F1 Races to Top with $25M Opening Day: M3GAN 2.0 Stumbles to Fourth!

Apple Studios is set to achieve its most successful premiere to date with Brad Pitt’s new racing thriller “F1,” which is predicted to take the top spot in its opening weekend at the box office. In contrast, Universal’s “M3GAN 2.0” seems to be underperforming, with early figures suggesting a fourth-place debut, trailing behind ongoing successes “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Elio.”

Leading the charge, “F1” raced off to a strong start, pulling in $25 million from Friday showings and early previews across 3,661 theaters. (Note that this includes $2.8 million from special screenings held before Thursday’s traditional wide release start.) The film is also being shown in Imax and various other high-end formats. Distribution duties were handled by Warner Bros., who collaborated with Apple on this venture, marking a significant impact in the industry.

Forecasting for “F1” varied widely due to its nature as a high-budget film aimed at adults, a rarity outside of established movie franchises. However, with the global allure of Formula One racing, the movie is now expected to reach or even exceed the higher end of initial projections, possibly touching $60 million. This debut would mark the largest opening weekend ever for an Apple Studios film, surpassing the $23.2 million initial take of “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

With a hefty budget over $200 million, “F1” represents Apple’s ambitious attempt at a blockbuster hit, especially considering the film’s potential for significant international earnings due to the widespread popularity of Formula One racing. Despite Apple’s vast resources as a tech behemoth, they are keen on making a significant impact in the theatrical market, following less successful attempts with other high-budget films like “Argylle” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”

The team of producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski, known for their recent success with “Top Gun: Maverick,” along with Plan B and F1 racer Lewis Hamilton as producers, have garnered positive reviews and an “A” CinemaScore for “F1.” This positive reception could help sustain its performance against upcoming major releases like “Jurassic World: Rebirth” and “Superman.”

On the other hand, “M3GAN 2.0” saw a disappointing start with just $4.5 million from Friday and preview showings, leading to an anticipated weekend total of $10.4 million—far below the expected $20 million and significantly lesser than its predecessor’s debut. The original “M3GAN” had benefited greatly from viral social media trends.

Despite doubling the investment for the sequel, Universal and Blumhouse/Atomic Monster face a steep decline in returns. However, with a production budget of $25 million, “M3GAN 2.0” doesn’t need a huge turnout to be profitable, supported by a “B+” CinemaScore that suggests decent audience reception.

This downturn is significant as the franchise already has a spin-off, “Soulm8te,” in the pipeline, set for release in January 2026. This year has been relatively quiet for Blumhouse, which continues to maintain low budgets but hasn’t seen much success with other titles like “Wolf Man,” “The Woman in the Yard,” and “Drop.” Their next release, “The Black Phone 2,” is expected in October.

Meanwhile, “How to Train Your Dragon” managed to secure second place, adding $5.7 million on Friday, with a projected 48% decrease for a third-weekend total of $19 million. This live-action remake is on track to surpass $200 million domestically, potentially overtaking “Captain America: Brave New World.”

Disney and Pixar’s “Elio” is projected to take third place, bringing in $3.2 million on Friday. Despite a more robust performance in its second weekend, it’s still struggling to make up for a record-low opening for a Pixar film, with total earnings reaching just $34.7 million domestically over eight days. The film, which had a $150 million budget, has not lived up to expectations.

Rounding out the top five, Sony’s “28 Years Later” faces a significant decline, earning $3 million on Friday with a projected second weekend total of $9.5 million, a 68% drop from its debut. Despite critical acclaim, Danny Boyle’s latest installment in the zombie saga hasn’t escaped a steep box office fall. The movie’s domestic earnings are expected to reach $50 million after ten days, with a sequel already in the pipeline and a third installment dependent on current box office results.