Before its streaming debut on Apple TV+, there will be another way to watch F1: The Movie when it arrives on digital platforms. Warner Bros is distributing the movie in cinemas and, typically, its movies are available to buy or rent from around one month after their cinema release.

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.

“‘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.”