Wuthering Heights Falls Short of Expectations
As the holiday weekend approached (today is President’s Day), Hollywood anticipated that Wuthering Heights, featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, would easily secure the top position, with many forecasting its Valentine’s Day release would lead to an opening exceeding $50 million. Ultimately, the estimate was adjusted to $40 million (which we had predicted), but according to ComScore’s latest figures, the period epic fell short of that target, grossing only $38 million over the four-day weekend. While this remains a solid figure for a costume drama with an $80 million budget, Warner Bros. invested over $85 million in its promotion, meaning it will need to perform exceptionally well at the box office to break even. However, credit must be given to WB for achieving their ninth consecutive number one opening at the box office. With such results, it’s clear why exhibitors are concerned about their potential deal with Netflix.
GOAT Nearly Pulls Off an Upset
One unexpected development was Sony’s animated film, GOAT, coming remarkably close to unseating it. Sunday and Monday matinees boosted its total to an estimated $35 million, just $3 million less than Wuthering Heights. With next weekend facing minimal competition, many believe GOAT will easily claim the top spot, especially since Wuthering Heights holds a mediocre B CinemaScore rating, indicating mixed word-of-mouth.
Crime 101 Holds Steady While Send Help Surges
Meanwhile, the epic Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth, performed as expected, earning $16.3 million over the holiday. However, the standout news is how Sam Raimi’s Send Help fared. In my previous box office report, I noted a mere 1% dip week to week. When factoring in the holiday box office, it actually increased its revenue by 15% in its third weekend, with a gross of $10.4 million contributing to its total of $49 million. This mid-budget thriller has proven to be a significant success for 20th Century Studios, reinforcing that a film doesn’t need to be a blockbuster to attract an audience (Sony initially planned for Send Help to be released as a streaming movie).
What Did You See This Weekend?
What did you see this weekend? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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