Women Power ‘Wuthering Heights’ to $34.8M No. 1 Debut

Emerald Fennell’s daring adaptation of the classic tale “Wuthering Heights” drew massive crowds, particularly women, to cinemas over the weekend. This Warner Bros. Pictures release soared to the top of the box office rankings, securing the distinction of the largest opening of the year so far with an impressive $34.8 million in ticket revenues during its initial three days across North American theaters, based on studio projections released on Sunday. PostTrak audience surveys indicated that approximately 76% of ticket purchasers were female. With the addition of Monday’s Presidents Day holiday earnings, the film’s total from its 3,682 screens is anticipated to climb as high as $40 million, marking a significant achievement in a competitive market.

The passionate romantic drama features Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi portraying the ill-fated lovers Catherine and Heathcliff, outshining all other fresh releases that weekend, such as the animated feature “GOAT” and the high-stakes heist film “Crime 101.” The movie’s peak performance came on Saturday, coinciding with Valentine’s Day celebrations, where it generated $14 million. Beyond domestic success, “Wuthering Heights” is faring exceptionally well overseas, with projections of an extra $42 million from 76 international markets, underscoring its broad global appeal.

Produced by Warner Bros. in collaboration with MRC, the film reportedly carried a production budget of $80 million, excluding substantial expenditures on marketing and promotional efforts. Should the four-day estimates hold true, it would achieve a robust global opening of $82 million. Looking ahead, the picture has promising major launches scheduled in key territories like Japan and Vietnam on February 27, followed by China on March 13, which could further boost its momentum and profitability.

This triumph unfolds amid uncertainty for Warner Bros., as the studio navigates precarious circumstances with its future in flux, while Paramount persists in enhancing its aggressive acquisition proposal to outmaneuver competitors including Netflix. Notably, “Wuthering Heights” represents Warner Bros.’ ninth consecutive number-one debut, highlighting the studio’s ongoing dominance at the box office despite external pressures.

Fennell’s interpretation of Emily Brontë’s iconic novel diverges significantly from the source material, resulting in a polarized response from critics, who awarded it a middling 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, this critical reception did not deter moviegoers, though only 51% of opening weekend viewers expressed they would “definitely recommend” it to others. The audience feedback, reflected in a B CinemaScore, suggests a somewhat lukewarm but still commercially viable reception.

Historically, mid-February weekends have occasionally featured blockbuster superhero spectacles like “Black Panther” and “Deadpool,” but a more apt benchmark for this romantic drama is the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise and its sequels. The original installment exploded to over $85 million in its debut, while the third entry pulled in $38.6 million, providing context for “Wuthering Heights”’ solid performance in a similar genre space.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst overseeing marketplace trends at Comscore, described the weekend as “a solid if not record-breaking Presidents Day/Valentine’s period.” He noted that such results were predictable in the absence of a Marvel Cinematic Universe tentpole, emphasizing the relative strength of the turnout under the circumstances.

In the runner-up position, the animated “GOAT,” a Sony release backed by NBA star Stephen Curry, captured second place with an estimated $26 million from 3,863 theaters. Forecasts suggest an additional $6 million on Monday, pushing its four-day haul to $32 million—the strongest animated opening since “Elemental” in 2023. Internationally, it added $15.6 million, lifting its worldwide total to $47.6 million. As the sole new release to earn an A CinemaScore, the family-oriented animation demonstrated strong appeal, with Sony Pictures Animation also crediting its track record from projects like “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Securing third spot, the thriller “Crime 101” earned roughly $15.1 million over its first three days. Amazon MGM Studios rolled out the Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo-starring Los Angeles-based heist story across 3,161 screens. Projections indicate around $17.8 million by Monday’s close, but the film faces challenges to recoup its reported $90 million-plus production costs. The audience skewed 56% male and awarded it a B CinemaScore, mirroring mixed but engaged responses.

Completing the top five were “Send Help” with $9 million and “Solo Mio” at $6.4 million. Deeper in the rankings, No. 7 went to Briarcliff Entertainment’s sci-fi comedy “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die,” featuring Sam Rockwell and Haley Lu Richardson, which grossed an estimated $3.6 million from 1,610 locations, showing steady niche interest.

Walt Disney Studios marked a historic milestone this weekend, becoming the first studio to surpass $1 billion in global box office earnings for 2026. This feat was propelled primarily by the enduring juggernaut “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” supplemented by the sustained popularity of “Zootopia 2,” which clung to the top 10 after twelve weeks of release.

Compared to the prior year’s corresponding weekend, which benefited from the massive debut of “Captain America: Brave New World,” this period saw a notable decline. However, industry observers detect accelerating momentum, with high-profile releases like “Scream 7” and “Project Hail Mary” poised to invigorate theaters soon. Dergarabedian remarked, “It’s been a rather slow first quarter, but this could ignite a spark at the box office,” signaling potential for renewed vigor.

Top 10 Films by Domestic Box Office Earnings

Final domestic tallies will be confirmed Tuesday, but these rankings incorporate estimated ticket sales from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, per Comscore data:

1. “Wuthering Heights,” $34.8 million.
2. “GOAT,” $26 million.
3. “Crime 101,” $15.1 million.
4. “Send Help,” $9 million.
5. “Solo Mio,” $6.4 million.
6. “Zootopia 2,” $3.8 million.
7. “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die,” $3.6 million.
8. “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” $3.3 million.
9. “Iron Lung,” $3.1 million.
10. “Dracula,” $3 million.

This box office landscape reflects a diverse slate of genres captivating audiences, from romantic epics to animations and thrillers, setting the stage for an anticipated uptick in theatrical attendance as winter transitions into spring. The dominance of female-driven viewership for “Wuthering Heights” highlights shifting dynamics in audience preferences, potentially influencing future marketing strategies for studios targeting romantic and dramatic content. Meanwhile, the sustained performance of holdovers like “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” demonstrates the power of established franchises in maintaining revenue streams amid new entrants.