AsF1sped into theaters on June 01, 2025, its sequel prospects may depend on how far the movie laps the competition at the theatrical box office. The well-reviewedBrad PittFormula One racing movie shares a pedigree withTop Gun: Maverick, with director Joseph Kosinski returning many of the key crew members who made the jet-fighting sequel such a smash hit. ShouldF1blaze down a similar path, it could follow Maverick’s flight plan and warrant a new franchise entry.
While the critical and commercial reception ofF1will determine much of the sequel’s fate in the coming weeks, if made, the story could shift focus toDamson Idris' brash Formula One racer Joshua Pearce. The character is not only ideal for carrying the torch passed by Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, but given how sparsely utilized he is inF1,a more substantial plot could be built around Pearce as he shifts into a higher racing gear.
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‘F1’ Follows Pitt’s Sonny Hayes as He Returns to Formula One
Joseph Kosinski’s new movieF1is a grand racing spectacle that relies on hyperrealism to immerse viewers in the track. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a formerly prominent Formula One racer. Hayes’s old friend, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), asks him to join his F1 racing team, APXGP, and race with the brash yet supremely talented young star, Joshua Pearce, to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
Without spoiling too much, circumstances force Hayes to take the wheel during the championship race, and he soon finds himself competing with Pearce. Although the movie has been described as fairly formulaic,its immense scale and authentic realism on IMAX screens make for a truly visceral experience. Many of the crew members who madeTop Gun: Mavericksuch an exhilarating time are back to help director Joseph Kosinski achieve a similar blast of rousing triumphalism inF1.
‘F1’s Global Box-Office Prospects
According to industry insiders who track such data,F1is on pace to collect roughly $115 million in global ticket sales during its opening weekend (viaDeadline). Thanks to the movie’s stellar reviews (86% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and its viewer-friendly PG-13 rating,F1is expected to dust the competitionthis weekend. The only real competition isM3GAN 2.0, a horror sequel anticipated to open to a modest $15-20 million.
Of course, box office success is relative to the production costs.F1has a whopping $200 million budget (with some reports claiming it’s closer to $300 million), making it far more difficult than a movie likeM3GAN 2.0($15-20 million budget) to recoup its expenses and justify a sequel. Brad Pitt is still a box office draw, and with the moviebeing compared toTop Gun: Maverick, it’s easy to see whyF1is expected to open fast and furious out of the gate. Still, the movie will have to prove lucrative enough for Apple Original Films to green-light a sequel.
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There’s also the question of legs.AlthoughF1is anticipated to earn over $100 million worldwide on the opening weekend, how long it will last in theaters, while continuing to recoup expenses, will be a telling signpost for its sequel prospects. If the movie can hold pace or outrun blockbuster holdovers like the finalMission: Impossiblemovie or the upcomingSuperman,F1’s chances of receiving a sequel are much higher. If the movie fails to gain traction in subsequent weeks, a sequel will be a much harder sell.
Yet, ifF1is successful beyond the opening weekend, the next question becomes where the film goes from here and how the story will be continued in a sequel.
What Would an ‘F1’ Sequel Look Like?
Fortunately,Kosinski does not endF1on a gimmicky cliffhangermeant to shoehorn a needless sequel (Wicked, anyone?). Instead, the movie leaves plenty of room to expand and explore Damson Idris’ character, Joshua Pearce. Joshua has a solid introduction to the movie and is set up to have a much more substantial role, but ultimately recedes into the background to give Hayes his due spotlight.Not to speculate on Pitt’s return, the sequel, if made, should shift gears and emphasize Pearce’s character.
Whether a prequel that details Pearce’s upbringing, love of racing, early training, and how he climbed the ranks to become a Formula One driver, or a sequel that continues whereF1left off,Idris needs to take the wheeland leadF1to glory. In sharing scenes with Pitt and Bardem, Idris proves he can go toe-to-toe with the best of them and has earned the right to more of the limelight. Yet, his presence feels underdeveloped inF1, possibly setting the stage for a follow-up.
Heart-Pounding Trailer for ‘F1’ Has Brad Pitt Lead His Own ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
The official trailer for ‘F1’ unveils a big-budget race car driving thriller only the director behind ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ could pull off.
But what if Pitt and Bardem don’t return for a potentialF1sequel? That would put undue pressure on Idris to carry an extremely expensive franchise on his back, which would not be very wise. To combat this, another super A-list actor may be required to slide into the passenger’s seat and keep the show rolling smoothly. Kosinski and hisTop Gun: Maverickteam would also have to return, although they may be too busy makingthe nextTop Gunmovie.
CouldTop Gunhimself, Tom Cruise, be the one to star in a potentialF1sequel? He has already had a blast making the stock car racing movieDays of Thunder. He already has a good working bond with Kosinski followingOblivionandMaverick. He even attended the premiere ofF1to support his old friend Brad Pitt.
As much sense as it may make on paper, Cruise isn’t one to star in a franchise sequel he didn’t originate. Even so, it will likely take an internationally famous movie star of Pitt and Cruise’s ilk to draw the kind of crowdF1needs to be successful.For now, catchF1in theaters.
