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.

Star Brad Pitt and director Joseph Kosinski raced laps around their competition, easily unseating reigning champ "How to Train Your Dragon."Key PointsBrad Pitt and Joseph Kosinski's F1: The Movie was the resounding winner at this weekend's box office tally.

“‘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.”