Powered by women, 'Wuthering Heights' debuts at No. 1 with $34.8 million

Emerald Fennell's bold reimagining of the classic novel draws big crowds, especially women, in its opening weekend.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Emerald Fennell's version of 'Wuthering Heights' topped the box office charts in its debut weekend, earning $34.8 million in North America. According to studio estimates, around 76% of the film's opening weekend audience were women. The romantic drama starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the iconic Catherine and Heathcliff also performed well internationally, earning an additional $42 million from 76 territories.

Why it matters

The strong opening for 'Wuthering Heights' comes at a pivotal time for Warner Bros. as the studio faces a potential takeover by Paramount. The film's success, driven largely by female moviegoers, highlights the continued demand for diverse and unconventional adaptations of classic stories.

The details

Fennell's version of 'Wuthering Heights' took many liberties with Emily Brontë's novel, which divided critics but did not deter audiences. The $80 million production cost is expected to be recouped through a projected $82 million global debut over the four-day Presidents Day/Valentine's Day weekend. While the film received a mixed 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, only 51% of opening weekend audiences said they would 'definitely recommend' it.

  • The film opened in North American theaters on February 16, 2026.
  • Its biggest day was Saturday, February 14, Valentine's Day, where it earned $14 million.
  • The film is expected to open in Japan and Vietnam on February 27, and in China on March 13.

The players

Emerald Fennell

The director who reimagined the classic novel 'Wuthering Heights' for the screen.

Margot Robbie

The actress who starred as Catherine in the film.

Jacob Elordi

The actor who played Heathcliff in the film.

Warner Bros.

The studio that released 'Wuthering Heights' and is facing a potential takeover by Paramount.

Paramount

The studio that is making a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

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What they’re saying

“This was a solid if not record-breaking Presidents Day/Valentines weekend. But that was to be expected without an MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) film.”

— Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore marketplace trends expert (nbcnewyork.com)

What’s next

The film still has several big international openings on the horizon, including in Japan and Vietnam on February 27, and in China on March 13.

The takeaway

The success of 'Wuthering Heights,' driven largely by female moviegoers, highlights the continued demand for diverse and unconventional adaptations of classic stories, even as the future of Warner Bros. remains uncertain amid the studio's potential takeover by Paramount.