“‘F1’ is going to be Apple’s biggest release at the box office by far,” says David A. Gross, who runs the FranchiseRe movie consulting firm. “This film looks like the successful business model Apple has envisioned and wanted to execute for several years.”

But the movie cost at least $350 million to make and market, analysts said, so it will need to attract substantial crowds in the weeks ahead to make money.

Given the huge response the F1 movie received, earning $146.3 million in its first weekend since its global release on 25 June, it marks Apple Studios' first theatrical success, paving the way for a bright future for the studio,