He’s 62 and still looks like he’s glitching the aging process. Honestly, it’s a bit unfair. But while the internet obsesses over his skincare routine, the real noise is about what’s happening on the big screen. If you’re asking what is the new Brad Pitt movie, you’ve likely seen snippets of him in a fireproof racing suit or heard rumors about him returning to that "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" universe.
The short answer? It’s called F1.
It’s not just a movie; it’s a massive, $300 million gamble that actually paid off. After a theatrical run that dominated the summer of 2025, it’s now the thing everyone is streaming. But there’s a lot more moving in the background, including a bizarre reunion with David Fincher that most people didn't see coming.
The Massive Success of F1: What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of folks thought this was going to be Top Gun: Maverick but with cars. They weren't entirely wrong—it’s the same director, Joseph Kosinski—but the scale of this thing was different. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes. He’s a "retired" driver from the 90s who gets pulled back into the cockpit to mentor a young phenom played by Damson Idris.
Standard sports trope? Maybe. But the execution was wild.
🔗 Read more: Drunk on You Lyrics: What Luke Bryan Fans Still Get Wrong
They didn't just build sets; they actually filmed during real Grand Prix weekends. If you watch the movie and see Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton in the background, those aren't digital doubles. They were actually there. Pitt was actually driving a modified Formula 2 car (specced out by Mercedes) at speeds that would make most people lose their lunch.
Why it actually worked
- Realism over CGI: Kosinski used 6K tiny cameras inside the cockpits. You can see the vibration in Pitt’s helmet. It feels claustrophobic and fast.
- The Lewis Hamilton Factor: Hamilton didn’t just put his name on the credits as a producer; he reportedly gave notes on the script to make sure the "racing speak" wasn't cringey.
- The Box Office: Despite the terrifying $300 million budget, what is the new Brad Pitt movie ended up grossing over $630 million. For a sports drama, those are superhero numbers.
The film is currently the highest-grossing auto racing movie ever made. It even outpaced the Fast & Furious franchise in terms of critical acclaim, mostly because it focuses on the physics of racing rather than jumping cars between skyscrapers.
The "Cliff Booth" Sequel Nobody Expected
While F1 is the movie you can watch right now, the industry is currently buzzing about something titled The Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Remember Cliff? The laid-back, potentially dangerous stuntman from Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood?
💡 You might also like: Dragon Ball All Series: Why We Are Still Obsessed Forty Years Later
Apparently, Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher decided to join forces. Tarantino wrote the script, and Fincher—who hasn't worked with Pitt since The Curious Case of Benjamin Button—is directing. It’s set eight years after the original film. Cliff is now a Hollywood "fixer" navigating the studio system of the late 70s.
Reports from late 2025 suggest the movie has finished filming and is eyeing a Summer 2026 release. It’s a Netflix project, which usually means it might skip a big theatrical run, but given the star power, there’s talk of a limited window in cinemas. Seeing Pitt return to the character that won him an Oscar, under the direction of the guy who made Fight Club, is basically a cinephile’s fever dream.
What Happened to the "Wolfs" Sequel?
You might remember Wolfs, the fixer comedy where Pitt teamed up with George Clooney. It was a massive hit on Apple TV+. Apple immediately greenlit a sequel.
Then it all fell apart.
📖 Related: Down On Me: Why This Janis Joplin Classic Still Hits So Hard
Director Jon Watts (the guy who did the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies) actually walked away. He publicly stated he didn't trust Apple as a creative partner anymore after they scrapped the theatrical release of the first film at the last minute.
So, if you were looking for Wolfs 2, don't hold your breath. It’s dead in the water for now. It sucks because the chemistry between Pitt and Clooney is legendary, but at least we have the first one.
The Practical "Brad Pitt" Watchlist for 2026
If you’re trying to stay ahead of the curve, here is how you should plan your viewing:
- Watch F1 on Apple TV+: It’s available for streaming now. If you have a decent sound system, turn it up. The sound design of the engines is the best part.
- Keep an eye on "The Adventures of Cliff Booth": Expect a trailer to drop sometime in late 2025 or early 2026. This will likely be his next "prestige" role.
- Ignore the "World War Z 2" Rumors: Every year, a "concept trailer" for a sequel to his zombie flick goes viral. Usually, it's fan-made. As of right now, there is no official sequel in production. David Fincher was attached to it years ago, but he’s moved on to the Cliff Booth project.
Brad Pitt's career strategy lately seems to be: "Do one massive blockbuster for the paycheck, then one weird project with a legendary director." It’s working. Whether he's hitting 200mph at Silverstone or playing a 1970s stuntman, he’s still the most relevant movie star on the planet.
Actionable Insight: If you want the full experience for his new movie F1, check if any IMAX theaters near you are doing "Encore Screenings." The film was shot specifically for the IMAX aspect ratio, and the scale is significantly diminished on a standard TV screen. For the upcoming Cliff Booth project, keep your Netflix subscription active for the summer of 2026, but watch for announcements regarding a "one-week-only" theatrical run—Tarantino usually insists on it.