Brad Pitt’s new racing drama has taken its first lap with critics as F1: The Movie received an 84% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but reviewers note that it still falls short of the acclaim received by Ford v Ferrari. This Brad Pitt F1 movie Rotten Tomatoes score comparison highlights not just its position among the Troy actor’s recent films, but also within the competitive realm of racing dramas and blockbuster action releases.
Pitt’s Racing Drama Faces the Critics
F1: The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also helmed Top Gun: Maverick, hit an important milestone with its review embargo ending and the first critic responses rolling in. The film adopts an immersive visual approach reminiscent of Kosinski’s previous work, aiming to draw audiences into the fast-paced world of Formula 1.
While the movie has been greeted by critics with a degree of enthusiasm, the reception has not been overwhelming. The current 84% Rotten Tomatoes score stems from 58 reviews and, although solid, reflects a measured optimism rather than raves. Critics have described the movie as formulaic, which could dampen excitement for some potential viewers who hoped for a fresh take on the racing genre.
Comparing with Pitt’s Recent Work and Genre Standouts
This latest critical performance marks a stronger showing than Brad Pitt’s other recent films: Wolfs, which scored 67%, Bullet Train with 53%, and Babylon at 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. Notably, this is Pitt’s return to certified fresh territory after a gap since 2019, the year he earned 86% for his role as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 83% in Ad Astra.
Despite this improvement, F1: The Movie is still rated lower than Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick, which wowed critics and secured a 96% score, cementing its place as one of the best-reviewed films on the aggregator. Additionally, Tom Cruise’s recent film, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, earned an 80% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a Metacritic score similar to F1’s own, inviting comparison among these high-budget, action-centric films.
Stacking Up with Other Racing Dramas
Within the context of racing dramas, Brad Pitt’s latest effort lands in the middle range. Ford v Ferrari remains the subgenre’s gold standard with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and Rush, starring Chris Hemsworth, is not far behind at 88%. F1: The Movie’s 84% puts it ahead of newer competitors like Gran Turismo (65%) and Michael Mann’s Ferrari (72%), but it does not reach the heights of its most celebrated predecessors.
The Rotten Tomatoes rankings for recent racing movies are as follows:
1. Ford v Ferrari – 92%
2. Rush – 88%
3. F1: The Movie – 84%
4. Ferrari – 72%
Financial Expectations and Industry Impact
Beyond the numbers, attention turns to the film’s possible box office trajectory. F1: The Movie reportedly comes with a production budget of $200 million, positioning it among the most costly projects of Brad Pitt’s career. Whether the movie will justify this investment with commercial success remains uncertain, and both industry insiders and fans are watching closely as its release date approaches.
How F1: The Movie fares at the box office could influence Hollywood’s willingness to bankroll similarly ambitious sports projects and high-concept action dramas in the future. As the feedback from movie critics settles and viewers prepare to make their own judgments, the pressure is on for F1 to either validate its hype or face a tough road ahead.
