The Brad Pitt F1 Movie: Why It Could Be the Next Great Racing Movie (Or Not)

Every now and then, a movie comes out that says it will change its genre. The next F1 movie with Brad Pitt has a lot of potential for fans of fast-paced racing and strong stories. I was quite excited about this project because it was filmed at real Grand Prix events and the director is recognized for delivering exciting shows. But I also know that big-budget sports Movies frequently have a hard time balancing exciting action with real sports. This movie might be a big hit, but it needs to be careful with its drama if it wants to win over critics and long-time F1 fans.

This Apple Original Film, developed with Formula 1 and Warner Bros. Pictures, wants to send spectators right into the middle of the fastest sport on Earth. It is a major job. It took years to make the movie, and it wants to show us a new side of racing. We have seen a couple trailers for the movie, which has made us even more excited for it to come out. I can't wait to see if this initiative can reach its big goals.

The Road to Release for the F1 Movie: Getting Ready for a Movie Event

The F1 movie is now set to come out on a certain date. On June 25, 2025, it will be in theaters all across the world. Starting on Friday, June 27, 2025, anyone across North America can see it. Apple and Warner Bros. have high hopes for the movie's success, as shown by this plan for a worldwide theatrical release, including IMAX theaters. The fact that the filmmakers know it will be an international event shows that they really believe in its appeal. Big event movies want to be shown in this many theaters.

The movie was filmed at real F1 races in 2023 and 2024. They filmed most of the footage in Silverstone in 2023, during the national anthems, and ended at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last December. It's not common for a fictional movie to get this kind of access and filming on real race weekends. One of the most intriguing aspects about this initiative is that it is committed to being real. It makes me think we will see a real race, which is something I like in a racing movie.

Who is driving and racing: the stars and artists who make F1 come to life

Joseph Kosinski and Lewis Hamilton: A Strong Team Leading F1

Joseph Kosinski is the head of F1. He made the movie Top Gun: Maverick, which has some of the best action scenes ever. I'm enthusiastic about the visuals in this F1 movie because of his earlier work. Kosinski is the best person to show how fast and intense Formula 1 vehicles are on film. He knows how to make you feel like you're in the cockpit. I expect him to do great camera work.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion, is also an executive producer, which adds another degree of appeal. Hamilton's involvement is a strong hint that the movie wants to be as accurate as possible. Brad Pitt remarked that Lewis Hamilton wants them to "respect the sport, that we really show it for what it is." This makes a big difference for me. Having someone who really knows the spirit of the sport in charge of the production should help avoid a lot of the blunders that are prevalent in racing movies. This is why I hope it won't fall into the usual Hollywood traps.

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris: The High-Speed Drama of Formula 1

Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 racer who comes back to the sport. Damson Idris plays Joshua Pearce, who is his first year teammate on a made-up squad called APXGP. Javier Bardem, who won an Oscar, Kerry Condon, who was nominated for an Oscar, and Tobias Menzies, who won an Emmy, are also in the movie. This is a great group of people. Pitt's experience as a "washed-up racer" is a good choice. He has portrayed a lot of characters with a similar flair, and they have generally turned out well. I want to witness how he handles the physical and mental stress of being an F1 driver, even if it's just a story.

A veteran driver teaming up with a young, brilliant rookie is a classic sports movie plot. Even though it's a typical structure, the actors' strength can make it feel new. I truly hope the movie doesn't have too many narrative points that are too familiar. Pitt said that driving the F1 car mock-ups was "humbling" and joked about "warm laps" and "accidentally taking a few tours through the grass." This makes me think that the actors really tried to comprehend what it's like to be in these cars. This promise makes me believe the story more.

What We Know About the F1 Movie's Story and How Real It Is: From Pit Lane to Plot Line

The story of the movie is about Sonny Hayes returning back to help an APXGP squad that is having trouble. He wants to keep the squad from losing everything. This is a well-known underdog story, but I'm worried that the movie won't feel real in the realm of F1. Sometimes, movies in this category don't follow the rules of the sport. Some early reviews have said that the movie includes "crashes: lots of them" and "inconsistencies" like "a lack of double-waved yellows after incidents" or a "questionable storyline arc where Hayes is deliberately causing safety cars." F1 enthusiasts really care about these kinds of things.

The F1 press release said that the movie was "filmed in real time during grands prix around the world and involved the Formula 1 community, including all 10 teams, the drivers, the FIA, and race promoters." This extraordinary access gives the filmmakers every chance to get things right. The cameras on the automobiles promise something we've "never seen" before on the visual side. I think the movie will look great. But the tale needs to be just as clear as the racing. It will be hard for me to ignore basic F1 rules for the sake of drama.

I want a movie that shows how skilled and brave the F1 drivers are and how hard the sport is. I believe Kosinski can make things look exciting. I hope that the fiction also follows the genuine laws and logic of the sport. A real F1 fan wants to feel like what they're witnessing might really happen on a track, even if the people in it are made up. The film's main success or failure will be finding this balance.

Where to Watch This High-Speed Movie: Will The F1 Movie Stream or Stay on the Track?

If you can't wait to see the F1 movie, it will only be shown in theaters at first. This implies that when it comes out in June 2025, you will have to go to your local movie theater to watch it. This choice makes sense because the movie costs a lot of money, between $200 million and $300 million. A extended run in theaters will help pay for those charges. I think the greatest way to see how fast and powerful Kosinski's visuals are is on a big screen.

Once the movie is done showing in theaters, you can watch it on Apple TV+. Apple got the rights to distribute it in 2022. I don't know when streaming will start, but I think it will be at least three months after the movie comes out in theaters. This means that the movie might not come out on Apple TV+ until September 2025 at the earliest. Around that time, it will probably also be accessible on other Premium Video on Demand services. Even while Netflix has had success with the F1: Drive to Survive series, it's crucial to remember that they are not engaged in this production. So if you want to stream it, Apple TV+ is the place to go.

The F1 movie could be one of the best sports movies ever. It has a lot going for it, like Joseph Kosinski as the director, Lewis Hamilton as an actor, and a great cast lead by Brad Pitt. The prospect of filming at real races gives me the degree of realism I've been yearning for. But like any race, a solid start isn't enough; it also requires a strong ending, both in terms of the story and the visuals. I'm waiting to see if this movie will win or if it will crash and burn attempting to do too much. No matter what, it will be a wild ride.

On June 25, 2025, F1 will be in theaters around the world, and on June 27, 2025, it will be in theaters in North America.