Tim Cook Eyes ‘F1’ to Catapult Apple TV+ into ‘Top Gun’ Fame

Posters spread across Plans, a central theme in the WWDC 2025 keynote, and a special trailer within the Apple TV app… It’s hard to miss the buzz surrounding the upcoming release of F1: The Movie, a blockbuster led by Brad Pitt and produced by Apple. Tim Cook’s aim is to make it a legendary film, much like Top Gun.

Aiming for the Pole Position

Apple has assembled a top-tier team to achieve this goal. At the helm is Joseph Kosinski, the director who also brought us Top Gun: Maverick. The production team includes Jerry Bruckheimer (known for Top Gun, Flashdance, Bad Boys, among others) and none other than Lewis Hamilton. Serving as a high-profile consultant, the F1 champion enabled the crew to have their own paddock at various Grand Prix events. This resulted in over 5,000 hours of footage captured using up to 28 cameras simultaneously, providing an unprecedented level of immersion.

“When you look at past car movies, it’s really tough to replicate the genuine atmosphere of a race. [F1] is the best there has ever been in this genre,” Lewis Hamilton stated during a special visit to Apple Park for promotion, as reported by Variety.

While the film aims to resonate with motorsport enthusiasts, it also targets a broader audience. “Just because a movie is decidedly commercial, like ‘F1’, doesn’t mean it can’t be of the highest quality,” argues Jamie Erlicht, co-head of Apple Worldwide Video.