‘Wuthering Heights’ eyes $80M global debut amid Valentine’s Day movie surge

Warner Bros. and MRC’s Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is on track for an $80 million global opening, driven by strong international and domestic ticket sales.

The romantic drama, directed by Oscar winner Emerald Fennell, is expected to earn $40 million from 79 international territories, slightly ahead of comparable releases like The Housemaid ($34.8M). 

Domestically, projections suggest a mid-$30 million four-day start, bringing the combined total to the $80 million mark. 

Thursday night previews contributed $3 million to an $11 million Friday total, with a path toward $40 million across the four-day holiday weekend.

Women are leading the domestic turnout, accounting for 76% of audiences, with a notable 53% over age 25. Jacob Elordi fans and Latino and Hispanic audiences gave the film some of its strongest support, with 60% and 62% definite recommend scores, respectively. 

Men’s support remains lower, with just 39% giving a definite recommendation, compared to 54% of women. Overall audience sentiment earned a CinemaScore of B, slightly above Fifty Shades of Grey (C+) but below the B+ ratings of its sequels.

IMAX, Dolby Cinema, drive-in, and premium large-format theaters are showing strong bookings, with 31% of the audience choosing these premium venues. The AMC Lincoln Square in New York City leads in location gross with $56,000.

Valentine’s Day landing on a Saturday is expected to benefit the film, with historical comparables including Fifty Shades of Grey ($95.3M in 2015) and Deadpool ($84.9M in 2016) on holiday weekends. 

Social media buzz is strong, with the film reaching 381.2 million interactions across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X — 2.5 times above typical romantic-drama norms. 

Charli XCX, who contributed to the film’s soundtrack, has amplified promotion to her combined 18.2 million followers across platforms.

Other releases this weekend include Sony Pictures Animation’s GOAT, which is tracking for a $24 million four-day total, buoyed by a 76% definite recommend score and strong family attendance. 

Amazon MGM Studios’ crime thriller Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, and Barry Keoghan, is projected for a $13.8 million four-day total. Gore Verbinski’s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is expected to earn $4 million over four days.

Analysts anticipate a total Presidents Day weekend box office of $124.1 million, down 32% from last year’s $181.3 million when Captain America: Brave New World led the charts.