Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Verdict: F1 The Movie is spectacular racing cinema wrapped around a familiar comeback story—and its Apple branding is impossible to miss. Devindra Hardawar’s June 23, 2025 review makes the “shameless Apple ad” case through specific on-screen products, while also praising the film’s speed, camera work and race sequences. Whether it blows your socks off depends largely on which side of that trade-off matters more to you.
What is F1 The Movie about?
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is a former racing prodigy whose Formula 1 career was derailed by an accident. His old teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), recruits him to rescue a struggling team. Sonny must race alongside rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), creating the familiar tension between a veteran chasing redemption and a talented newcomer protecting his future.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
F1® The Movie (Blu-ray) | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![F1: The Movie 2025 (Special Features) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+wTdbtnqL._SL160_.jpg)
|
F1: The Movie 2025 (Special Features) [Blu-ray] [Region Free] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![F1 The Movie - Limited Edition Steelbook [4K UHD + Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ILwiR6kEL._SL160_.jpg)
|
F1 The Movie - Limited Edition Steelbook [4K UHD + Blu-ray] | $100.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![F1 The Movie [Blu-ray] [2025]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51plHZzaVDL._SL160_.jpg)
|
F1 The Movie [Blu-ray] [2025] | $18.69 | Buy on Amazon |
The setup gives the film a clear emotional engine, but Hardawar regards the character and romance beats as conventional. The movie is most distinctive when it is on track rather than when it is resolving personal conflicts.
Does the racing justify seeing it?
For Hardawar, the answer is largely yes. The review highlights the sensation of speed, ambitious race set pieces and camera placement that puts viewers unusually close to the action. The production was built for large screens: Apple said it used more than a dozen newly designed IMAX-certified digital cameras, and the IMAX presentation used an expanded aspect ratio.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
- Runtime: 155 minutes
That technical approach is the film’s strongest argument. Cars, pit-lane pressure and split-second decisions are staged as physical experiences rather than distant coverage. A theatrical IMAX rerelease took place in 2025, so the biggest-format advantage is tied to that event; home viewers should expect a less enveloping image even when the underlying race footage remains impressive.
How familiar is the story?
The comeback framework is effective but well worn. Sonny’s damaged past, Ruben’s desperate team and Joshua’s impatience supply recognizable sports-drama beats. Hardawar finds the plot and characterization comparatively generic, and describes the romance as stereotypical. That criticism does not mean the story is incoherent; it means the film’s emotional material rarely matches the inventiveness of its racing scenes.
Rank #2
- Official Blu-ray release of F1: The Movie (2025), capturing the high-speed intensity and emotional drama of professional Formula One racing.
- Region Free Blu-ray edition, fully compatible with Blu-ray players worldwide with no playback restrictions.
- High-definition picture and dynamic surround sound deliver immersive race sequences and cinematic visuals.
- Ideal for motorsport fans, collectors, and viewers who enjoy sports drama, competition, and real-world racing environments.
- Features detailed character-driven storytelling alongside authentic racing atmosphere, offering a complete cinematic F1 experience.
Viewers seeking a deep character study may find Sonny underwritten. Viewers who mainly want a star-driven Formula 1 spectacle may consider the straightforward story a reasonable trade for more time at racing speed.
Why does the film feel like an Apple advertisement?
The “shameless Apple ad” description is a critical judgment, not proof that the production was commissioned as an advertisement. Hardawar points to Apple technology woven into the film’s visible world, including AirPods Max appearing before the first spoken dialogue. Those appearances create a commercial texture that some viewers will read as world-building and others will experience as distraction.
Rank #3
There is no published figure establishing how much screen time Apple products receive, how many placements occur, or what portion of the film functions as advertising. The evidence supports saying that Apple branding is conspicuous—not assigning a percentage or treating the reviewer’s “$300 million ad” metaphor as a production-budget fact.
How do the film’s main qualities compare?
| Axis | What works | What may frustrate |
|---|---|---|
| Racing spectacle | High-speed sequences, close camera work and technically ambitious coverage. | The most immersive IMAX presentation was a 2025 theatrical event. |
| Story and characters | A clear veteran-versus-rookie conflict and accessible sports-drama stakes. | Hardawar finds the comeback plot familiar and the romance stereotypical. |
| Commercial integration | Apple devices are embedded in the film’s contemporary setting. | Visible branding can feel like promotion rather than incidental world detail. |
| Viewing format | Large-format presentation was designed to emphasize scale and speed. | Streaming cannot reproduce the physical impact of an IMAX auditorium. |
Where can you watch F1 The Movie?
Apple lists the film as an Apple Original Film on the Apple TV service. Its global streaming debut was December 12, 2025, following the June 27, 2025 theatrical release. Apple says the Apple TV app works on compatible devices and does not require an Apple-made device.
Rank #4
- F1 THE MOVIE
The U.S. listing rates the film PG-13. Catalog access and subscription terms can vary by territory and over time, so check the local Apple TV listing before watching.
What do the reported numbers actually tell us?
- Apple reported more than $629 million in worldwide box office in an October 2025 announcement. That is a dated company-reported total, not a live gross.
- The same announcement reported an A CinemaScore and a 97% Rotten Tomatoes audience score at that time. Neither figure should be treated as a current score without checking the live services.
- Apple also reported that F1 The Album had sold 650,000 albums worldwide and exceeded one billion global streams by October 2025. Those are dated company figures for the soundtrack, not current totals.
Is it worth watching?
Choose F1 The Movie if your priority is visceral racing, Brad Pitt’s star presence and a film engineered for speed. The camera work and race construction are the reasons to make time for it.
Approach it more cautiously if conspicuous branding breaks your immersion or if you want an original, psychologically detailed sports drama. The Apple placement is not a minor background detail, and the story does not consistently compensate for it with fresh character writing.
The fairest conclusion is a split one: the film can be an exhilarating Formula 1 experience and still look uncomfortably close to a feature-length Apple showcase. Hardawar’s “shameless Apple ad” reading is persuasive as an interpretation of what appears on screen, while the film’s technical racing craft explains why audiences embraced it.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
