F1® The Movie -- A Crowd-Pleasing and Thrilling Summer Blockbuster

Review by Camden Ferrell

In 2022, Joseph Kosinski struck box office gold with Top Gun: Maverick, a legacy sequel that embodied everything a blockbuster should be. He is attempting to see if he can strike gold again with his newest film but instead of cashing in on a beloved film of the 80’s, he will see if he can capitalize on the popular sport of Formula One racing. F1® The Movie is a high-thrill sports drama that makes use of the sport’s frenetic energy and Brad Pitt’s reliable charisma.  

We meet Sonny Hayes as he takes the overnight shift for a racecar team doing a 24-hour race in Daytona. He is living out of his van after a tumultuous life after a crash ended his F1 career decades prior. He is approached by his longtime friend Ruben who offers him a chance to race for his struggling F1 team. There he meets Joshua Pearce, a young stud in the world of racing. Despite being asked to mentor the prodigy, Sonny and Joshua end up butting heads as they try to bring their team their first ever F1 victory. It’s a classic story of underdogs, comebacks, and legacy, and while it’s nothing groundbreaking, it feels like a staple of the genre that is ripe for summer blockbuster enjoyment. 

Written by Ehren Kruger, the movie does a great job at supplementing the thrilling action sequences with enjoyable moments in between. He does a great job at building tension between conflicting personalities as well as capitalizing the snarky and mature intelligence of Sonny. It tackles cliche beats that can make the movie feel a little too paint by numbers, but it’s a familiarity that lends itself well to a sports drama like this one. While you won’t get a lot of shocks or subversion in this movie, you’ll actively be invested in these characters and their own personal motivations. 

Kosinski once again relies on the established charm of one of the industry’s last bona fide movie stars. He trades Tom Cruise for Brad Pitt who proves he can still carry a blockbuster like this one on his shoulders. Pitt's character is more or less the same as his other characters, but it’s a classic case of not fixing something if it isn’t broken. Pitt excels with the quips but also with the moments of tension and explosion that fester throughout the movie’s runtime. In addition to Pitt, I found myself very impressed with Damson Idris’ performance. Playing Joshua, he holds his own magnificently against Pitt with an undeniable charisma that might suggest he has a bright future ahead of him in film. Actors like Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem round out an ensemble that plays it safe while still being incredibly entertaining. 

It is undeniable that the movie excels the most when it’s on the racetrack. Kosinski directs such gripping sequences of racing that even those who don’t follow the sport will be on the edge of their seats. The movie’s only discernible flaw is that it feels bloated in the middle. It slows its pace a little too frequently which can be detrimental to a movie that relies so heavily on fast paced action. 

F1® The Movie is a classic popcorn flick that general audiences are going to love. While I can’t speak to how much diehard fans of the sport will enjoy it, I can say that as someone who doesn’t follow the sport, I had an amazing time. It’s not going to blow anyone’s mind or win prestigious awards, but if you’re looking for some high-octane thrills this summer, look no further. 

F1® The Movie is in theaters June 27. 

Rating: 4/5