Emerald Fennell’s bold reimagining of Wuthering Heights has claimed the top spot at the box office, earning $38 million in North America over the Presidents’ Day holiday weekend, according to variety.com. Internationally, the film exceeded expectations with $45 million, bringing its total global opening to $83 million.
While domestic earnings fell slightly short of Warner Bros.’ $40 million forecast, the racy R-rated adaptation found a strong following overseas. Produced for $80 million, the film stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the iconic, toxic lovers Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. The film proved particularly popular with women, who made up 75% of the opening weekend audience around Valentine’s Day.
This success marks the ninth consecutive No. 1 debut for Warner Bros., following recent hits such as A Minecraft Movie and Sinners. Director Fennell and Robbie reportedly turned down a $150 million offer from Netflix to ensure the film received a full theatrical release.
In second place, Sony Pictures Animation’s GOAT made an impressive debut with $35 million over the four-day weekend. The original story of an aspiring “roarball” champion earned an “A” CinemaScore from families, suggesting strong staying power. It added $15.6 million internationally for a $50.6 million global start.
Meanwhile, the heist thriller Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, underperformed with $16.3 million domestically. Despite positive reviews, the $90 million Amazon MGM production faces a difficult path to profitability, having earned just $28.3 million worldwide so far.
Overall, cinema attendance is 8% higher than last year, though it remains lower than the $100 million opening of 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World. Theatre owners now look to the release of Scream 7 on February 27 to maintain momentum.
•Featured image/©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
