Wuthering Heights Tops Box Office with $34.8 Million Debut

Emerald Fennell's bold reimagining of the classic novel brings in big crowds, especially women.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" topped the box office this weekend, earning $34.8 million in its first three days in North American theaters. The Warner Bros. release, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, drew an estimated 76% female audience according to PostTrak polling. The romantic drama had its biggest day on Valentine's Day, earning $14 million.

Why it matters

The strong debut for "Wuthering Heights" comes as the future of Warner Bros. remains uncertain amid Paramount's ongoing hostile takeover bid. The film's success is a bright spot for the studio, marking its ninth number one opening in a row. The performance also highlights the continued box office draw of female-led stories, especially in the romantic drama genre.

The details

"Wuthering Heights" cost a reported $80 million to produce, not including marketing and promotion costs. The film is also performing well internationally, expected to earn an additional $42 million from 76 territories. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, sitting at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, that did not deter audiences, with 51% saying they would "definitely recommend" it to friends.

  • The film had its biggest day on Valentine's Day, earning $14 million.
  • "Wuthering Heights" 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 big screen.

Margot Robbie

The actress who stars as Catherine in the new adaptation of "Wuthering Heights".

Jacob Elordi

The actor who plays Heathcliff in the film.

Warner Bros.

The studio that released "Wuthering Heights" and is facing an uncertain future amid a hostile takeover bid from Paramount.

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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 (fm99.com)

What’s next

The film still has several big international openings on the horizon, including in Japan, Vietnam, and China in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The success of "Wuthering Heights" demonstrates the continued box office appeal of female-led stories, especially in the romantic drama genre. The film's strong debut is a bright spot for Warner Bros. as the studio faces an uncertain future.