F1: The Movie (2025) Review: Brad Pitt Races into IMAX Glory with High-Octane Charm

F1: The Movie

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Written by Ehren Kruger

Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Release Date June 27th, 2025

Published June 27th, 2025

F1: The Movie is classic summer movie spectacle. It’s loud, fast, and confidently predictable — and I mean that in the best way. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it gives you exactly what it promises: edge-of-your-seat racing sequences, a magnetic lead performance, and the kind of movie star charm we don’t see nearly enough of anymore.

Gen-X vs Gen-Z?

Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former golden boy of Formula 1 whose career crashed — literally — decades earlier. Now living in a van and jumping into any car that’ll have him, Sonny is tracked down by Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), a former rival now running a floundering F1 team. Ruben needs Sonny to mentor his struggling rookie driver, Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris), and get his team back on track — both figuratively and literally.

Sonny’s return to the sport isn’t easy. The cars are flawed, the rookie is cocky and image-obsessed, and the old-school Sonny doesn’t exactly play nice with Gen-Z values. Sound familiar? It should. This is textbook underdog redemption stuff. The old-vs-new generational tension. The inevitable chemistry between Sonny and team engineer Kate (Kerry Condon). The rookie learning humility. The mentor learning to open up. Every beat is predictable.

But somehow, that doesn’t matter.

What F1: The Movie lacks in originality, it makes up for with execution. Director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) knows how to craft visceral spectacle. With the help of producer Jerry Bruckheimer and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, he shoots racing scenes that absolutely demand to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The sound mix alone is a thunderstorm of engines and adrenaline.

See F1: The Movie on an IMAX Screen: Trust Me

The races feel real — chaotic, immersive, almost documentary-like in moments. The IMAX cameras take you inside the cockpit, and suddenly, your white-knuckling turns with Pitt and Idris. It’s the best kind of cinematic ride.

And at the center of it all is Brad Pitt, leaning into his effortless movie star charisma. His Sonny is gruff, dryly funny, and deeply human — a far cry from the shouty, over-the-top sports mentors we’ve seen in other racing movies. Pitt plays it cool, confident, and grounded. Even a formulaic script can’t hold him back.

Kerry Condon and Brad Pitt Steam up the Screen and the Track

Kerry Condon is also terrific as Kate, the team’s engineer. Her chemistry with Pitt is low-key but fun — smart people flirting through banter and subtle glances. Their romance is totally expected, but also kind of irresistible. Condon brings her usual intelligence to the role, and the dynamic never feels forced.

Damson Idris is electric as Joshua. Sure, the role is built on familiar tropes — the cocky prodigy who needs a lesson in humility — but Idris gives it fresh energy. He’s got a mix of youthful arrogance and emotional vulnerability that reminded me of a young, ultra-cocky, Tom Cruise and makes the character feel real. His back-and-forth with Pitt is one of the movie’s biggest strengths.

The Screenplay is Weak

Yes, Ehren Kruger’s screenplay is the weakest link. It leans heavily on clichés and telegraphs every plot beat from a mile away. But strangely, that’s part of its charm. The simplicity works in service of the film’s big-screen thrills. Trying to force in complexity or deeper meaning would’ve just bogged it down. F1: The Movie is here to entertain — and it succeeds.

F1: The Movie is not subtle. It’s not profound. But it’s a hell of a ride — loud, fast, beautifully shot, and starring a man who still knows exactly how to own the screen.

⸻

3.5 out of 5 stars

⸻

Have you seen F1: The Movie yet?

Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow me here on Vocal for more film reviews, retrospectives, and deep dives from Reelscope — your home for both new releases and old-school cinema.

⸻

Tags:

F1 The Movie, Brad Pitt, Formula One Movie, 2025 Summer Movies, Joseph Kosinski, Racing Films, IMAX Experience, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Blockbuster Movie Reviews, Reelscope