Like Brad Pitt’s F1 The film arrives on Apple TV on December 12, with American fans about to watch at home a replay of a film that did something quite special: it made Formula 1 feel like a mainstream American blockbuster.
Long before the film’s streaming debut, F1 already had a lot to say about its success in the United States. As we have mentioned many times on this website, the Netflix program Drive to survive had prepared the country, persuading it to embrace the championship, so long stubbornly European. Today, the United States “represents the largest share of respondents of any country,” according to the 2025 Global F1 Fan Surveywith 52 million fans.
Audiences exploded and social media stats skyrocketed as a younger, more digitally connected demographic began tuning in. ESPN saw a 135% jump over eight seasons. When the film was released, with Pitt among all the leads and Lewis Hamilton one of many talented people sitting behind the camera, F1 fans couldn’t do anything but embrace him.
A New York first for a European sport
The film’s public moment took place in the United States with a properly scaled premiere at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. With red carpets and even a surprise visit from Hollywood’s Tom Cruise, the premiere saw Apple’s marketing machine in full swing to celebrate a world championship.
As the streets of the Big Apple were lined with cars, crew chiefs and drivers, America was acutely aware of what was only a few years ago a niche obsession.
Box office success
The clearest sign of America’s warm welcome came at the box office. It opened to $57 million in the United States and Canada, beating domestic box office predictions in its first weekend.
At the end of his film tour, F1 earned approximately $189.5 million in the United States and Canada, including $631 million worldwide. It became the highest-earning racing film ever made and the most successful part of Pitt’s filmography.
Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise
Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise
In a country where F1 is overshadowed by the NFL, NBA, MLB and even NASCAR, these numbers came as a surprise. It does, however, prove that with A-list talent, real-world access, and jaw-dropping visuals, American audiences are more than happy to buy a ticket.
What the American Public Really Thought
F1 got mixed reviews. Some media loved it while others thought the human story didn’t quite match the excitement of the race. But the audience – the real audience who sought tickets and paid to watch – was overwhelmingly positive.
Rotten Tomatoes has an audience score of 97%.
Did the film really shake things up for F1 in America?
There is growing evidence that the film did more than just sell popcorn. This attracted millions of people to the championship who simply weren’t fans before, boosting interest in the races and television coverage. A number of tracks have seen record ticket sales this year, and the popularity of racing in the United States has not been higher.
The timing of this is also fitting. In October, Apple won the US media rights to Formula 1 with a five-year deal starting in 2026. This will see the tech company broadcast live grands prix, qualifying and other sessions in the US market.
For American viewers, this means that the same platform hosting the film will also be the home of the championship itself. And it comes just in time for the Americans to cheer on the newest team on the grid, Cadillac.
Everything is coming together for F1 in America.
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