Where Brad Pitt’s F1 movie ranks among the biggest racing films at the US box office

Brad Pitt’s F1 movie has done something no other Formula 1 film has been able to do in the United States: it has become a mainstream blockbuster rather than a niche racing drama. At the North American box office the film took approximately $189.5million out of a $631.5million global haul, making it the highest-grossing racing film worldwide. But how does it compare to other racing films in the US?

In the US market specifically, F1 sits at the very top the large pile of motorsport films. This includes the likes of James Mangold’s acclaimed Ford v Ferrari, which topped out its speedometer at $117.6million domestically, and Ron Howard’s Rush, which reached just $26.9million in the US and Canada. 

Where F1 is losing out is against family and comedy titles. Pixar’s Cars remains the domestic champion with $244.1million, while Cars 2 saw an impressive $191.5million. Will Ferrell’s NASCAR comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby sits a little further back at $148.2million, and Tom Cruise’s Days of Thunder earned $82.7million. 

Brad Pitt at the World Premiere of F1 The Movie

Photo by: Getty Images

This makes F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski, the third-biggest racing movie at the North American box office, behind only the two Cars movies. It is comfortably the top live-action entry. 

Globally, it looks a little different, mainly due to higher overseas interest in the championship. Worldwide, F1 overtook Cars 2 to become the top-grossing racing film worldwide and one of the highest-earning sports movies ever. It’s also become Pitt’s highest-grossing film of his career. 

The above figures haven’t been adjusted for inflation, making older titles like Talladega Nights and Days of Thunder potentially higher performing, but the numbers still paint a strong picture for the Lewis Hamilton-produced movie. 

We want your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Team