Movies are a source of entertainment, yet when you add in the concepts of ‘budget’ and ‘money,’ they are rather a gamble to make. In the last few decades, the cost of making films has ballooned, reaching unimaginable levels, especially in franchises and superhero cinema. Given how movies like Godzilla Minus One, made against a meager budget, can still succeed and go on to win an Oscar, these skyrocketing costs really make one wonder if these films are worth the risk.
While that is a whole other debate, one film that seems to be taking a risk is Brad Pitt’s F1 movie. Made against an alarming budget that puts it among the most expensive films of all time list, it is a highly ambitious project, but the question remains whether it would even manage to cover its entire production cost or fall short at the box office. Despite the acclaim and allure of Pitt, the film’s high-octane premise and alarming budget make it rather difficult to imagine how its box office performance would be.
So while we will have to wait to see how well it performs, here is a deep dive into why the movie’s budget is so amazingly high and what it means for the movie and Brad Pitt.
Brad Pitt’s F1 Movie and its Alarming Budget
Brad Pitt is ready to dive into the world of sports, action, and drama with his upcoming film, F1. The lead star and main draw of the film, Pitt’s latest venture is focused on the adrenalin-pumping world of Formula 1 racing. With Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski at the helm, the film has been generating buzz not only for its promise and actions but also for its staggering production budget.
According to Puck News‘ Matthew Belloni, the budget for the yet-to-be-released film has reached an unprecedented level and has gone well beyond $300 million. If this report is true, it makes the film one of the most expensive films of all time, thus, also putting it at a huge financial risk. Only a dozen films in the history of cinema have managed to cross the $300 million threshold in terms of budget (see The Numbers and MovieWeb).
Hence, ranking amongst the likes of Avengers: Infinity Wars ($300 million), Fast X ($340 million), and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ($300 million), the film production budget alone makes it a highly expensive deal. And unlike other films, since F1 neither has a stellar cast nor is part of a huge franchise, it makes it harder for it to succeed at the global box office.
Why is Brad Pitt’s F1 Film So Expensive?
With Brad Pitt’s F1 reported to be one of the most expensive films ever to be made, one naturally wonders what makes the film this expensive. Well, the film reportedly began filming last year in July, and just days after it was hit by the twin SAG-AFTRA strikes, delaying the filming as well as raising the cost of production drastically.
Moreover, since it is a sports action drama, Joseph Kosinski has left no stone unturned to recreate the intensity and glamour of the global racing circuit. In wanting to keep it as authentic as possible, the film puts real actors in real race cars. Since this requires extensive training and poses extreme safety risks for the actors as well as the film, this has added to the woes of the studio.
Furthermore, some scenes of the film were shot at real events and race courses around the world. At one time Pitt was also spotted filming in a modified F2 car along with Formula One drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen, who will also be featured in the film (via The Independent). Although none of the filming seems to have taken place at the official Formula One races, the production costs have significantly increased due to the film’s penchant for authenticity.
How Much Will Brad Pitt’s F1 Need to Make to Be a Success?
There is no denying that Brad Pitt is one of the most alluring actors in the world of cinema. Even though he has cemented his presence as one of the most bankable actors in the industry, it is difficult to imagine that his appeal is strong enough to make F1 break even at the global box office. Given its mammoth budget, which is apparently more than $300 million, the film will have to cross several obstacles to be called a success.
F1 will need to make at least $600 million at the global box office to reach a break-even point and make about $700 million to $900 million to be called a definitive success. Given the success of Brad Pitt as a bankable star, the film also heavily relies on his name to make it a success since it lacks a stellar cast or the backing of a franchise.
Pitt’s highest-grossing film of all time has been World War Z, which grossed about $540 million at the global box office (via The Numbers). His box office history seems to suggest that the production cannot rely on Pitt alone for the film to be a success. While F1 does feature an authentic experience along with some of the biggest Formula One names of all time in small roles, it will have to lean heavily on the sport and appeal to the huge fanbase of the sport to be called a success.
Can Brad Pitt’s F1 Become His Biggest Success?
Brad Pitt’s F1 faces sky-high expectations due to its rumored enormous $300 million budget, making it one of the most expensive films in the history of cinema. While this does present a monumental challenge, the film has several elements that set it apart from similar films like Rush or Ford v Ferrari, factors that could potentially make the film one of the highest-grossing films of all time (via Auto Sport).
Apart from the charm of Brad Pitt, the film’s greatest asset is perhaps its director Joseph Kosinski, whose 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick defied all expectations by grossing more than a billion dollars at the global box office. Just as Top Gun: Maverick used real fighter jets and stunts to draw audiences, F1 too uses real racing cars, real courses, and real race car drivers which gives enough reason for fans of the sport to flock to the theatres.
Unlike other racing films, F1 is also a collaboration between the film industry and the Formula One world, employing the use of Lewis Hamilton as a producer as well as an advisor. He even stars in the film as himself, and so do other racing powerhouses like Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez. Thus, having an ultimate trinity of Pitt’s draw, Kosinski’s proven directorial expertise, and Formula One’s global appeal, the film might as well turn out to be a blockbuster.
F1 will hit the theatres in the United States on June 27, 2025.
