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Apple’s ‘F1’ Surpasses Expectations at Global Box Office

Apple’s bold foray into big-screen entertainment has reached a major milestone. “F1: The Movie” has now grossed more than $293 million worldwide, making it Apple’s most successful theatrical release to date, surpassing Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” ($221 million in 2023).

Distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery, the film has outpaced earlier Apple-backed titles such as:

• Killers of the Flower Moon – $158 million
• Argylle – $96 million
• Fly Me to the Moon – $42 million

The racing drama has proved that Apple, traditionally a tech titan, is quickly becoming a serious contender in Hollywood.

IMAX Partnership Fuels the Surge

A major contributor to F1’s commercial traction has been its strategic partnership with IMAX. The film pulled in $60 million from IMAX screenings, accounting for more than 20% of its total revenue. In the U.S. and Canada alone, $27.4 million of its domestic haul came via IMAX, making up roughly 25% of local earnings.

This exclusivity came at a cost for competitors. Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” was denied a domestic IMAX rollout as a result, only landing those premium screens in China and soon in Japan.

Apple’s early investment in IMAX camera technology and theatrical exclusivity helped position F1 not just as a streaming title, but as a blockbuster event worthy of the big screen.

Can ‘F1’ Turn a Profit?

Despite its record-setting performance for Apple, F1 has not yet reached the finish line of profitability. Estimated production costs for the film are reportedly between $200 million and $300 million, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing. Given the typical revenue-sharing structure between studios, distributors, and theaters—and Apple’s deal with Warner Bros.—analysts suggest the break-even point could still be ahead.

“Mega-budget films like F1 face a long road to profitability,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “But Apple has both the cash and long-term vision to absorb those risks.”

Apple’s Evolving Strategy in Entertainment

Unlike traditional studios, Apple doesn’t depend on entertainment as a core business driver. With a market cap of over $3 trillion, its profits stem primarily from hardware sales—iPhones, iPads, Macs—and growing services like iCloud and Apple Music.

But that doesn’t mean film isn’t taken seriously at Apple.

“We got into this business because we thought it would be a good business,”
— Eddy Cue, Apple Services Chief, in a recent interview with Bloomberg.

The company’s content division is steadily gaining cultural relevance. After winning Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars for “CODA,” Apple TV+ has expanded its prestige portfolio with series like “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” and “The Studio.”

The Road Ahead for Apple in Hollywood

F1’s box office success may serve as a blueprint for future Apple productions, signaling that premium content designed for theaters can coexist with a robust streaming strategy. The film demonstrates how Apple’s ecosystem—from hardware to services—can support global entertainment ventures.

As theatrical revenue climbs and streaming platforms mature, Apple’s hybrid model could become a template for tech-entertainment convergence, setting the stage for future growth in both sectors.

Whether or not F1 crosses into profitability, it has already proven that Apple is no longer just dabbling in Hollywood—it’s here to compete.