Wuthering Heights Tops Box Office with $40 Million Over Holiday Weekend

Wuthering Heights, the new film starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, took the top spot at the North American box office this Valentine's Day weekend. The movie opened in 3,682 theaters on Friday and pulled in $33 million through Sunday, with projections hitting $40 million by President's Day on Monday. Rivals in the industry expect the four-day total to land close to that mark as audiences flock to the steamy romantic drama directed by Emerald Fennell.

Background

Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights has seen many adaptations over the years, but this 2026 version brings a fresh take with modern stars and bold storytelling. The film follows the intense love story between Cathy and Heathcliff on the wild English moors. Cathy, from the rundown Wuthering Heights estate, gets drawn to her wealthy neighbor Edgar Linton while her deep bond with the brooding Heathcliff pulls her in another direction. Things heat up with passionate scenes, including moments of jealousy, secret affairs, and raw emotion that push the story forward.

Fennell, known for her work on Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, wrote and directed this project. She first announced it in July 2024, and by September, Robbie and Elordi were on board. Robbie produced it through her LuckyChap Entertainment company, teaming up with MRC for financing. Warner Bros. Pictures won the distribution rights after a bidding war, beating out Netflix with an $80 million deal that included a big push for theaters and marketing. The movie had its world premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on January 28, 2026, before hitting theaters across the US and UK on February 13, right before Valentine's Day. It also played in IMAX screens to draw bigger crowds.

The cast rounds out with Hong Chau as Nelly Dean, the housekeeper who sees it all; Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton; Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton; Martin Clunes as Mr. Earnshaw; and Ewan Mitchell as Joseph. Young versions of the leads are played by Charlotte Mellington, Owen Cooper, and Vy Nguyen. The runtime sits at 136 minutes, giving plenty of space for the epic scope of the tale.

Key Details

Wuthering Heights earned $11 million on its opening day alone, Friday, February 13. That put it ahead of new releases like Crime 101, which opened to $17.7 million over the weekend but faces a steep $90 million budget. Other films in theaters included Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, and Goat, but none matched the pull of this romantic drama. Industry watchers project Wuthering Heights could add $40 million more from international markets this weekend, helping it recover costs fast. The $80 million production budget means it's off to a solid start, though marketing fees remain to be covered for full profit.

Reviews from critics landed mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 63% score. Metacritic gives it 56 out of 100, based on 55 reviews, calling it mixed or average. Audiences, though, rate it higher at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B grade from CinemaScore polls.

Critical Reactions

Some critics praised the film's energy and visuals. Peter Travers from The Travers Take said,

"Margot and Jacob in Fennell's overheated take on Emily Brontë's classic Gothic romance, where they passionately embrace with a wild, porny abandon that would astonish Victorians. No complaints here."

Adam Graham of the Detroit News added,

"This is large-scale drama with epic scope, and Fennell ensures it’s anything but dull."

Others pointed out flaws. Marianna Neal from Impression Blend called it feeling like a made-for-TV effort. Keithlington from another outlet noted it seemed more in love with itself than Brontë's original. Hannah Lodge from Screen Rex said it works better as a visual show than an emotional story. Jack Martin from Film Feeder agreed, saying it lacks depth under the beauty.

The R-rated content, with steamy scenes like Cathy on the moors and a barn encounter, draws viewers looking for something bold over the holiday. The timing near Valentine's helped, as couples and fans of the stars turned out in force.

What This Means

For Warner Bros., Wuthering Heights marks a win after past box office tests with Robbie projects. It beats her previous $80 million flop in record time, showing strong draw for this pairing. The film could push past $50-55 million in its full four-day opening from 3,600 theaters, setting up a solid run through awards season.

Crime 101's $17.7 million debut falls short against its $90 million budget, raising questions for that studio's strategy. It competed directly but couldn't match the romance buzz. Smaller releases like Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die and Goat took lower spots, highlighting how holiday timing favors love stories.

Audience love over critic scores points to word-of-mouth potential. With international openings ahead, the film might build on its US lead. For stars like Robbie and Elordi, this boosts their profiles—Robbie after Barbie success, Elordi from Saltburn. Fennell's style, mixing drama with edge, proves it plays well in theaters.

The box office reflects a split: critics want tighter storytelling, but viewers embrace the passion and scale. As the weekend wraps on Monday, final numbers will show if projections hold. This debut gives the adaptation new life, pulling Brontë's classic to modern screens with heat and drama that fills seats.