‘Wuthering Heights’ Delivers Nearly $77 Million Global Box Office Take in Opening Weekend

Emerald Fennell’s fresh take on Emily Brontë’s classic novel has stormed theaters worldwide with an impressive debut. The film, featuring Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, pulled in $76.8 million globally over its opening weekend. In North America, it earned $34.8 million from more than 3,600 locations, falling short of initial projections between $40 million and $50 million. Still, industry experts anticipate it could hit around $40 million by the end of the extended President’s Day holiday.

International markets contributed a strong $42 million from 76 territories, helping push the total close to $77 million. Australia stood out with particularly robust performance, bringing in about $4.3 million, thanks in part to the appeal of its leading stars on home turf. The movie has already recovered its $80 million production budget just from this initial run, not counting marketing expenses. Additional releases are planned for Japan and Vietnam later this month, followed by China in early March, which could add even more momentum.

Audience reactions have been notably divided, with women making up 76 percent of North American ticket buyers. The film holds a 63 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and earned a B CinemaScore from viewers. Despite the mixed critical response, it resonated strongly enough to claim the top spot domestically. Warner Bros continues its winning streak, marking this as their ninth consecutive number one opening.

This achievement comes at a busy time for the studio, which is navigating a potential takeover bid for Paramount while promoting Oscar hopefuls like Sinners and One Battle After Another. Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian described the weekend as solid if not record-breaking, especially without a major Marvel release in the mix. The absence of an MCU title opened the door for other films to shine brighter than usual. Wuthering Heights outperformed recent openers, surpassing GOAT with its $26 million North American haul and Crime 101 at $15.1 million.

Broader industry trends show Disney already crossing the $1 billion mark globally for the year, fueled by hits like ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ and ‘Zootopia 2’. Meanwhile, other Warner Bros successes such as ‘A Minecraft Movie’, ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’, and ‘Weapons’ have kept the studio dominant. Fennell’s bold adaptation, which takes some creative liberties with the source material, has sparked plenty of conversation among fans and critics alike. Its ability to draw crowds despite lukewarm reviews highlights the drawing power of its cast and the enduring appeal of the story.

The film’s strong international showing, particularly in Australia, underscores how star power can boost local interest. With more markets still to open, the total earnings are likely to climb higher in the coming weeks. This debut marks one of the biggest openings of the year so far, setting a high bar for romantic dramas in a competitive landscape. It proves that classic literary adaptations can still capture modern audiences when paired with compelling performances.

What did you think of this new adaptation of Wuthering Heights and its box office success – share your thoughts in the comments.