<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div>Apple Inc. AAPL Original Films' high-octane racing drama &#34;F1&#34; gunned past expectations with an estimated $144 million worldwide launch, handing the tech giant its first bona-fide box-office victory while premium IMAX screens supplied nearly a fifth of the fuel.What Happened: The Brad Pitt vehicle sped to $55.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, with IMAX patrons accounting for 23% of domestic sales, according to the company and studio estimates.IMAX said its large-format auditoriums delivered $28 million globally, or 19% of total revenue — the fourth-highest opening-weekend share in the format's history behind &#34;Dune,&#34; &#34;Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol&#34; and &#34;Oppenheimer.&#34;Moviegoers paid up for the &#34;affordable luxury&#34;. Research firm EntTelligence, noted by The Hollywood Reporter, pegs the average IMAX ticket at $19.51, about 40% above the $13.82 standard stub, a premium IMAX chief Richard Gelfond has trumpeted for months.The victory easily eclipsed pre-release projections of about $115 million and followed $10 million in Thursday previews.Why It Matters: &#34;F1&#34; also out-accelerated Apple's earlier theatrical attempts which include spy caper &#34;Argylle,&#34; space-race dramedy &#34;Fly Me to the Moon&#34; and Martin Scorsese's prestige epic &#34;Killers of the Flower Moon,&#34; which topped out at $158.8 million worldwide on a reported $200 million budget.However, the Cupertino company may struggle to replicate the feat without IMAX turbo-boosts, as implied by Business Insider’s James Faris. Faris points out that only 19% of global screens carry the format and rivals now jockey for the same premium real estate.Apple has not disclosed production costs, but industry trackers cited by Variety place &#34;F1&#34; north of $250 million after extensive on-track filming with Formula 1 teams. Its next wide release, spy thriller &#34;Ghost Satellite,&#34; is slated for December and lacks confirmed IMAX dates, which is likely to serve as a test of whether Apple's newfound momentum can survive on standard screens.According to Benzinga Pro data, Apple’s stock is down 14.78% year-to-date and has declined 4.12% over the past 12 months.Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that Apple’s shares continue to trend lower across medium and long-term periods. Additional performance details can be found here.Photo Courtesy: Michael Potts F1 on Shutterstock.com<ul> <li>Jim Cramer Says ‘Stalled’ Amazon Will Have A ‘Great Second Half’ Thanks To Lower Prices Than Others, Except Costco</li> </ul></div></div></div>

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Apple Inc.'s racing drama "F1" achieved a remarkable $144 million worldwide launch, marking the company's first significant box-office success. The film earned $55.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, with IMAX contributing 23% of domestic sales. Despite this success, analysts warn that replicating such results may be challenging due to limited IMAX availability and high production costs exceeding $250 million. Apple's stock has also seen a decline of 14.78% year-to-date, raising concerns about future releases, including the upcoming "Ghost Satellite."

- Apple Inc.'s "F1" achieved a $144 million global launch, marking its first significant box-office success, with IMAX contributing nearly 20% of the revenue.  
- The film earned $55.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, with IMAX ticket sales accounting for 23% of domestic earnings, highlighting the format's appeal.  
- Despite this success, challenges remain for Apple in replicating such results without IMAX support, as only 19% of global screens feature the format, and future releases may not have confirmed IMAX dates.  

Brad Pitt Starrer 'F1' Races Apple To Major Box-Office Glory With $144 Million, But It Could Be A Tough Act To Follow For This Key Reason