‘Wuthering Heights’ tops $125M globally as second-weekend drop looms

‘Wuthering Heights’ Surpasses $125 Million Worldwide Despite Polarizing Reviews

Emerald Fennell’s audacious adaptation of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has crossed $125 million at the global box office within 10 days of release, making it the first film of 2026 to reach the $100 million milestone. The gothic romance, which opened on February 13, had earned $50.4 million domestically and $75.4 million internationally as of February 20, according to Box Office Mojo, even as its critical reception has grown increasingly divisive.koimoi

A Strong Start Meets Mixed Word of Mouth

The film debuted to $32.8 million domestically over the standard three-day Presidents’ Day weekend, with an additional $42 million from 76 international markets, bringing its global opening to roughly $83 million. Female moviegoers drove the opening, accounting for 76% of ticket buyers, according to PostTrak data cited by NBC News. The United Kingdom led overseas markets with a $10.3 million opening, followed by Australia and Italy.variety

Heading into its second weekend, however, the film showed signs of cooling. Warner Bros. reported $4.6 million on its second Friday, a 56% drop from opening day, with projections pointing to a $14.2 million second weekend that would bring the North American total to around $60 million.variety

Critics and Audiences Diverge

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s Tomatometer has settled at 59% based on 298 reviews, while the verified audience score sits at a warmer 84%. The site’s critics consensus describes the film as “a visually vibrant pleasure” that “might not be the stuff of high literature”. Among top critics, the score is also 59%, and audiences gave it a lukewarm B CinemaScore.forbes

Negative reviews have been pointed. The Philippine Daily Tribune called it “melodramatic, garish, and spectacularly boring” and “a vapid portrait of trauma bonding,” awarding it half a star. The Independent described the film as “astonishingly bad,” while Collider wrote that “Emily Brontë is absolutely rolling in her grave”. Positive notices, meanwhile, praised Fennell’s ambition: David Fear of Rolling Stone wrote, “Go all out or don’t bother. Fennell opts for the former, and whether it has its flaws or not, this intoxicated take is all the more enjoyable for it”.forbes

The Road to Profitability

Despite the strong opening, “Wuthering Heights” faces a steep climb to profitability. The film cost a reported $80 million to produce, and Warner Bros. spent an additional $85 million on marketing, according to Puck, as cited by World of Reel. Using standard industry multipliers, the film would need to earn at least $330 million worldwide to break even on its theatrical run, a figure that underscores the gamble Fennell and Robbie made in turning down a $150 million offer from Netflix in favor of Warner Bros.’ smaller $80 million deal with a guaranteed theatrical release. With Japan and China releases still ahead, the film’s international performance will likely determine whether that bet pays off.nbcnews