‘F1: The Movie’ by Brad Pitt was not just another sports drama with high-octane action; it was a cultural moment. The combination of actual F1 racing, IMAX-capable spectacle, and an unexpectedly emotional comeback tale made the movie fly past expectations.
It earned a worldwide gross of $631 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of Brad Pitt’s entire career, a staggering achievement for a 2025 release not tied to superheroes, sequels, or legacy IP. And now, in a twist that moviegoers foresaw, director Joseph Kosinski has affirmed that he and Apple are already brainstorming a follow-up.
Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Sequel Is Already Gathering Momentum
Motorsport-themed films are unlikely to spawn franchises. They tend to be self-contained journeys, emotional rides that end at the finish line. However, F1 was different from the moment the cameras started rolling with real Formula One cars blazing across actual Grand Prix circuits. Sonny Hayes, the character played by Pitt, was not created as a superhuman racing prodigy. He was a wounded champion, a man who had been wrecked in the past, who went back to the track because it was instinct.
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His tense partnership with rookie driver Joshua Pearce gave the film its heart. The world did not simply watch a racing story. They saw a fading athlete struggle to remain relevant, redeeming, and have a final meaning. In an interview with Variety, Kosinski said that the idea of a sequel was initially discussed informally, as a result of pure enthusiasm. “We’re in that stage of dreaming up what the next chapter for Sonny Hayes would be. Based on the reaction from around the world. It’s something people want to see.”
The final line is crucial. Trends are pursued by studios, but passion projects? They are only created when they are dragged into existence by the audience. And F1 didn’t just do well. It ignited something. Additionally, due to Kosinski’s packed schedule, the Sequel might need to wait. Kosinski isn’t exactly unemployed right now. He is on the verge of shooting the ‘Miami Vice reboot’ with Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, and he is also likely to return for ‘Top Gun 3.’
Brad Pitt, in his turn, is also balancing between projects, including his return as Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino’s universe. All this means ‘F1 2’ won’t hit tracks anytime soon. But maybe the delay is a blessing. Rushing a sequel for a film driven by emotion, not just adrenaline, would be a mistake. Sonny Hayes needs a story that feels earned, not assembled, because the first movie made money.
‘F1: The Movie’s Shocking Box Office Power Lap Makes A Franchise Future Possible
Since ‘F1’ cost $250-300 million to produce, and even more when marketing is factored in, Apple and Warner Bros. are not going to take the risk unless they believe the next chapter is worth the price. Moreover, as sequel negotiations are being made behind the scenes, F1 continues to dominate the headlines due to another reason: its massive and rapid box-office climb.
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The film had leaped over the 250 million mark in only 10 days. Soon after, it passed the 300 million mark around the world. It’s a feat that even the most optimistic estimates did not anticipate this early. The movie quickly broke even despite its massive budget. Even more impressive? It was the highest-grossing film in the history of Apple Studios. People were not merely watching it but telling others to watch it.
By the second week, it was already in the top 10 highest-grossing 2025 films at the domestic box office, surpassing ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’. This kind of momentum is gold to studios and a neon sign that points to the possibility of a sequel. Moreover, the sequel pressure is actual–but so is the opportunity. Provided that Kosinski and Apple do not hurry, ‘F1 2’ may turn out to be something unusual: a sports sequel that not only equals the original, but even develops it.
