Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights led the box office with $83 million in global ticket sales over the Presidents’ Day weekend. The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, earned $38 million in North America and $45 million internationally. Despite falling short of domestic projections, it outperformed expectations abroad.
Director Emerald Fennell’s take on Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, debuted at number one in North America during the Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day holiday weekend. The R-rated romantic drama collected $38 million over the four-day frame in North America, below Warner Bros.’ projections of around $40 million, but achieved a stronger $45 million from international markets. This resulted in a global total of $83 million, slightly above the Sunday estimate of $82 million.
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi portray the toxic lovers Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. The film drew a predominantly female audience, with women comprising more than 75% of opening weekend crowds, making it a fitting choice around Valentine’s Day. Warner Bros. produced the movie for $80 million, excluding tens of millions spent on the global promotional tour. This marks the studio’s ninth consecutive number one debut, following 2025 hits like A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, and Weapons.
In 2024, Netflix had offered $150 million for Fennell to direct Wuthering Heights as a streamer exclusive, but the director and producer Robbie, via MRC, chose Warner Bros. for a theatrical release with a full marketing push.
Competitors included Sony’s animated sports adventure GOAT, which placed second with $35 million domestically ($50.6 million worldwide) and an “A” CinemaScore from family audiences. The heist thriller Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, came in third with $16.3 million in North America ($28.3 million globally) and a “B” CinemaScore. Overall box office for the weekend was 8% ahead of the previous year, though attendance lagged behind 2025’s Marvel release Captain America: Brave New World, which opened to $100 million.
