Start your engines—F1: The Movie might just be revving up for round two! Fresh off a high-octane $57 million domestic debut and a global take of $146.3 million in its opening weekend, F1: The Movie is reportedly gearing up for a potential sequel. According to Variety, behind-the-scenes chatter suggests that work is quietly underway on a follow-up to the adrenaline-charged blockbuster. And while details remain under tight wraps, one thing is clear: Apple Studios may have just found its first true box office winner.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and co-written with Ehren Kruger, F1: The Movie brings velocity and verve to the screen, propelled by a stellar cast led by Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes—a former racing legend pulled out of retirement to mentor rookie driver Joshua Pearce, played by breakout star Damson Idris. Together, they navigate the fictional Apex Grand Prix team through high-stakes, high-speed drama.
The ensemble cast also includes: Kerry Condon as the razor-sharp technical director, Javier Bardem as the volatile team owner, Tobias Menzies as a calculating board member, Kim Bodnia as the no-nonsense team principal, and Sarah Niles as Pearce’s grounded and protective mother
More Than Just A Victory Lap
While its estimated $200–300 million production budget means there’s still a road ahead before it turns a profit, F1: The Movie is already being hailed as Apple Studios’ first commercial breakthrough. This is no small feat considering Apple’s previous high-profile releases—like Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon—struggled to find similar traction at the box office despite critical acclaim.
Kosinski’s kinetic direction and Pitt’s undeniable charisma have proved to be a winning formula. It’s cinematic engineering at its finest—an original blockbuster aimed squarely at adult audiences, filled with authentic motorsport action and emotional resonance.
A Sequel In The Desert?
The seeds of a sequel may have already been planted. The film’s post-credits scene sees Sonny Hayes leaving the glitz of Formula One behind and heading toward a grittier, more personal challenge: competing in the Baja 1000, one of the most punishing off-road races on the planet. The final shots of Sonny tearing through the desert in an off-road vehicle seemed more poetic than plot-driven—until now.
This newly surfaced report suggests that the Baja 1000 may be the setting for the next chapter. Could the sequel trade polished pit lanes for dust-choked dunes? If so, it would mark a daring and genre-bending shift—one that positions Hayes as a modern racing legend willing to reinvent himself with every race.
A New Era For Apple Studios?
The potential greenlight of a sequel is more than just a nod to commercial success—it signals Apple’s evolution in the theatrical space. With F1: The Movie, the tech giant has finally entered the blockbuster conversation in a meaningful way, blending prestige filmmaking with mass-market appeal.
So while fans flock to theaters to catch the film in all its roaring, rubber-burning glory, the real race may just be getting started. Strap in. F1: The Movie may have crossed the finish line, but Brad Pitt’s ride is far from over.
