The Weekend Box Office Crown Goes to the Animated Underdog ‘GOAT’

The post-President’s Day weekend brought a quieter vibe to theaters, yet family crowds showed up strong enough to propel an animated underdog to the top spot. Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘GOAT’ held firm in its second weekend, earning an estimated seventeen million dollars and securing number one with a modest thirty-seven point five percent drop from its debut. This sports comedy follows a plucky little goat named Will Harris chasing his dream of playing professional roarball in a world filled with anthropomorphic athletes. Produced by Stephen Curry, the film has charmed audiences with its vibrant visuals, feel-good underdog tale, and broad family appeal, pushing its domestic total past fifty-eight million dollars so far.

Right behind came the stylish literary adaptation ‘Wuthering Heights’ from Warner Bros. Pictures, which took in fourteen point two million dollars in its sophomore frame. Directed by Emerald Fennell, this provocative take on Emily Brontë’s classic stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the doomed lovers Catherine and Heathcliff, leaning into the story’s obsessive and toxic dynamics with a contemporary edge. Despite a steeper fifty-six point seven percent decline, the film crossed the sixty-million-dollar mark domestically and continues to spark discussion thanks to its A-list cast and bold direction.

Faith-based audiences turned out reliably for Lionsgate’s ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’, which opened in third place with eight million dollars from over three thousand screens. The sequel revisits the life and music of MercyMe’s Bart Millard, portrayed by John Michael Finley, as he balances fame, fatherhood, and touring alongside newcomer Tim Timmons, played by Milo Ventimiglia. While it did not match the explosive breakout of the original, the film delivered a solid performance that underscores the steady draw of inspirational stories for its core demographic.

Further down the chart, Amazon MGM Studios’ heist thriller ‘Crime 101’ landed in the mix with five point seven million dollars in its second weekend. Based on Don Winslow’s novella, the film stars Chris Hemsworth as a sophisticated jewel thief and Mark Ruffalo as the determined detective pursuing him along the Pacific Coast Highway. The character-focused tension and star power kept it afloat, though a fifty-nine point five percent drop hints at some challenges in building momentum beyond initial interest.

Sam Raimi’s survival horror ‘Send Help’ from 20th Century Studios added another four point five million dollars in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic haul to over fifty-five million dollars. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien play co-workers trapped on a deserted island after a plane crash, where their dynamic shifts into a tense psychological showdown. The film’s blend of survival elements and horror has kept horror fans engaged, holding strong on around two thousand eight hundred screens.

A24’s dark comedy ‘How to Make a Killing’ opened with three point five million dollars from about one thousand six hundred theaters. Glen Powell leads as a man plotting to eliminate his wealthy relatives for an inheritance, drawing inspiration from classics like ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’ while mixing sharp satire with suspense. The film aims to build through word of mouth, leveraging Powell’s charm to turn its anti-hero into someone audiences root for despite the premise.

Baz Luhrmann’s immersive documentary ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ made a splash in limited release, earning three point two five million dollars from just three hundred twenty-five locations for an impressive ten-thousand-dollar per-screen average. Distributed by Neon, the event-style film uses restored footage to recreate the King’s electrifying stage presence without a traditional biographical narrative. Fans flocked to the screenings, turning each showing into a celebratory experience focused purely on Elvis’s performance energy.

Kevin James’s romantic comedy ‘Solo Mio’ continued its steady run with two point five million dollars in its third weekend, lifting its total beyond twenty-one million dollars. Distributed by Angel Studios, the lighthearted story follows a teacher left at the altar who embarks on his Italian honeymoon alone and finds unexpected connection with a local shopkeeper played by Nicole Grimaudo. The mix of humor and themes of self-discovery has resonated with viewers looking for uplifting, faith-friendly entertainment.

Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ showed impressive staying power in its thirteenth weekend, adding two point three million dollars to reach a massive four hundred twenty-three million dollars domestically. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde dive into a fresh mystery tied to the city’s reptile residents, and the sequel’s family appeal keeps it drawing crowds even months after launch. Likewise, James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ chipped in one point eight million dollars in its tenth week, pushing past three hundred ninety-nine million dollars and proving the enduring pull of Pandora’s visual wonders.

What are your favorite box office surprises from this weekend’s lineup, and which film are you planning to catch next? Share your thoughts in the comments.