More than three years since Apple’s film CODA won the best picture Oscar, the tech company has hit another Hollywood milestone: its first summer blockbuster.

F1, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, has taken in more than $200mn at the global box office since it opened on June 27 and is expected to pass $300mn this weekend. “This is a movie that will run and run and run,” said Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief at Warner Bros, Apple’s partner on the film. “There’s a lot of gas left in the tank.”  

It gave Pitt the best opening weekend in his 37-year acting career and is by far Apple’s best box office showing. By pairing Jerry Bruckheimer — the producer behind hits Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop — and Joseph Kosinski, the director of Top Gun: Maverick, Apple showed it was serious about filling cinema seats this summer.