Wuthering Heights is already proving to be a strong Valentine's Day draw, launching its theatrical run with an impressive $3 million in Thursday preview screenings as it heads into the holiday weekend. The romantic drama, directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is expected to dominate the frame, with early projections pointing to a $50 million-plus domestic opening. The strong preview turnout signals that audiences are turning out in force for the film's sweeping love story, perfectly timed for the February 14 corridor. Industry analysts say the film's early numbers reflect both strong pre-release buzz and strategic counterprogramming, as it positions itself as the go-to choice for couples and romance fans over the Valentine's Day weekend. Following behind are two wide releases aiming to capture different segments of the audience. The animated sports comedy GOAT, produced by Stephen Curry, is targeting families and younger viewers, while Amazon MGM's crime thriller Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo, is expected to appeal to adult audiences looking for a darker alternative. Both films are tracking in the mid-tier range compared to Wuthering Heights, which is widely expected to hold the No. 1 spot throughout the holiday frame. All three titles opened February 13, creating a diverse lineup that spans romance, animation and crime drama. But with its early $3 million preview haul and Valentine's Day appeal, Wuthering Heights is poised to lead the weekend box office and set the tone for one of the first major moviegoing frames of 2026. In July 2024, filmmaker Emerald Fennell announced that she would write and direct an adaptation of the 1847 novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. In September 2024, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi were cast as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, respectively, with Robbie also producing under her label LuckyChap Entertainment alongside financer MRC. Robbie previously produced Fennell's Promising Young Woman (2020) and Saltburn (2023), the latter of which starred Elordi. A bidding war in October led Netflix to bid $150 million for the distribution rights. Warner Bros. Pictures, with whom LuckyChap has a first-look deal and made Barbie (2023), ultimately won the rights with a significantly lower offer of $80 million after granting Fennell and Robbie's wishes for the film to have a theatrical release and a significant marketing campaign. Elordi had been contemplating taking a hiatus from acting before Fennell offered him the lead role without having to audition. The decision to cast a white actor as the racially ambiguous Heathcliff, described as resembling a "dark-skinned gipsy" or "Lascar" in the novel, sparked controversy. In November 2024, Hong Chau, Alison Oliver (who starred in Saltburn), and Shazad Latif joined the cast. In March 2025, Charlotte Mellington, Owen Cooper, and Vy Nguyen (all three making their film debuts) were announced as playing young Catherine, Heathcliff, and Nelly. In September 2025, Fennell defended her decision to cast Elordi, stating that he "looked exactly like the illustration of Heathcliff on the first book that I read." Principal photography took place in the United Kingdom from late January to early April 2025, using 35mm VistaVision cameras. Filming occurred at Sky Studios Elstree, with location shooting in the Yorkshire Dales including the valleys of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, the village of Low Row, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
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