‘F1’ races ahead with $10M in previews, while ‘M3GAN 2.0’ pulls in $1.5M

Ready, Set, Go!

The summer box-office sprint kicked off with serious momentum as the racing drama F1 sped through domestic previews. Meanwhile, horror fans got a taste of terror with M3GAN 2.0 sneaking into theaters with its own eerie Thursday screenings.

Those opening moves quickly set the tone for the weekend—fast-paced thrills versus chilling suspense. Hollywood loves a good box-office rivalry, and these early numbers fueled plenty of buzz both online and in the real world.

Brad Pitt at the Wheel

Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski straps Brad Pitt into a fictional APXGP car, shooting real-time laps at Grand Prix weekends. Lewis Hamilton produced, ensuring every gear change felt authentic.

Pitt’s laid-back charisma sells the comeback-driver storyline to casual fans. Critics say the actor’s magnetism keeps the human stakes clear amid the engine roar.

Apple’s First Lap Victory

F1’s preview haul is the biggest ever for an Apple Original Films release with $10 million in domestic previews, dusting Napoleon’s $3 million and Killers of the Flower Moon’s $2.6 million. It even outran Ridley Scott’s pricey epics before the official green flag.

Apple can finally point to a theatrical win instead of noble losses. That shot of confidence fuels the tech giant’s broader push into cinema after years of “almost” hits.

IMAX Turbo Boost

IMAX screens pumped $28 million into F1’s global debut—19% of total revenue and 23% stateside. Only four previous blockbusters ever topped that share.

Miniaturized 15-lens rigs let viewers ride shotgun, creating an immersive advantage big formats could trumpet. The partnership shows why premium screens remain Hollywood’s favorite nitro injection in a crowded release calendar.

Big Budget, High Stakes

F1’s net production tab sits north of $250M–$350M—huge for a non-franchise original. Add worldwide marketing spends, and the breakeven flag waves much further down the pit lane.

Apple’s deep pockets cushion risk, but investors still watch every split time. Analysts say that cost makes legs—not merely a fast start—critical to profitability.

Weekend Pole Position

Early projections became reality: F1 grabbed $55.6 million domestic and $88.4 million overseas, totaling $144 million worldwide after three days. That’s Brad Pitt’s biggest global opening ever, topping World War Z’s $112 million mark.

Landing first place among adult-oriented titles this summer gives multiplexes fresh counter-programming. Comscore analysts called it “full-throttle” proof adults still buy tickets when the engines sing.

Audience High Octane

CinemaScore voters flashed F1 a crisp “A,” a rarity for sports dramas. PostTrak tallied 92% positive with 78% definite recommend, confirming electric word-of-mouth.

Those numbers hint at long-run stamina beyond the flashy launch lap. Studios love when premium formats and crowd buzz pull in second-week casuals who skipped opening night.

Critics Wave the Green Flag

Rotten Tomatoes shows 83% of reviewers are on board, praising Kosinski’s kinetic craft and Pitt’s swagger. Metacritic’s 68 score signals “generally favorable” vibes—solid for a gear-head flick.

Reviewers celebrate cockpit photography that rivals Maverick’s aerial feats. Even detractors concede the visceral visuals leave tire marks on the memory.

Racing Toward the Top Ten

After just three days, F1 leapt to twelfth place on 2025’s worldwide chart, only $61.7 million shy of the current top-ten cutoff. Strong weekdays could slide it into elite company by next Sunday.

If the IMAX share holds, analysts expect $500 million-plus global potential. That would crown Apple’s patience and encourage more theatrical first runs.

M3GAN 2.0’s Creepy Comeback

The killer doll’s sequel arrived with a softer whisper: $1.5 million previews, 46% below the original’s $2.8 million. Social-media dance memes couldn’t replicate 2023’s viral magic.

Universal opened the film in 3,112 venues—wider than many January horrors—but interest skewed modest. Observers blame competition from F1 and franchise fatigue for the dip.

Opening-Weekend Speed Bump

M3GAN 2.0 managed $10.2 million domestic and $17 million worldwide, plunging 66% versus M3GAN’s $30.4 million bow. That shift jars when sequels usually aim to at least match predecessors.

While not disastrous on a slim budget, the stumble lowers franchise overdrive expectations. Blumhouse might pivot plans for spin-offs if legs sag further.

Budget in Perspective

Reports peg the sequel’s cost between $15 million and $25 million—still thrifty by studio standards. That lean spend keeps profitability within reach even on a muted run.

Jason Blum’s model banks on micro-budgets, allowing hits to cover misses. So M3GAN 2.0’s slower take isn’t fatal, just less celebratory than hoped.

Critics vs. Audiences

Rotten Tomatoes critics slapped a 57% “rotten” on the film, citing tonal whiplash. Viewers countered with an 84% audience score and a B+ CinemaScore, higher than the first movie’s “B”.

That split suggests fans dig the action-leaning upgrades even if reviewers see downgraded chills. Good word-of-mouth could still stitch together steady weekday numbers for horror die-hards.

The Blumhouse Playbook

Blumhouse thrives by spending small, from 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s $20 million production to 2022’s The Black Phone $23.6 million opener. M3GAN 2.0 fits that spreadsheet-friendly lane.

When one micro-budget underdelivers, another sleeper often roars, smoothing annual returns. That portfolio mentality keeps founder Jason Blum confidently green-lighting fresh nightmare fuel.

Summer Box-Office Gridlock

F1 now tops late-June charts, dethroning How to Train Your Dragon’s third-week hold. M3GAN 2.0 jostles behind family titles, with Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman revving up next.

Competition will tighten every weekend, squeezing mid-tier horrors more than tentpoles. Expect rapid screen shuffles as multiplexes chase whichever film keeps seats filled.

Cameras in the Cockpit

Apple’s engineers built palm-sized 6K IMAX-certified cameras, planting fifteen inside each race car for F1. That cutting-edge gear delivers warp-speed cockpit immersion critics call “unreal.”

Kosinski’s shoot advanced tech later earmarked for iPhone sensors. The synergy underscores Apple’s knack for turning production R&D into future hardware bragging rights.

Damson Idris says he thought he’d get fired after a wild F1 scene with Brad Pitt—here’s what went down on set.

Photo Finish

Previews told the tale: F1 accelerated past rival films with a $10 million jump-start, while M3GAN 2.0’s $1.5 million crawl signaled trouble. Apple celebrates its maiden theatrical triumph, IMAX popping champagne at every turn.

Blumhouse retreats to its low-risk bunker, counting on streaming lifts and franchise goodwill. The summer’s green flag is waving—now we’ll see which engine keeps humming longest through July heat.

Which one are you rooting for? Like if you’re Team F1 or drop a comment if M3GAN 2.0 has your vote!

Racing meets Hollywood—see how Lewis Hamilton is steering the Brad Pitt-led F1 film from behind the scenes.

Read More From This Brand:

• Brad Pitt Surprises F1 Fans in Mexico
• M3GAN 2.0 Upgraded to Face a New Killer Robot
• Brad Pitt & Fincher Reunite for Netflix Sequel

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.