Powered by women, 'Wuthering Heights' digs up $34.8 million at the box office for a No. 1 debut

[Jilly_in_VA]

Emerald Fennell’s bold reimagining of “Wuthering Heights” brought crowds of women to movie theaters this weekend. The Warner Bros. release topped the box office charts and nabbed the title for the year’s biggest opening with $34.8 million in ticket sales in its first three days in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. According to PostTrak polling, an estimated 76% of those ticket buyers were women. By the end of Monday’s Presidents Day holiday, the total could rise to $40 million from its 3,682 locations.

The romantic drama starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the star-crossed Catherine and Heathcliff, won out over the weekend’s other newcomers, including the animated “GOAT” and the heist thriller “Crime 101.” Its biggest day was Saturday’s Valentine’s Day holiday, where it earned $14 million. “Wuthering Heights” is also performing even better internationally, where it’s expecting to rake in an additional $42 million from 76 territories.

The Warner Bros./MRC production cost a reported $80 million to produce, not accounting for the millions spent on marketing and promotion. If the four-day totals match the estimates, that makes for a strong $82 million global debut. And the film still has several big openings on the horizon, in Japan and Vietnam on Feb. 27, and in China on March 13.

The success comes while the future of Warner Bros. hangs in the balance, as Paramount continues to sweeten its hostile takeover bid in hopes of winning out over Netflix. “Wuthering Heights” is the studio’s ninth No. 1 opening in a row.


Fennell’s version of “Wuthering Heights,” which takes many liberties with Emily Brontë’s novel, largely divided critics. It’s currently sitting at a mixed 63% on Rotten Tomatoes. While that didn’t dissuade audiences from buying tickets, only 51% of the opening weekend audience said that they would “definitely recommend” the film to friends. Moviegoers also gave it a less-than-stellar B CinemaScore.

https://apnews.com/article/wuthering-heights-box-office-d10e1c446826f2ef7b7029953d468875

I don't get this success at all. I saw in high school, when we were forced to read this book, that it was, at its core, about abuse and codependence, although I didn't have the word for codependence then. Hated it then and have hated movies of it since.

[LisaM]

1. I loved the book and haven't liked any movie version of it I have seen.

But a larger issue is that women will go to movies that feature women. There should be more of them. Both "Barbie" and "Little Women" (the most recent one and the 1994 one) did well.

Yet we are still treated to movies largely made for, by, and about men. I live near a movie theatre and walk by the posters. It's ridiculous.

[hlthe2b]

2. I liked the version with Timothy Dalton waay back when (came out in 1970 says WIKI)

but it used to be shown on tv from time to time (I think)... At any rate I saw it years after its intro in 1970. I seem to recall a good film score too but boy that's been a long time. Dalton was great at brooding, though. LOL

[LisaM]

3. He was a good Heathcliff.

But that was one of the versions that stopped halfway through, IIRC.

It's funny that "Jane Eyre" is also about abuse (and much more realistic abuse, dead people weren't climbing in at windows) but it doesn't get the rap that "Wuthering Heights" does.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. The abuse in Jane Eyre is different, IMO

She's abused at school. I don't think Mr. Rochester abuses his wife. She's mentally ill and that's just how mentally ill patients were treated in those days because people didn't know better.

Wuthering Heights is different. WAY different. I detested the book in high school and just couldn't explain why. Now I can. I don't think it's a suitable book for high school kids to be forced to read. I'd rather have them reading some of the so-called "banned " books than than.it.

[LisaM]

5. I've never liked "Jane Eyre".

Our book club, years ago, had a "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" throwdown, and I was the only one sticking up for WH. To me, it has an aliveness (even though a main character is dead!) that "Jane Eyre" lacks. I'm going to re-read it soon.

I recently read a biography of Jean Rhys and then did a long-overdue read of "The Wide Sargasso Sea", where of course she thinks that there is prejudice involved, not just mental illness. (As an aside, I think that is one of the most beautiful titles in literature).

I wouldn't ban high school kids from reading any of those books. They're smart.

[Jilly_in_VA]

6. I wouldn't REQUiRE them to read either one

I read Jane Eyre at the age of 9 and loved it. I was a precocious child. I read WH about 4 years later and hated it. Was required to read it again in HS and hated it even more. Was required to read it again in college and saw it for what it was. I felt thin, and still do, that it glorifies abuse and codependence as "romance". BLEAH!