Warner Bros. is betting big on passion this Presidents Day weekend.
Wuthering Heights, starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, is poised to dominate box offices globally with projections reaching $70M-$80M across its opening frame.
Director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel arrives at a crucial moment—strategically timed with Elordi’s Best Supporting Oscar nomination for Netflix’s Frankenstein.
It marks Fennell’s first mega-wide studio release since her Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman, and early tracking suggests audiences are hungry for romantic drama on an epic scale.
Warner Bros. Made a Calculated Gamble
Studio executives paid $80M to secure Wuthering Heights from MRC, outbidding Netflix despite their competitor’s significantly higher $150M offer.
That decision now looks prescient. Opening across 3,600 North American theaters and 11,600 screens in 79 international territories—totaling 18,000 screens worldwide—the film is launching with theatrical firepower rarely seen outside superhero franchises.
Domestic forecasts suggest $40M-$50M over the four-day Presidents Day weekend, with another $30M internationally. Major markets including France, Korea, Germany, Italy, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and naturally the UK will all see Elordi’s Heathcliff and Robbie’s Cathy “going kissy-kissy in the West Yorkshire moors,” as industry insiders colorfully describe it.
Women Are Driving Ticket Sales
Tracking data reveals women over 25 lead in both unaided awareness and first-choice metrics, followed closely by women under 25.
First-choice numbers for women over 25 aren’t far from romantic drama heavyweights like 2017’s Fifty Shades Darker ($46.6M opening) and 2024’s It Ends with Us ($50M).
The offshore comparison? Lionsgate’s The Housemaid, which opened to $34.8M and has since grossed over $350M globally. While that Paul Feig film had a staggered release beginning before Christmas, similarities in audience demographics make it a useful benchmark.
Critical Reception Stands at “Somewhat in Love”
Critics have responded positively, though not ecstatically, with Wuthering Heights sitting at 71% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
That’s respectable but falls short of universal acclaim. Still, Fennell has stated lofty ambitions for her adaptation.
Emerald Fennell hopes ‘Wuthering Heights’ is “this generation’s ‘Titanic.'”
Robbie has also worked to temper expectations about explicit content, clarifying that the film is not as “raunchy” as promotional materials might suggest.
Previews begin at 3 p.m. Thursday across North America for the R-rated period piece. Premium formats including Imax, Dolby Cinema, drive-ins, dine-ins, and PLF theaters will boost per-screen averages through ticket upcharges.
Family Audiences Get an Animated Alternative
Sony Pictures Animation’s Goat offers counter-programming, projected to earn around $20M over four days at 3,500 locations.
Produced by NBA superstar Stephen Curry and directed by Tyree Dillihay (co-directed by Adam Rosette), this PG-rated basketball movie follows a small goat with oversized dreams who gets a shot to play roarball—a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by elite animal athletes.
Some rivals believe lack of family product since Christmas could push Goat past projections. Zootopia 2 enters its 12th weekend, leaving families hungry for fresh content.
Comps include recent original animated releases like Disney/Pixar’s Elio ($20.8M) and DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys ($23.9M). Reviews stand solid at 81% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, just shy of Elio‘s 83% certified fresh rating.
International Rollout Shows Early Promise
UK previews delivered a strong $1.8M last weekend. This weekend, 50 markets representing 60% of the offshore footprint could generate low-to-mid-teens millions.
Major territories including Germany, Australia, and China arrive later. Net production cost before prints and advertising falls between $80M-$90M+, according to sources. Previews start Thursday at 2 p.m.
Crime Thriller Targets Adult Male Demographics
Amazon MGM Studios’ Crime 101 rounds out the top three with approximately $15M projected over four days at 3,000 theaters.
Director Bart Layton adapted Don Winslow’s novel into a noir thriller starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo. An elusive thief eyes his final score while crossing paths with a disillusioned insurance broker; meanwhile, a relentless detective hunts them both.
Men over 25 lead first-choice tracking, followed by women over 25. Numbers mirror Josh Hartnett’s M. Night Shyamalan thriller Trap ($15.5M opening, summer 2024) and exceed Focus Features’ Black Bag ($7.6M opening).
International Strategy Emphasizes Action Markets
Crime 101 opens across 7,000 international locations in 60 markets, representing 85% of its offshore footprint. Key territories include United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.
Comps include “dude meat-and-potato action pics” that perform well in Saudi Arabia, Germany, UK, and Spain—titles like A Working Man and Den of Thieves: Pantera.
Tonight’s Los Angeles premiere at United Artists Theatre honors both the shooting location and the iconic 101 Freeway that defines the film’s world. Previews begin Thursday at 4 p.m. for the R-rated feature.
Indie Release Earns Critical Acclaim
Briarcliff Entertainment’s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die opens at 1,061 North American theaters with single-digit projections.
Gore Verbinski’s L.A.-set sci-fi action comedy stars Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple, and Michael Peña. A mysterious “man from the future” recruits disgruntled diner patrons for a one-night mission to save humanity from rogue artificial intelligence.
Currently sitting at 93% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes—higher than Verbinski’s Rango (88% certified fresh)—it’s his most critically acclaimed work to date. Distributor acquired the Constantin Film production before its Fantastic Fest world premiere.
Weekend Could Fall Short of 2025 Comparison
Last year’s Presidents Day weekend, led by Disney/Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World and Sony/StudioCanal’s Paddington in Peru, generated $179.5M over four days for all titles.
Captain America: Brave New World alone opened to $100M. This year’s top three titles combined might reach $85M at their best—a significant shortfall despite having three major releases targeting distinct demographics.
Chinese New Year begins February 17, with traditional celebrations lasting 15 days. Some Middle Kingdom local titles will begin rolling out Tuesday, potentially impacting international calculations for Hollywood releases in that crucial market.