Key Takeaways
– Joseph Kosinski directs both the upcoming movie F1 starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick.
– In F1, modified Formula 2 cars were used instead of real F1 race cars.
– Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick utilized actual fighter jets giving it an edge in authenticity.
– F1 will be released internationally on June 25, 2025, whereas Top Gun movies are available on Paramount+.
As the cutthroat environment of Hollywood blockbusters continues, a new rivalry is emerging between two movies by Joseph Kosinski. Comparisons are bubbling up between Brad Pitt's film F1, produced by Apple Original Films, and Tom Cruise's electrifying 2022 action movie, Top Gun: Maverick.
Brad Pitt Stirs the Pot with F1
The action cinema world was set ablaze when the first trailer for Brad Pitt's F1 dropped. Fans fired up discussions comparing F1 to the legendary status of Tom Cruise's Top Gun 2. Predominantly, there was a consensus – Pitt's F1 film will never beat Cruise's movie due to the authenticity of vehicles in the latter.
Joseph Kosinski, known for his thrilling action features, has reunited with Jerry Bruckheimer for his new project scheduled for release in 2025. The team dropped the first teaser for F1, with Brad Pitt in the starring role.
Behind the Wheel with F1
In an interview with Deadline, Kosinski and Bruckheimer revealed that renowned F1 driver Lewis Hamilton worked closely with the project. They discussed focusing extensively on the cars and driving. The cars used, to fans' surprise, were Formula 2 vehicles.
This idea sprung from collaboration with Mercedes and team CEO Toto Wolff. Usually, movie cars only look the part. Therefore, Toto suggested modeling the movie cars off Formula 2 chassis and engine, making them resemble Formula 1 cars. Configured specifically for F1, these specially built cars offer a realistic feel of F1 vehicles.
But car enthusiasts recognized the difference. According to F1 Chronicle, F1 cars exhibit superior power with 1000hp, compared to F2 extraordinary yet toned-down 620hp. Furthermore, F1 vehicles are considerably faster and robust than F2 equivalents causing potential authenticity concern for F1.
Authenticity Ignites Top Gun: Maverick
Joseph Kosinski is renowned for representing authenticity in his films, which was evident in Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick. ScreenRant reported that the sequel employed real fighter jets, including the iconic F-14 Tomcat, which had retired in 2008 but was brought back for the movie to establish its legendary status.
This flotilla of authenticity included Boeing F/A 18F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Sukhoi Su-57 Felon, North American P-51 Mustang, and Hypersonic Darkstar. These authentic touches grabbed attention and significantly boosted the sequel's legendary status.
In comparison to Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski's decision of using modified Formula 2 cars in F1 may affect the film's reception among motorsport aficionados. Considering that vehicle authenticity plays a major role in audience perception, Tom Cruise's movie might have a winning edge over Pitt's upcoming film.
Both films by Kosinski offer new takes on classic genres. Will the authenticity of the on-screen vehicles affect how fans perceive these movies? Only time will tell when F1 releases internationally on June 25, 2025. Until then, Top Gun movies are available to enjoy on Paramount+.
In the war of blockbusters, the race for authenticity is clearly not over between Brad Pitt's F1 and Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick.
