As it builds hype for F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, Apple has launched the world’s first haptic movie trailer—a short film preview that you can actually feel.
Thanks to the iPhone’s Taptic Engine, users can experience vibrations synced with the on-screen action. As F1 cars roar down the track, speed through corners, or pull into the pit lane, your phone vibrates with varying intensities—letting you feel the thrill of the track in the palm of your hand.
It’s a natural fit for the film, which brings the visceral experience of Formula 1 to life. And it’s a clever way for Apple to flex its hardware-software ecosystem by marrying immersive tech with cinematic storytelling.
How to watch the haptic trailer
To try it for yourself:
Make sure your iPhone is running iOS 18.
Open the Apple TV app.
Look for the F1: The Movie haptic trailer at the top of the home screen or scroll down to find it.
Tap to watch—and hold on tight.
Apple says this is just the beginning of how haptics could enhance storytelling, with the technology offering a new dimension to mobile entertainment. While only compatible iPhones will deliver the tactile experience, it’s another example of Apple finding new ways to elevate its content in a crowded streaming market.
Apple’s biggest movie bet yet
F1: The Movie, due in cinemas on June 27, is Apple Original Films’ most ambitious project to date. With Brad Pitt behind the wheel, real F1 teams involved, and unprecedented trackside access, Apple hopes the film will be a breakout box-office success ahead of its eventual release on Apple TV+ later this year.
Whether the haptic trailer signals a broader trend in film marketing remains to be seen. But for now, it’s a turbocharged innovation—one that makes movie trailers not just something you see and hear, but something you actually feel.
