With stunning scenes filmed in Abu Dhabi, F1: The Movie Middle East box office numbers are soaring—much like the sport’s growing popularity in the region.
Apple Original Films’ eagerly anticipated F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, has delivered an electrifying opening weekend at the global box office, becoming a historic milestone for the studio and the genre alike.
Racing to an extraordinary $144 million worldwide in its first four days, F1: The Movie proved that when premium content meets the right platform, audiences respond in unprecedented ways. The film’s domestic performance was nothing short of impressive, capturing $55.6 million domestically (US & Canada), while international markets contributed $88.4 million to boost the global tally.
But here’s where the story gets truly electrifying: these figures represent more than just solid box office performance—they’re rewriting the record books. Apple has officially crowned its new champion, with F1: The Movie speeding past previous theatrical releases like Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon to claim the studio’s highest-grossing opening weekend. For Brad Pitt, this marks a career milestone, surpassing even the zombie-fueled success of World War Z to become his biggest global launch ever.
The film now leads an entire genre, setting the record for the largest-ever opening weekend for a live-action motorsports film, outperforming acclaimed titles like Ford v Ferrari and Talladega Nights.
What’s driving this phenomenal success? It’s the perfect blend of star power, adrenaline-pumping action, and compelling storytelling—all delivered through Kosinski’s masterful direction, the same visionary behind Top Gun: Maverick’s soaring success.
Apple’s marketing strategy was equally sophisticated, with innovative tactics like haptic trailer technology serving as standout elements in a comprehensive campaign that created buzz by transcending traditional promotional boundaries.
The film’s global triumph has found particularly fertile ground in international markets, with standout performances across China, India, Mexico, and Australia. However, it is in the Middle East where F1: The Movie truly finds its home track.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain spearheaded the region’s exceptional enthusiasm for the film—and for good reason. With significant portions filmed at Abu Dhabi’s iconic Yas Marina Circuit, the movie speaks directly to regional audiences who have witnessed Formula 1’s explosive growth in the region. This authentic connection between the film’s setting and its audience creates a perfect storm of engagement and cultural relevance.
According to Motivate Val Morgan’s comprehensive cinema admissions reporting platform, CineMeasure, the results speak volumes: over 270,000 admissions across our regional circuit during its initial four‑day run secured the coveted number-one position for the weekend. This success reinforces cinema’s unique power to maximize audience connection with premium storytelling.
Building on a season already packed with major releases, F1: The Movie joins the ranks of summer blockbusters such as Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Lilo & Stitch, A Minecraft Movie, and Arabic hits like Asaf and Siko Siko, all fueling exceptional momentum across the region. The Motivate Val Morgan circuit has now reached 16.5 million admissions as of June 2025. With highly anticipated titles including Superman, Fantastic Four: First Step, and Jurassic World: Rebirth still to come, this remarkable box office streak shows no signs of slowing down.
These impressive admissions figures across the region reflect not just enthusiasm for premium content but also underscore the strategic value of the cinema medium itself, which continues to capture audience attention and deliver engagement levels unmatched by other entertainment forms. Cinema remains uniquely positioned as the only premium platform where high-caliber content like F1: The Movie can be experienced in its full glory—delivering the immersive, high-impact experiences that premium storytelling demands.
F1: The Movie reinforces what the industry understands instinctively: when you have truly premium content, the platform choice becomes obvious. For studios and exhibitors, this success validates that compelling storytelling, top-tier talent, and the cinema experience create unmatched audience connection and profitability. For brands, the principle holds true—premium content naturally gravitates toward premium platforms that deliver the premium engagement and impact it deserves.
Sources: Deadline, MVM CineMeasure
As part of the latest offering by cinema exhibitors in the UAE – in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reel Cinemas has launched its latest drive-in cinema in Abu Dhabi, brining the total count to five drive-ins across the UAE.
Reel Cinemas launched its third drive-in cinema at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 9th July 2020, and will screen movies three nights a week on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:45pm. The entrance to the drive-in cinema is located at Yas Marina Circuit’s East Gate.
The cinema accommodates 63 cars, with a limit of up to five people per vehicle if family or up to three if not. Tickets are priced Dh160 per car, and includes a food and drinks package (popcorn, soft drinks, water and chocolate). Extra snacks can be ordered from inside the car, by alerting staff using the hazard lights.
Upon entry, guests will have their temperatures checked, before being directed to a specific parking spot. Visitors are requested to remain in their vehicles at all times, with the exception of using the toilets. Wearing of facemasks are mandatory if windows are lowered to speak to event staff, or when leaving the car.
Reel Cinemas launched its first drive-in experience at The Dubai Mall in late May, followed by another in Dubai Hills Estate in the fourth week of June – both launching after VOX Cinemas’ drive in at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, and the announcement by Urban Entertainment of a free drive-in cinema in Sharjah at Madar – Aljada (which opened to the public on Wednesday 1st July 2020).
For more information on movie schedules, visit www.reelcinemas.ae, and don’t forget to check out their Drive-in experience FAQs.
Please Note: Drive-in movie sessions at Yas Marina Circuit currently show up to 1st August 2020. Additional movie sessions beyond 1st August will be added closer towards those dates.
Related Articles:
Reel Opens Second Drive-in Cinema at Dubai Hills
Reel Launches Drive-in Cinema at The Dubai Mall
VOX Opens Rooftop Drive-in Cinema at Mall of the Emirates
Sources: The National & Reel Cinemas
