Box Office Shock: ‘Wuthering Heights’ Rules Globally While Stephen Curry’s ‘GOAT’ Crashes the Valentine’s Day Party
Box Office: ‘Wuthering Heights’ Aims for $82M Global Bow as Stephen Curry’s ‘GOAT’ Becomes an Unexpected U.S. Contender
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s modern spin on Wuthering Heights is storming the global box office with a projected $82 million debut, but in North America the long Valentine’s Day–Presidents Day weekend is turning into a closer-than-expected race as Sony Animation’s GOAT, powered by the crossover appeal of NBA legend Stephen Curry, mounts a surprising challenge for domestic audiences.
The result is a fascinating box office showdown: a moody literary romance repackaged as prestige date‑night cinema versus a four‑quadrant animated sports comedy that’s playing as family comfort food. It’s also a revealing snapshot of what kinds of stories actually move people off the couch and into theaters in 2026.
A Holiday Box Office Built on Romance, Nostalgia, and Sports Fandom
Valentine’s Day bleeding into Presidents Day is now a mini‑season unto itself. Over the last decade, Hollywood has quietly trained audiences to expect some mix of romance (The Vow), genre twists (Get Out famously opened this frame), and family‑friendly event films. In 2026, the release calendar doubles down on that strategy: a lush literary romance for couples and a sports‑themed animated crowd‑pleaser for kids, parents, and NBA fans.
Wuthering Heights, anchored by two of the most recognizable faces in contemporary film culture, was always positioned as the “main character” of the weekend. But the industry is now waking up to how aggressively GOAT has expanded its footprint with schools out, matinee traffic, and buzzy word of mouth that stretches from TikTok highlight edits to NBA Twitter.
‘Wuthering Heights’ Box Office: A Brooding Romance With Blockbuster Ambition
The new Wuthering Heights adaptation didn’t just tap into Valentine’s Day vibes; it dominated Saturday with an estimated $14.4 million in North America, putting it on track to hit or flirt with a $40 million domestic bow across the four‑day frame. Globally, early data indicates a robust rollout, with forecasts circling an $82 million opening weekend worldwide.
- Domestic (4‑day projection): roughly $40 million
- International rollout: strong interest in the U.K. and Europe, where the Brontë name still carries cultural weight
- Global opening projection: around $82 million
Numbers aside, that global figure matters symbolically. It’s an encouraging sign that mid‑budget, adult‑skewing dramas can punch above their weight if they have movie‑star magnetism, a recognizable literary IP, and bold visual marketing that looks good on social feeds.
Why a 19th‑Century Tragedy Still Sells: Star Power, Aesthetic, and TikTok‑Ready Melodrama
On paper, Wuthering Heights is not obvious blockbuster material: it’s bleak, morally thorny, and famously allergic to cuddly happy endings. But the 2026 film threads a needle between literary respect and pop‑cinema instinct. Margot Robbie brings the same generational star wattage she wielded in Barbie, while Jacob Elordi rides the wave from Saltburn and Priscilla as the patron saint of chaotic, beautiful men.
The marketing leans hard into high‑contrast visuals, slow‑motion longing looks, and needle‑drops that feel designed not just for trailers but for fan edits. That’s not an accident; it’s how you sell a tragic romance to audiences who discover period drama via streaming thumbnails and For You Pages, not English lit syllabi.
“It’s less a museum piece than a fever dream about obsession. The film doesn’t so much adapt Brontë as remix her for an era that understands toxic love all too well.”
— Early critic reaction, aggregated from festival coverage
Culturally, this Wuthering Heights lands in the same ecosystem as Bridgerton, Pride and Prejudice memes, and cottagecore aesthetics. It offers what studios love: the illusion of prestige with the emotional bluntness of a mainstream romance.
Enter ‘GOAT’: Stephen Curry’s Animated Underdog That’s Outpacing Expectations
If Wuthering Heights is the moody romance of the weekend, GOAT is the feel‑good counterprogramming. Sony Pictures Animation teams up with Stephen Curry—one of the most beloved and brand‑savvy stars in modern sports—to deliver a family film steeped in basketball mythology and “chase the dream” messaging.
What’s catching analysts off guard is how quickly GOAT has closed the gap on Wuthering Heights domestically. Strong matinee business, solid audience scores, and a very online NBA fanbase have turned what was expected to be a distant second into a legitimate threat for the long weekend crown in the U.S.
It helps that Curry isn’t just a face on the poster; his production involvement and promotional push lend authenticity. This is the same playbook that made Space Jam: A New Legacy a buzzy event, but with a less polarizing figure at the center and a tone closer to Spider‑Verse meets Rookie of the Year.
Family Four‑Quadrant Power: Why ‘GOAT’ Is Overperforming in North America
Unlike Wuthering Heights, which skews older and more female, GOAT is built to hit every quadrant: kids, teens, parents, and sports fans. That breadth matters on a long weekend when families are actively hunting for shared activities, not just adult date nights.
- Sports fandom: The film piggybacks on the NBA’s year‑round buzz and Curry’s wholesome, aspirational brand.
- Animation: CG family titles remain some of the most reliable theatrical draws in the post‑streaming era.
- Scheduling: Daytime showings and group outings give it more “plays” than a standard drama.
“We wanted kids to feel like they were stepping onto the court with their heroes, but also to see that greatness is about resilience, not just highlight reels.”
— Stephen Curry, on the philosophy behind GOAT
Romance vs. Sports Animation: Two Different Theatrical Survival Strategies
What makes this weekend so revealing isn’t just that both films are doing well; it’s that they embody two distinct strategies for theatrical relevance in the streaming era.
- Eventized Adult Drama (Wuthering Heights)
Package serious material with pop‑culture icons, lean into lush visual marketing, and position the film as an “occasion”—a date‑night you dress up for. - All‑Ages IP‑Adjacent Entertainment (GOAT)
Fuse star athletes, family‑friendly storytelling, and accessible humor into something that feels like an extension of existing fandoms.
In industry terms, Wuthering Heights is a test case for the survival of the mid‑budget romantic drama in theaters, while GOAT extends the current hot streak of animation and sports crossovers. The domestic tug‑of‑war doesn’t diminish either film’s success; it just underscores how fragmented, yet opportunity‑rich, the audience landscape has become.
Strengths and Weaknesses: How Each Film Plays Its Hand
Neither film is flawless, and their box office arcs will depend on how well they convert curiosity into sustained word of mouth.
‘Wuthering Heights’
- Strengths: A‑list leads, striking imagery, built‑in literary cachet, and a clear Valentine’s Day hook.
- Weaknesses: Tonally heavy; the faithful tragic elements may limit repeat business for casual date‑night crowds.
‘GOAT’
- Strengths: Mass appeal across age groups, Curry’s brand, sports‑movie uplift, and strong daytime showtimes.
- Weaknesses: Risk of blending into a crowded animated marketplace if the emotional stakes don’t stand out.
Trailers, Clips, and Where to Learn More
For those deciding which film fits your weekend mood, the trailers do a good job of signaling the vibe: stormy, adult, and intense for Wuthering Heights; bright, kinetic, and aspirational for GOAT.
- Search Wuthering Heights on IMDb for cast, crew, and user reviews.
- Search GOAT (Sony Animation) on IMDb for production details and ratings.
- Visit the official YouTube channels for Sony Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation to watch the latest trailers and featurettes.
What This Weekend Tells Us About the Future of Theatrical Movies
The projected $82 million global opening for Wuthering Heights and the surprisingly strong U.S. showing for GOAT point to a cautiously optimistic truth: audiences will still show up in person when films feel specific, eventized, and emotionally legible.
On one side, there’s the promise that grown‑up romance and literary drama can thrive if supported like blockbusters. On the other, there’s the reminder that family‑friendly, sports‑infused animation remains one of the most dependable engines of theatrical revenue. The real winner of this weekend might not be either title alone, but the argument they make together—that a diverse, risk‑tolerant slate is still the healthiest model for moviegoing culture.
As the final four‑day numbers lock in, studios will be studying them closely. If these trends hold, expect to see more classic novels given starry, maximalist makeovers—and more collaborations between top athletes and animation studios vying for that coveted “all ages, all tickets” sweet spot.
