Joseph Kosinski, the "F1" director, said that audiences had to decide if the movie would get a sequel.

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.

Things have finally turned around with “F1” — currently the No. 1 movie in theaters, on track to earn $55.6 million this weekend at the domestic box office. With $144 million in global ticket sales, “F1” will soon surpass “Napoleon” ($228 million) as Apple’s highest-grossing film.