F1® The Movie * Outstanding Cinematography, Great Characters, Terrific Performances
Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenomenon of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes, owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce, the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition—and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Rayce S., comments, “F1® The Movie is really good with some of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen; and the way the movie looks isn’t the only thing to rave about, there’s also great characters and terrific performances…The film’s message is that without teamwork you cannot accomplish anything.” See his full review below.
F1® The Movie
By Rayce S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16
F1® The Movie is really good with some of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen; and the way the movie looks isn’t the only thing to rave about, there’s also great characters and terrific performances.
The storyline follows Sunny Haze (Brad Pitt), a veteran driver who suffered an injury early in his career, which halted his chances of going professional. Now, given the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage, he mentors the newest prodigy.
I really love the opening scene because it immediately sets the tone for the film and its overall theme. You can basically anticipate the whole film from the opening scene, which is foreshadowing.
The cinematography is outstanding; I love all the different shots, especially the point of view from inside the driver’s seat which lets you experience what it’s like to be in a Formula 1 race car.
I enjoyed all the characters and performances of the actors. Sunny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is the heart of this film and Pitt gives a well-rounded performance. Javier Barden is a great addition to the cast as Ruben and he brings a funny tone to the movie but also a serious one where he sets the stakes for the entire story. The standout performance for me is Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris).
He makes you hate his character for a while, and then also makes you like him. I liked every moment he was on screen, but that could be biased because he is one of my favorite actors. But his character goes through a great arc throughout the film.
The film’s message is that without teamwork you cannot accomplish anything. Teamwork matters in car racing as you need to rely on your pit crew and other drivers to help you succeed. You can’t do it all by yourself.
I give F1® The Movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This film releases in theaters on June 27, 2025.
