(Image Source: Apple, Universal Pictures)
Produced by Apple and Warner Bros. Pictures, the racing epic "F1" launched in theaters worldwide last week, delivering a strong performance. The film grossed approximately $55.6 million in its North American opening weekend and $88.4 million internationally, totaling around $144 million globally. This figure easily marks Apple's highest-grossing theatrical debut to date, significantly surpassing its previous releases like "Napoleon," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Fly Me to the Moon," and "Argylle," all of which were considered box office disappointments.
In recent years, Apple's theatrical releases have consistently been big-budget productions, each costing hundreds of millions of dollars, yet they have largely been viewed as financial losses. For instance, "Killers of the Flower Moon" had a production budget of $200 million but only earned just over $150 million at the box office. "Argylle" also cost $200 million but failed to reach $100 million globally, while "Fly Me to the Moon," with a budget close to $100 million, couldn't even cross the $50 million mark worldwide. In this context, "F1" stands out as a comparatively strong performer.
(Image Source: Apple)
Apple's string of consecutive box office losses directly led to the last-minute cancellation of the theatrical release for "Wolfs" last year, another Apple-produced film starring Brad Pitt. "F1" finally offers Apple a moment of respite. However, "F1" itself carries a production budget exceeding $200 million, and with substantial marketing costs, total expenditures are estimated to be around $300 million. For Apple to achieve profitability from its theatrical run, the film would need to gross at least $500 million globally. "F1" still has a long road ahead.
(Image Source: Sony Pictures)
Even less optimistic is the performance of "M3GAN 2.0." Its international opening weekend brought in just $7 million, while North America barely managed $10.2 million. This represents a significant drop compared to the first film, which grossed over $30 million in its North American debut alone. The silver lining is the sequel's modest budget of only $25 million, meaning that even if it ultimately incurs a loss, it won't be a substantial one.
Meanwhile, "28 Years Later," which initially achieved the highest opening weekend box office for the entire franchise, suddenly faced a significant decline last week. Its second-week North American box office plummeted by a staggering 70%, earning only $9.7 million, a stark contrast to its $30 million opening. The film's box office performance is crucial as it will determine whether Sony Pictures greenlights a fifth installment. Should it fail to meet expectations, the groundwork laid for a potential sequel might be abandoned, leaving the story without a complete conclusion. However, the fourth film, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," has already wrapped production and is slated for release on January 16 next year, ensuring its theatrical debut.