wuthering heights posts solid global debut as international markets lift totals

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Wuthering Heights opens to about $83 million worldwide

Emerald Fennell’s stirred-up take on Wuthering Heights — starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi — opened to roughly $83 million globally. The film pulled in about $38 million across North America over the four-day Presidents’ Day frame and added roughly $45 million from international markets.

That stronger overseas performance helped offset a slightly softer-than-expected domestic launch. Industry watchers point to the film’s staggered global rollout and the holiday timing — positioned as Valentine’s counterprogramming — as key reasons the S. numbers alone might suggest.

Mixed reception across territories

Performance was uneven from market to market. Some countries delivered impressive per-screen averages, while others lagged. The variation seems linked to local marketing strategies, platform availability, and how well the material resonated culturally. There were no regulatory blocks hindering theatrical runs, but studios are still adjusting to pandemic-era habits that nudged many viewers toward streaming.

Budget and audience profile

The studio cites a production budget in the neighborhood of $80 million, excluding press-tour and advertising spends. With an R rating and a darker romantic tone, the movie appealed to a narrower crowd: more than three-quarters of opening-weekend attendees were women, and many came out as part of Valentine’s Day counterprogramming. How long the picture stays in theaters — and when it heads to streaming — will depend on weekend holds and forthcoming licensing deals; no streamer date has been announced.

Weekend snapshot: domestic slightly under, international lifts

Domestically, the four-day total finished a touch under Warner Bros.’ internal projection of about $40 million. Abroad, receipts pushed the global tally to around $83 million, underscoring how high-concept literary adaptations increasingly lean on non-U.S. audiences for box office muscle.

Sustained international interest will be the key test. Studios are balancing theatrical windows against streaming and downstream revenue more carefully than ever, so next week’s receipts will be telling about whether Wuthering Heights can turn its opening into durable returns.

Marketing, positioning and studio choices

The team opted for a wide theatrical launch rather than a streamer-first strategy — a decision reflecting both creative preference for a big-screen debut and a bet on traditional box office. That choice raises pressure on the opening weekend but keeps the door open for stronger ancillary revenue later. The campaign emphasized theatrical exclusivity while remaining within standard advertising norms.

Competing films and the road ahead

Wuthering Heights faces competition from other adult-skewing dramas and established franchise holdovers. Its future will hinge on retention, per-theater averages and word-of-mouth: steady legs or lucrative downstream deals will be necessary for a mid-range budget film to hit profitability.

Sony’s GOAT posts a healthy family start

On the family side, Sony’s animated sports film GOAT opened solidly for its audience, earning about $35 million across four days and approximately $27.2 million over the traditional Friday–Sunday period. An “A” CinemaScore signals strong word-of-mouth among families. Internationally it collected around $15.6 million, bringing its worldwide debut to roughly $50.6 million.

Crime 101 and other holdovers

Crime 101 posted modest totals this weekend, holding a slice of the adult audience but without the breakout numbers studios hope for. Several holdovers and new adult-targeted titles are still siphoning the same core demographic, which makes week-to-week retention crucial for mid-budget releases.