제 27 호 “Top Gun on Track” Let's find out the secret to F1 The Movie’s success
Kicker: Society
“Top Gun on Track” Let's find out the secret to F1 The Movie’s success
By Soi Lee, Cup-reporter
Following F1 The Movie has been a huge cinema hit, confirming the re-release of IMAX around the world. Its backdrop is based on F1, the best motorsport international racing competition in the world, which is as popular as the Olympics and the World Cup. F1 The Movie is about the character Sonny Hayes, who wanted to be the best but left the track without achieving his goal due to an accident, returning to F1 30 years later and challenging to win with the rookie, who is a member of the same APXGP and is full of aspirations to be best. Brad Pitt plays the role of veteran driver Sonny Hayes. F1 is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed the film "Top Gun: Maverick," and also creating the film's music is master Hans Zimmer. F1 The Movie overtook Mission: Impossible 8 to become the top box office hit in 2025. F1 The Movie, which sparked keen interest in movie theaters that have been frozen since COVID-19. What is the secret of this movie, which has accumulated over 3.4 million viewers, making it the biggest box office hit of the year?
F1 the movie’s trailer
Director Joseph Kosinski
One of the most decisive factors behind the film’s box-office success is the vision of Joseph Kosinski. The American director, widely recognized for his work on Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and Tron: Legacy (2010), has established a unique style that blends technological precision with emotional resonance. In Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski managed to capture the raw intensity of aerial combat while still telling a human story about legacy and mentorship. He brought the same philosophy to F1: The Movie. Rather than relying solely on spectacle, Kosinski ensures that the audience never loses sight of the characters at the heart of the narrative. While the races are shot with breathtaking scale and technical clarity, what keeps viewers engaged is the journey of Sonny Hayes and rookie Joshua Pearce. The director’s ability to balance heart-pounding racing sequences with character-driven drama helped the film connect with both F1 enthusiasts and audiences unfamiliar with the sport. His signature approach — fast-paced action paired with subtle emotional beats transformed what could have been a purely mechanical racing movie into a story of resilience, teamwork, and redemption.
Global F1 Fandom and Strategic Marketing
One of the most significant factors behind the film’s global success was its ability to leverage the existing international Formula 1 fanbase while simultaneously appealing to audiences beyond motorsport enthusiasts. Formula 1 is not merely a sport but a cultural phenomenon with millions of loyal followers across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This pre-existing community provided the film with a ready-made global audience that guaranteed initial buzz and ticket sales. At the same time, the marketing campaign deliberately expanded its scope to reach mainstream viewers. Trailers and posters emphasized not only the technical spectacle of racing but also human elements such as rivalry, ambition, and personal sacrifice—universal themes that resonate even with those unfamiliar with F1. By presenting the film as a story of passion and drama rather than simply a sports movie, the campaign broadened its appeal. The timing was also crucial. The Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive had already transformed Formula 1 into a narrative-driven global entertainment product, introducing millions of new fans to the sport and framing it as high drama. The film capitalized on this momentum, benefiting from the fandom culture cultivated in the streaming era, where audiences expect both authenticity and spectacle. Furthermore, the film’s marketing was strategically localized. In Europe, promotional materials emphasized the legacy and tradition of F1; in Asia, the focus was on technological spectacle and speed; in the United States, the campaigns leaned into the glamour of celebrity drivers and adrenaline-fueled action. This tailored approach transformed the release into a coordinated global event, rather than a niche sports film limited to racing fans. Together, these strategies illustrate how the film’s success was not only a result of its cinematic quality but also of its ability to harness and expand the cultural energy of Formula 1 itself, making it both a celebration of an existing global fandom and an accessible spectacle for general audiences. In additional, many pop-up store related to F1 have also opened in Seoul after this movie.
Massive Production Budget
Another major ingredient of the film’s success is its unprecedented scale of investment. Few sports films have ever matched its production budget, estimated at nearly $300 million. Apple and Formula 1 themselves were among the principal investors, with additional funding from global sponsors eager to associate their brands with the film. Such financial support allowed the filmmakers to recreate the F1 experience with striking authenticity. The production did not merely simulate Formula 1; it immersed itself in it. The headquarters of the fictional APXGP team was filmed inside McLaren’s actual Technology Centre, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Pit walls, garages, and paddocks were not just studio sets but painstaking reconstructions modeled after real F1 venues. Even the Mercedes-AMG simulator — normally reserved for elite drivers — was used to film Sonny Hayes’ training sequences. These details may seem minor, but for long-time F1 fans, they were the difference between a generic racing drama and a film that genuinely captured the essence of the sport. For general audiences as well, this level of realism heightened the sense of immersion, proving that the film’s budget was not just excessive spending but a deliberate investment in credibility.
Cinema as a Spectacle
Perhaps the most significant contribution of F1: The Movie is that it reminded audiences of what cinema can offer that streaming platforms cannot. Since the pandemic, many moviegoers have preferred the convenience of watching films at home, leading to widespread concern about the future of theaters. This film directly challenged that trend by creating an experience that simply could not be replicated on a laptop or TV screen. The film’s soundscape is one of its greatest strengths. The thunderous roar of Formula 1 engines reverberates through the theater, each gear shift and tire screech amplified to physical effect. Hans Zimmer’s score, known for its grandeur and emotional layering, is strategically placed to match the tempo of the races, driving tension and release in ways that only a theater’s sound system can fully convey. The IMAX format, with its panoramic scope, made the audience feel as though they were sitting inside the cockpit, hurtling down the straightaway at 300 kilometers per hour. Importantly, this spectacle arrived at a time when audiences were eager to return to shared cultural spaces. After years of pandemic restrictions, many had grown accustomed to private streaming, but also developed a hunger for the kind of collective, visceral thrill that only theaters can provide. F1: The Movie satisfied that desire. It became not just entertainment, but a symbol of cinema’s resilience, proving that big screens and communal experiences still have the power to draw millions back to the theater.
Editors view
While F1: The Movie has been praised for its remarkable production and strong reception, no film is without flaws. In this section, the editor shares a candid perspective, focusing on aspects that left some room for improvement. The first impression after watching the film was the lack of depth in its supporting characters. Because the narrative is so tightly centered on the growth of Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce, the side characters often appear to function only as plot devices. They lack individuality and remain flat throughout the story. Even considering the relatively short running time, it felt as though a few more defining traits or moments for these characters could have enriched the film. A second drawback stems from the unavoidable nature of sports films: accessibility. For viewers unfamiliar with Formula 1, the repeated racing sequences may feel confusing. The editor watched the film with an F1 enthusiast who explained the details along the way, which made the experience smoother. However, without such guidance, the quick pace and technical jargon might have been overwhelming. Although racing terminology is explained occasionally through commentary or dialogue, these clarifications often come after the relevant scenes have already passed. As a result, the audience is left to rush after the action rather than enjoy it in the moment. Still, the inclusion of explanatory elements ensures that even those with no background in F1 can grasp the basics and follow the film without major difficulty — a commendable effort on the filmmakers’ part. Finally, although some critics dismiss the plot as clichéd, the use of familiar storytelling devices was, in many ways, a strength. By weaving in well-known themes such as teamwork built through conflict, repeated setbacks before an ultimate victory, and a touch of romance, the film delivered exactly what audiences hoped for. These tropes required no complicated interpretation, and their predictability balanced the complexity of the sport itself. As a result, viewers could remain fully engaged without feeling lost, experiencing both excitement and emotional resonance.
Whether a longtime F1 fan or new to the sport, audiences can enjoy F1: The Movie for its exhilarating races, compelling characters, and cinematic spectacle. With its balance of authenticity, emotional depth, and immersive theater experience, the film demonstrates why it became 2025’s biggest hit. This re-release is the perfect opportunity to witness firsthand the thrill, drama, and artistry that make F1 The Movie a film that everyone regardless of age or background can truly enjoy.
Source:
http://www.job-post.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=170177
