Update Monday: An intriguing four-day weekend got even more interesting. Sony Pictures’ “GOAT” was no. 1 on Sunday and is expected to take Monday with $35 million domestic. Its global tally is now at an estimated $47.5 million.
Warner Bros.’ “Wuthering Heights” did not hit $40 million in the U.S. over the four-day. Instead, it took an estimate $38 million, but it appears to have overperformed overseas with $45 million, bringing its worldwide take to a fantastic $83 million so far.
Amazon MGM Studios’ “Crime 101” came in just under estimates with $16.3 million over the 4-day (a big $1.4 million miss off the Sunday released estimate) and $28.2 million so far.
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It may not be a romance for the ages, but Warner Bros. is estimating an $82 million worldwide debut for Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” this weekend. The Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi gothic love story or revenge story (or both) pulled in $42 million overseas over the three-day frame and another $40 million over the four-day President’s Day holiday.
At a reported production cost of $80 million, “Heights” has a shot of breaking even theatrically, but the post-opening polling is not ideal. The movie earned a B CinemaScore, and reviews have been polarizingly mixed. Luckily, there isn’t major competition in the marketplace until “Scream 7,” which is currently tracking for an over $45 million opening, arrives on February 28.
Quietly hitting a three-pointer from the corner was Sony Pictures Animation’s “GOAT.” The Steph Curry-voiced animated flick is estimated to pull in a fantasic $32 milion over the four-day. That’s a bigger debut than “The Bad Guys 2” this past July and the largest “original” animated opening since“Elemental” in 2023. “GOAT” doesn’t have the summer frame to pump up grosses, but it is also free of family film competition until Pixar’s “Hoppers” drops on March 6. The A CinemaScore grade doesn’t hurt either. Globally, it took in another $15.6 million overseas, with 40% of its international markets still set to open.
Amazon MGM Studios’ wide release this weekend was Bart Layton’s “Crime 101” with $15 million for the three-day, $27 million global, and $17 million domestic for the extended frame. That was a bit higher than Friday’s estimates. In theory, the adaptation ofDon Winslow’s 2020 novella had star power with Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo, and landed favorable reviews (a 68 on Metacritic, 86% on Rotten Tomatoes), but it couldn’t hit the $18-20 million projection some rival studios saw as a possibility a week ago. The title did not help, something that was obvious when it first sneaked at CinemaCon almost a year ago.
Gore Verbinski’s“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” found $3.6 million in just 1,610 theaters. The Braircliff Entertainment acquisition reportedly cost $20 million, which one would have to assume was partially covered by global presales. Starring Sam Rockwell and Haley Lu Richardson, the dark Sci-Fi comedy also has positive reviews (a 67 on Metacritic, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes), but seems destined to be discovered by most audiences on streaming or a transatlantic flight.
Despite grossing over $137 million over the long weekend, the box office was still down compared to 2025, when“Captain America: Brave New World” pulled in $100 million and the four-day weekend hit $181.3 million. Many may complain about superhero fatigue, but those tentpoles do fill multiplexes. Still, the fact that two movies opened over $30 million over one February weekend and the shockingly small drops from last weekend (a three-day comparison) are very positive signs domestically.
“Send Help” dropped just 1% for another $9 million and $47 million domestic. “Solo Mio” was down just 3% for another $6.8 million and $17.3 million. “Zootopia 2” down 6% despite losing 500 theaters for $419 million to date in the U.S., and“Avatar: Fire and Ash” dropped 4% as it hit $396 million, inching its way to $400 million. Even the 32% drop for “Dracula” and a 34% fall for “The Strangers: Chapter 3” were impressive considering their reviews and post-polling scores.
Oh, “Melania” did drop 62% in its third weekend for $15 million to date.
New releases on Friday include “How To Make A Killing” and “I Can Only Imagine 2.”
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