Big Weekend Preview: New Films, Big Numbers

The first major weekend of 2026 opens with three big studio releases that target different groups: women, families and men over 25. The headline is a new version of “Wuthering Heights” starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, aiming for a worldwide opening between 70 million and 80 million dollars. Warner Bros secured the film’s production rights for 80 million, beating Netflix’s offer of 150 million. The movie will hit 3, 600 U. S. screens and is expected to pull in 40 million to 50 million during the four‑day Presidents Day stretch. Internationally, it will be shown on 11, 600 screens across 79 territories, adding another 30 million. In total the film will reach about 18, 000 screens worldwide and feature the moorland setting of Yorkshire Dales. Key markets include France, Korea, Germany, Italy, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and the UK. Premium formats such as Imax, Dolby Cinema and drive‑ins will lift ticket prices. The release follows Elordi’s Oscar nomination for a supporting role in Netflix’s “Frankenstein” and marks the first wide theatrical outing by Emerald Fennell, who won an Oscar for “Promising Young Woman. ” Critics give the film a 71 % fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and previews will begin at 3 p. m. in North America.Sony Pictures Animation brings a new sports‑themed film called “Goat, ” produced by NBA star Stephen Curry. It will open on 3, 500 screens in the U. S. , projected to earn about 20 million over four days. The movie follows a small goat with big dreams who gets the chance to play in a high‑intensity, co‑ed sport called roarball. Competitors include Disney/Pixar’s “Elio” and DreamWorks’ “The Bad Guys, ” both of which earned roughly 20 million to 24 million domestically. Reviews for “Goat” are solid, with an 81 % fresh rating. Amazon MGM Studios releases a noir thriller titled “Crime 101, ” based on Don Winslow’s novel. It stars Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo, and is set to open on 3, 000 U. S. screens for about 15 million over four days. The film follows a thief, an insurance broker and a detective in a heist plot. Men over 25 are the strongest audience group, with first‑choice tracking similar to “Trap” and higher than “Black Bag. ” The movie will be shown on 7, 000 screens in 60 international markets. A smaller entry, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, ” is a sci‑fi comedy from Gore Verbinski. It will play in 1, 061 U. S. /Canada theaters and is expected to earn only a few million. The film has received a high rating of 93 % on Rotten Tomatoes. Overall, the weekend’s top three releases could collectively bring in around 85 million dollars from Friday to Monday, compared with last year’s total of 179. 5 million. The biggest draw was Disney/Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World, ” which earned 100 million over four days. Chinese New Year celebrations will begin on February 17, adding further international releases to the schedule.