F1 box office collection day 3: Brad Pitt’s film outpaces Kajol's Maa and Vishnu Manchu's Kannappa

Opening weekend earnings for Brad Pitt's F1—Apple Studios' big-budget entry into worldwide theatre distribution—were respectable in India. With an expected net earnings of ₹21.25 crore in India after three days of release, the film directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick is doing well.

Day-wise earnings breakdown across languages

On its first day of release, Friday, June 27, the film grossed ₹5.5 crore. The top earners were the English version (₹5 crore), followed by the Hindi dub (₹0.4 crore), Telugu dub (₹0.05 crore), and Tamil dub (₹0.05 crore) versions. On Saturday, the figures increased by 40.91%, raking in ₹7.75 crore in all languages. Initial projections for Sunday indicate that the earnings for day three will be approximately ₹8 crore, bringing the total to ₹21.25 crore.

On Sunday, the English edition of F1 had an occupancy rate of 47.01%, while the Hindi and Tamil versions each recorded 14.66% and 24.98%, respectively. Throughout the weekend, the Telugu version stayed completely unnoticed. Strong attendance at premium multiplexes was a major factor in the film's success in urban centres.

ALSO READ: F1: The Movie Review: Brad Pitt, high speed, and Joseph Kosinski burn rubber on a familiar road 

Tough competition from Indian films

Indian films such as Maa (starring Kajol), Kannappa (starring Vishnu Manchu), and Sitaare Zameen Par (starring Aamir Khan) challenged F1. The weekend total for Maa was approximately ₹17.4 crore, but F1 was just slightly higher. Reportedly earning close to ₹20 crore, Kannappa drew even closer in non-Hindi regions after its release on the same day.

Sitaare Zameen Par is, in contrast, the current top earner at the box office. Reportedly, the film's total earnings surpassed ₹82 crore in just six days, with a solid ₹27.25 crore earned on Sunday—much surpassing F1. At the same time, the fact that Housefull 5 only managed to earn ₹54 crore in its first weekend of release shows how difficult it is for films that aren't franchises to draw in large crowds.

Strong global performance

Thanks to excellent performance in foreign markets and IMAX screenings, F1 had an impressive opening weekend, grossing an estimated $144 million worldwide. Nevertheless, considering the sport and genre's limited appeal in India, the show's long-term chances will hinge on weekday steadiness and word-of-mouth.

F1 is an effort to combine the real world of Formula 1 racing with cinematic storytelling. It was produced by Plan B Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and Apple Studios. Several scenes were shot during real Grand Prix weekends. The film's ability to compete with other July releases is uncertain, but the early returns are encouraging for a Hollywood sports drama in India.