F1 Movie vs Megan 2.0- Can the Latter Keep Up with F1’s Accelerating Greatness?

The F1 movie and M3gan 2.0 will be released on the same date this year: June 27. Hence, there is tight competition regarding which one will be a bigger blockbuster at the box office.

Brad Pitt’s upcoming feature F1 has a theatrical release date from Apple Original Films. We can’t stop ourselves from having an F1 movie vs Megan 2.0 debate and here’s what we think. 

F1 movie’s expected performance  

A few sources are speculating that the F1 movie has an edge over the Megan sequel flick, as F1, backed by Apple, had a net cost of $200 million against which it is expected to bag $35-$40 million as net earnings at its release in the United States and Canada.

The F1 movie is shot around the world at several Formula One races. Its popularity is quite high compared to Megan‘s. The proof is the footage shown at CinemaCon in a room full of exhibitors. 

Despite not being that much popular within the United States, as the sport is not much loved domestically, the film is expected to do better overseas. Still, one of the attendees at media screenings of the F1 movie told that it has been tested well and high hopes are attached to the film’s success.

The source told Deadline, 

“It definitely moves faster than Mission Impossible- The Final Reckoning”. [Source] 

M3gan 2.0’s expected performance 

On the other hand, the first Megan collected $180 million worldwide against a budget of $12 million. The 2023 movie was able to receive high acclaim due to its viral marketing.

The movie has high ratings when it comes to unaided awareness. You may ask, what is unaided awareness?

Unaided awareness refers to how many people can identify or recall an upcoming film without having to be given hints. The movie’s existence is publicly large and is well-known among the general public, without any gigantic marketing campaigns.

So, we were saying that unaided awareness is high among women above 25 years for Megan 2.0, as per Deadline. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who previously helmed Top Gun: Maverick, F1’s unaided awareness is higher among men since it is the first choice for men when it comes to car racing games. 

F1 Movie vs Megan 2.0: Are audiences craving speed or screams?

Both films have their own separate fan base. Those who get an adrenaline rush from speed would certainly zoom to the cinemas for F1 and, of course, Brad Pitt. Those who love PG-13 horror movies with some bloody images, strong violence and language, and drug references, just like in Megan 2.0, bigger and deadlier than its predecessor, are going to root for M3gan 2.0.

It’s all about preferences. Fans have been discussing which one will be bigger and badder than the other. One of the Reddit threads has comments like these:

“Tracking indicates F1 might break out domestically…International numbers will be a minimum 2x domestic numbers given the fan base.”

The first one was super-cool, and the second one does even better, another Reddit user mentioned about Megan 2.0. It was interesting to notice that users were discussing F1 to be a bigger hit due to its cinematic appeal. It looks better on IMAX screens and has a mega-feel since you surely are going to have a full “theatre” experience for something as mighty as F1. 

Our take on F1 Movie vs Megan 2.0

The making of the F1 movie is already making waves with the collaboration of Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Lewis Hamilton. Brad Pitt and Idris are ACTUALLY driving F1 cars, which was the director’s major goal.

He cited to GQ that he wanted to make “the most authentic, realistic, and grounded racing movie ever made.” Six F2 cars were brought, and work with Mercedes AMG, along with the Formula 1 team, was ensured.

Top-notch camera equipment, transmitters, and recorders were used to give the real feel of the races. Lewis Hamilton is believed to live sports each day as he is considered a bit of a racer at heart. 

As a producer, Hamilton made sure that even the slightest sound of the Formula One car felt real. The camera placements were the real challenge, for which, eventually, a new camera system had to be developed. Filming of the F1 movie was conducted at the Grand Prix weekends.

Contrariwise, James Wan is the perfect choice for making Megan 2.0, who has been an expert in action/adventure [Aquaman (2018), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) and Furious 7 (2015)], and horror genres [Insidious (2010), The Conjuring (2013), Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), Malignant (2021), and The Nun (2018)]. 

When James Wan talked to the director of Megan 2.0, Gerard Johnstone, they both were excited to create an AI bot more lethal than Megan herself. It was an exciting idea for both of them to create a story where the viewers would still be confused thinking whether Megan wanted to protect Cady, Gemma’s niece, or was with the rest of the AIs.

Since today’s world is all about AI, Universal Pictures‘ Megan is more relevant. The AI doll got better at what she was taught by Gemma, as AI keeps evolving and produces much better versions of itself ON ITS OWN. Our children are residing in a dangerous world where AI is the biggest risk. 

How does all of this connect to which one would be a better film? If we talk about star power, the F1 movie has an upper hand with Brad Pitt and Idris, and a real-life F1 figure, Lewis Hamilton.

Moreover, it has a fresh angle as such narrative-driven movies were seen less in the past. Still, these racing movies could be a hit or a miss. 

Megan has already established its name in the genre. It resonates well with the contemporary audience, perfect for Gen Z and TikTok despite low critical plaudits.

Storytelling, hype, and spectacle will be the three main elements these movies need to get points on. Megan 2.0 has a viral edge, but Brad Pitt and the growing global F1 boom have a fair chance as well. It is hard to rule out in favor of one.

Which one of these two are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below.