'Wuthering Heights' tops global box office with $82m debut as 'GOAT' opens to $47.6m

'Wuthering Heights' leads worldwide box office with $82m as 'GOAT' launches at $47.6m

Wuthering Heights has debuted at number one at the global box office, earning $82 million worldwide and delivering the biggest international launch of the year so far.

The Warner Bros production took $42 million from 76 overseas territories and $40 million across its four-day domestic opening. Rival studios estimate the North American total may reach closer to $35 million through the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the $80 million adaptation revisits Emily Brontë’s novel, charting the relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff in 18th century England.

Internationally, the strongest markets were the United Kingdom with $10.3 million, Italy with $4.4 million and Australia with $4.3 million. The film has not yet opened in China or Japan.

With reviews and word-of-mouth described as mixed, the film may depend on overseas takings to offset costs, as cinemas typically retain about half of ticket revenues.

Sony’s animated sports comedy GOAT placed second worldwide with $47.6 million, including $15.6 million from 42 international markets.

The family film, produced on an $80 million budget, has yet to open in 40% of overseas territories, including China, Australia, Germany and South Korea. The United Kingdom led international earnings with $4.8 million, followed by Mexico with $1.8 million and Spain with $1.2 million.

In third place, Amazon MGM’s Crime 101 generated $12 million from 60 markets internationally and $17.7 million domestically over four days, bringing its global total to $29.7 million. The $90 million crime thriller stars Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo and was directed by Bart Layton.