Brad Pitt’s F1 Hit Had a Bumpy Road—From Flatulence to Filming Trouble

An enormous production budget of 36 billion yen

Brad Pitt (61) stars as a genius race car driver in the film F1, which premiered simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on June 27. According to U.S. box office site Box Office Mojo, it ranked No. 1 in North America, earning about $57 million (approx. ¥8.23 billion) over its opening weekend (June 27–29).

Globally, it has grossed approximately $293.39 million (around ¥42.4 billion) as of July 7. It’s the highest-grossing film in Apple Studios’ history and also Pitt’s biggest box office hit. In Japan alone, it has surpassed ¥1 billion in ticket sales within 12 days.

The story follows a retired F1 driver (played by Pitt) who is lured back into the sport by his former teammate (Javier Bardem). He joins a struggling team and partners with a rookie driver (Damson Idris), who resents him as a relic of the past. Despite tensions, Pitt’s character leads the team with unconventional racing strategies in this action-packed drama.

“The multiple cameras attached to the F1 cars capture intense in-car battles and passing scenes, making you feel like you’re riding alongside Pitt in an actual race car. It’s a level of realism that surpasses any race film to date,” says a film magazine editor.

Pitt trained extensively and did actual driving scenes himself. The movie also portrays the tense behind-the-scenes work of the pit crew and race strategists.

Produced by Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, 2022), the film reportedly cost ¥36 billion to make, earning it the nickname “Top Gun on the Ground.”

Meanwhile, during an appearance on the U.S. podcast New Heights, Pitt shared a story that caused quite a stir in the U.S.

He revealed that in one scene shot at a small café, he had to eat beans from a plate. Pitt explained:

“We were filming in a tiny café. There were about 60 crew members, it was hot and suffocating.”

He continued:

“I ate all the beans on the plate. I did the same for take two. Then again for takes three and four. And then oh no something hit me.”

Apparently, after overeating the beans, Pitt couldn’t stop passing gas — a massive fart fest, he joked — bad enough that some crew members reportedly fled the café.

An impressively toned upper body that’s hard to believe belongs to a 61-year-old

On June 25, while promoting the film in Japan, Brad Pitt’s $8 million mansion in Los Angeles was broken into. According to the New York Post (online edition), a group of three burglars scaled the fence and entered through a front window, ransacking the interior and fleeing with Pitt’s belongings. The exact amount of stolen items and the total damage remain unknown. Police are still investigating, and no arrests have been made.

Despite this string of misfortunes, Pitt drew attention for going shirtless in the film’s trailer, revealing his toned physique and numerous tattoos. As reported by Page Six, in the trailer released in February, Pitt lies shirtless on a bench, arms extended to the floor, displaying tattoos across his ribs, chest, and arms. One tattoo on his lower abdomen is in Khmer, Cambodia’s official language, marking Angelina Jolie’s birthday — a tribute tied to the birth of their eldest son, Maddox.

His forearm bears a letter “A” for Angelina and the initials of their six children. A newly released trailer also features a shower scene with Pitt, further fueling buzz.

Pitt and Jolie finalized their divorce last December after nearly a decade of legal battles. He is currently dating Swiss jewelry designer Ines de Ramon, who accompanied him to the film’s premiere. Their relationship is now public and sparking speculation about a potential third marriage for Pitt — following Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.

Regardless of the personal drama, Pitt continues to impress with his powerful performance and dedication to filmmaking, particularly in challenging F1 racing scenes. At the same time, his unfiltered and grounded nature — like openly admitting his bean incident — adds to his charm as a top Hollywood star.

Director Joseph Kosinski is reportedly open to making a sequel to F1, raising expectations for even more of Pitt on screen.