’s Elio remains grounded at $72.3 million after two weekends, despite a loyal fanbase who found it quietly heartfelt.

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch live-action remake is the studio’s summer darling. With $946 million banked in just six weekends and the school holidays kicking in, the film looks likely to cross the $1 billion mark soon. Not bad for a story about an alien and his ohana.

Other notables include Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at $561.99 million, Karate Kid: Legends passing $100 million, Final Destination: Bloodlines on $283.3 million, and the dark horse Sinners already at $368 million – and about to make its streaming debut on HBO.