Wuthering Heights Opens Strong With $3 Million in Previews, Headed for Big Valentine’s Weekend
Preview Turnout Signals Early Momentum
Wuthering Heights, the bold new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s gothic romance directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, opened its theatrical run on a strong note Thursday with approximately $3 million in box office previews in the United States.
The preview figures — the earliest tally before the full holiday weekend — position the film as a leading contender for Valentine’s Day weekend box office success, a traditionally lucrative frame that also includes the Presidents’ Day holiday. Analysts and industry trackers are anticipating a $50 million-plus domestic opening over the four-day period.
Valentine’s Weekend Strategy and Projection
The timing of Wuthering Heights’ release — Friday, February 13, leading into Valentine’s Day — appears tailored to capitalize on date-night crowds and adult moviegoers seeking an alternative to franchise blockbusters. Early projections suggest the film could tally $50–$55 million domestically, with international markets contributing additional revenue.
Warner Bros., the film’s distributor, has set both conservative and optimistic targets, with some forecasts extending as high as $55 million to $60 million depending on audience word-of-mouth throughout the weekend.
Critical and Audience Reactions Vary
Although commercial expectations are strong, reaction to Fennell’s adaptation has been highly divided:
- Critics have been mixed, with the film’s Rotten Tomatoes percentage declining near 65 percent as more reviews are tallied.
- Audience scores tracked unofficially on review aggregators indicate stronger enthusiasm, particularly among verified viewers.
- Social media responses reflect a split between praise for the visual style and performances and frustration from fans of the original novel over creative departures.
Some reviewers applaud the cinematic ambition and chemistry of the leads, while others argue the adaptation prioritizes sensual style over emotional depth, leaving literary purists unconvinced.
Broader Context: Renewed Cultural Interest
The film’s release has also triggered renewed interest in Emily Brontë’s original novel, which saw a dramatic surge in book sales in key markets in the weeks leading up to the movie’s debut.
This cross-medium attention illustrates how major film adaptations can revitalize classic literature for new generations — even as debates over fidelity to the source material continue.
Box Office Landscape and Competition
Wuthering Heights is entering a frame populated by several wide releases, including animated and action films seeking family and adult audiences alike. Despite that competition, Wuthering Heights’ early performance suggests it may emerge as the top draw of the weekend, particularly among adult and date-night demographics.
Its success — if sustained — could set the tone for what industry analysts hope will be a strong first major box office weekend of the 2026 theatrical year.
