I went in with no expectations. Zero. Just another summer movie night. Yet by the end, I left the theater feeling like I could take on the world. The new F1 film didn’t just entertain me, it lit something up. It’s the first movie I’ve seen in a long time that left me feeling good. Not drained. Not emotionally wrecked. Just good. And honestly, I forgot what that even felt like.

Lately, it seems like every film is either horror or heartbreak. Everything is dark, twisted, or emotionally exhausting. So it felt rare and honestly refreshing to watch something that was smart, beautiful, and full of heart without leaving me heavy.

The story follows Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, a former Formula 1 prodigy who was once set to be the greatest the sport had ever seen. That is, until a brutal accident in I believe the ’90s nearly ended everything. Many years later, he’s a bit of a lone wolf, racing wherever he can, when his old teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) pulls him back into the world of F1. The ask is simple: help save a failing team and drive alongside their rising star, Joshua Pearce, played perfectly by Damson Idris. What follows is high-speed tension, redemption, ego, legacy, and the kind of chemistry you rarely see on screen anymore.

What stood out most were the characters. They felt real and layered, ambitious, flawed, human. You actually care what happens to them. The soundtrack added just the right amount of emotion and flare. And the fashion was sharp and effortless, fitting perfectly into the world the film created.

Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematography pulls you straight into the track and doesn’t let go. It’s sleek, immersive, and somehow intimate. The sound design and music are equally powerful. Every beat felt intentional and emotional without trying too hard.

But what really did it for me was the heart. The character development. The pacing. The authenticity. You don’t need to be a Formula 1 fan to connect with the story. You just need to be human.

In a sea of heavy, complicated stories, this one reminded me what a good film can feel like. Sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

Ready to feel something good? Grab your tickets now and buckle up for one hell of a ride.

Find showtimes and buy tickets on Fandango.