Box Office: ‘F1' Revs to $144 Million Globally, ‘Lilo & Stitch' Nears $950 Million Milestone

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Brad Pitt's original racing drama 'F1' drove to the top of the box office charts, collecting a sizable $88.4 million internationally and $144 million globally in its opening weekend.
The film, from director Joseph Kosinski and producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton, follows a retired driver (Pitt) who returns to the popular motorsport to coach a cocksure rookie (Damson Idris) and save a failing team. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, where 'F1' zoomed to $55.6 million, the top-earning territories were the United Kingdom with $9.2 million, China with $9 million and Mexico with $6.7 million.
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'F1' marks the first commercial win for Apple, which has previously backed underperforming big screen offerings like 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Napoleon' and 'Argylle.' Against a nearly $250 million production budget and massive marketing spend, 'F1' will need significantly more ticket sales to break even and turn a theatrical profit. But this is Apple's closest attempt to all-audience blockbuster status and will soon overtake 'Napoleon' ($221 million globally) as the company's highest-grossing release. And 'F1' is expected to benefit in the coming weeks from solid reviews, positive word-of-mouth and Imax screens before landing on the company's streamer, Apple TV+.
Since Apple doesn't have a distribution arm, the tech giant is paying Warner Bros. to put the film in theaters; the Burbank-based studio will also receive a percentage of theatrical revenues that increases with certain box office benchmarks.
'F1' also represents a victory for Imax, whose cameras were used to film the ultra-immersive, high-speed racing sequences. Imax screens accounted for $11.1 million overseas and $27.7 million globally, representing 19% of overall revenues — the fourth-highest percentage in Imax's history.
''F1' has inspired audiences around the globe with its underdog story and perfect blend of high-octane racing and human-centered storytelling,' says Apple's head of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg. 'The film's outstanding debut reflects both the excitement of Formula 1 and the deeply emotional and entertaining story crafted by the entire cast and creative team. Their dedication and innovation have fueled an unforgettable cinematic experience.'
In terms of other newcomers, Universal and Blumhouse's A.I. thriller 'M3GAN 2.0' flatlined with $7 million from 80 international markets. Mexico earned a leading $1.2 million, followed by the U.K. and Ireland with $700,000 and Brazil with $400,000. Along with $10.2 million domestically, 'M3GAN 2.0' has grossed a soft $17 million in its first weekend of release.
With weak reviews and seemingly diminished audience interest, the campy horror sequel failed to achieve the box office heights of 2023's 'M3GAN,' which ignited to $15 million overseas and $45 million globally. The original became a sleeper hit with $180 million worldwide, which explains the studio's justification for the follow-up film set around the scream queen who became a meme queen. Fortunately for the studio, 'M3GAN 2.0' cost a modest $25 million, so potential theatrical losses won't be too painful.
Plus, Universal is flying high with 'How to Train Your Dragon,' which added $32 million internationally in its third frame. The live-action remake has earned $254 million overseas and $454 million worldwide to date, underscoring the enduring appeal of the fantastical property. Universal has the live-action sequel set for 2027.
PG films have been dominating at the box office with 'Lilo & Stitch' adding $13.1 million from 52 markets for a massive overseas tally of $545 million. After six weekends on the big screen, the live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' is about to cross the $950 million milestone (with $946 million globally so far) and has $1 billion on the horizon. A live-action sequel to 'Lilo & Stitch' is also in the works.
Not every movie with a family friendly rating is electrifying the box office. Disney's original Pixar adventure 'Elio' brought in just $11.4 million from 48 territories in its sophomore outing. After notching the worst start in Pixar history, 'Elio' has grossed $30 million overseas and $73 million worldwide. Though positive word-of-mouth should help the film endure throughout the summer, 'Elio' is nowhere near on track to earn enough to justify its $150 million production budget.