The Brad Pitt F1 movie racing drama, helmed by Joseph Kosinski, is making a forceful box office impact this weekend, with estimates predicting a global debut surpassing $140 million. The film, in theaters via Apple Original Films and Warner Bros., is drawing crowds with its intense focus on realism and an inspiring underdog narrative, set against the high-octane backdrop of Formula One.
Box Office Success for a High-Speed Rivalry
Brad Pitt stars as a veteran driver whose best days seemed behind him until his old friend, played by Javier Bardem, persuades him to rejoin Formula One and help rescue a struggling team. Alongside Pitt, Damson Idris (recognizable from “Snowfall”) plays the team’s ambitious rookie, setting up a dynamic that pits the experienced racer against a youthful contender determined to lead the pack.
The movie’s dramatic momentum thrives on this partnership and rivalry, delivering action-packed sequences that the director likens to the energy of a live stadium concert. Joseph Kosinski, inspired after binge-watching the Netflix documentary “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” during the pandemic, was captivated by the focus on losing teams and the intricacies of intra-team rivalries, which he channels throughout the film.
“Formula is an incredibly unique sport in that your teammate is also your, in many ways, your greatest competition. And for me, that makes for a great drama,”
Kosinski explained. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
He was especially intrigued by the first season’s attention to last-place teams, viewing the quest not just for championship glory but for a single, hard-fought victory against the giants of racing as a compelling approach.
Relentless Pursuit of Authenticity
Kosinski is known for grounding his films in reality, and for this project, authenticity took center stage. The actors, including Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, performed their driving scenes themselves, maneuvering real Formula One vehicles on actual tracks. This choice added a tangible sense of tension and realness to every racing sequence.
“Every time you see Brad or Damson driving in this movie, they’re driving on their own in one of these real race cars on a real F1 track,”
he said. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
To meet the physical and technical demands of Formula One driving, Kosinski enlisted seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton as a producer and technical mentor. Hamilton not only helped train Pitt and Idris but also made a cameo in the film itself.
“In order to get Brad and Damson into these race cars for the filming, it required months, literally months of training,”
Kosinski explained. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
“I’ll never forget having Lewis Hamilton as your driving instructor, but what we learned and what Lewis was really interested in was seeing whether Brad knew how to drive right? Because if Brad can’t drive, this whole film wouldn’t work. And Lewis was pleased to discover that Brad had a lot of just natural ability right from the start.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
Kosinski added,
“I don’t know where he got that or if he was born with it, and he rides motorcycles, which I think has something to do with it, but he’s just a very talented, naturally gifted driver.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
Hamilton’s early confidence in Pitt’s driving gave the production team faith the project would succeed. The film’s racing scenes were shot during actual Grand Prix weekends, with the full cooperation of the Formula One organization. This required the crew to execute complex sequences in limited time windows, often relying on just one or two takes.
Orchestrating Realism on the Track
Kosinski drew comparisons between his work on “Top Gun: Maverick” and the Brad Pitt F1 movie racing drama, noting that while the Navy collaboration in “Top Gun: Maverick” necessitated extensive preparation, the level of coordination and training required for Formula One was a step above. Every element, from crew organization to actor endurance, pushed the boundaries of film production logistics.
“I mean, on ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ working with the Navy in a similar capacity, it wasn’t entirely different, and we prepped like crazy too, all this training to make sure the actors could endure the G-Force and all of the intensities of flying, but this was maybe another level in terms of crew, orchestration and shot preparation,”
he explained. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
“But yet, Formula One buy-in was essential.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
Camaraderie and Excellence Behind the Scenes
Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, both listed as chief producers on their respective racing and flying blockbusters, drew comparisons from Kosinski for their leadership styles. Kosinski remarked that, despite differences in approach, Pitt and Cruise are “surprisingly more alike than different” in their roles as both performers and producers.
“You know, they’re alike in many ways,”
Kosinski said. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
“They’re at the top of their game, and have been for many decades for a reason. They’re leaders, they excel, and they strive for excellence and lift up everyone around them in doing so. It’s what great athletes do who are team leaders, they lead by example with great attitude, drive and presence that’s meant to inspire.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
Such commitment, he believes, not only sets the on-set tone but elevates the entire cast and crew, much like great leaders in professional sports or Formula One itself.
Upcoming Projects and Creative Inspirations
Looking ahead, Joseph Kosinski has several projects in development, including “Top Gun 3,” an untitled UFO film, and a remake of “Miami Vice.” He discussed drawing inspiration from the original “Miami Vice” series, appreciating the standout contributions of directors such as Michael Mann and Paul Michael Glaser.
“Yeah, we’ve looked at the original series quite a bit, that’s a fun era, and you can’t go wrong with Michael Mann,”
he said. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
“Some of those directors on the series are particularly unsung, too. Someone like Paul Michael Glaser did some terrific work.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
On the prospect of a long wait for the next “Top Gun,” Kosinski humorously dismissed the idea, referencing his collaboration with screenwriter Ehren Kruger.
“Ha, yeah, no, Tom, despite the way he defies age and gravity, I think he might want to skip it by then,”
he laughed. —Joseph Kosinski, Director
“Ehren [Kruger]’s writing it, we’re working on it, we have an idea we like, so we’ll see, and hopefully, it will come together soon.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
A Vision Fueled by Fearlessness and Grit
When asked about his hopes for audiences experiencing the Brad Pitt F1 movie racing drama, Kosinski emphasized the unfiltered authenticity on display. He highlighted the challenges Pitt faced during real driving scenes, underscoring that the actor’s intense focus was authentic and unavoidable.
“And when you see Brad driving, that’s not acting— he’s deeply concentrating on keeping that car on the track and off the wall during all those scenes. That’s something you can’t fake, and I hope the audience feels that when they watch the movie.”
—Joseph Kosinski, Director
The Impact: Raising the Bar for Racing Films
With its strong box office debut, relentless authenticity, and exploration of both rivalry and teamwork, this Brad Pitt F1 movie racing drama stands poised as a new standard for sports cinema. Supported by a cast and crew committed to realism and a creative team eager to challenge boundaries, the film not only entertains but invites audiences into the raw, unpredictable world of Formula One. As Kosinski and his cast eye future projects, including further work with Damson Idris and potential collaborations with drivers like Lewis Hamilton, fans can look forward to more emotionally charged, ground-breaking storytelling rooted in the realities and risks of world-class competition.
