Brad Pitt's 'F1' Speeds Ahead, 'M3GAN 2. 0' Stalls

Brad Pitt's new movie, 'F1', is making waves at the box office. It raked in $55. 6 million in its first weekend in the U. S. and $88. 4 million internationally. This is a big deal because it's Apple's first real hit in theaters. The film is about a retired Formula One driver who comes out of retirement to coach a new driver and save a struggling team. People are loving it, giving it an "A" grade on CinemaScore. Apple, known more for iPhones than movies, spent a lot on this film. They didn't just make it; they also paid to get it into theaters and spent millions on promotions. But unlike other studios, Apple doesn't rely on box office sales to make money. They see movies as a way to promote their technology and Apple TV+. 'F1' is doing so well that it's already outgrossing some of Apple's other big movies like 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and 'Napoleon'. The film's success is partly due to its realistic racing scenes, which were shot using Imax cameras. Audiences are flocking to see it in Imax theaters, which accounted for 55% of domestic ticket sales. Meanwhile, 'M3GAN 2. 0', a horror sequel, didn't do as well. It made just $10. 2 million in the U. S. and $17 million worldwide. This is a big drop from the original 'M3GAN', which made $30. 4 million in the U. S. and $45 million globally. It seems the murderous AI doll's charm is wearing off. Other movies like 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'Lilo & Stitch' are still doing well. 'Lilo & Stitch' is on track to become the year's first billion-dollar blockbuster. But 'Elio', a new Pixar movie, is struggling. It made only $10. 7 million in its second weekend, a big drop from its opening weekend.