The box office hit F1: The Movie is now available to buy on Blu-ray and DVD, with a special 4K Blu-ray edition also available. (It’s already been available for digital download since August.)
The disc release comes as the film’s theatrical run comes to a close, topping $189 million domestic and over $438 million worldwide. It should be available on Apple TV+ soon, but the company has still not announced a streaming date …
As an Apple Original film, fully financed by Apple, the movie was always destined for Apple TV+. But the company first wanted to make a splash with a wide theatrical release, increasing awareness of the title and recouping some of the project’s hefty production expenses.
While the film was in cinemas, Apple and distributor Warner Bros. probably didn’t want to undermine the box office takings by promoting the streaming release. But now that window is closing, a streaming release announcement should be imminent.
By most reports, F1 cost about $250 million to make. Accounting for cinema distribution costs and marketing expenses, Hollywood films typically need to make about 2.5x their production cost in ticket sales. F1’s box office total sits at about $627 million, which means Apple will walk away with a small profit from the endeavour, even before taking into consideration the benefits to its Apple TV+ streaming service.
The box office performance of F1 beat almost everyone’s expectations. In the run-up to the release, estimates landed in the $400-$500m range. So, it came in way above those predictions. VOD sales also appear to be strong.
Apple will be hoping the theatrical success translates into a big viewership bump for Apple TV+ when it lands on the service, likely within the next few weeks. We’ll let you know when the date is official.
Here’s where to buy F1: The Movie on physical media: