Box Office: 'GOAT' Unseats 'Wuthering Heights' After Close Race for No. 1

Variety

by Rebecca Rubin

February 22, 2026

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Box office results for the latest weekend show *GOAT* outperforming *Wuthering Heights* in a closely contested race for No. 1. *GOAT*, an animated film about an animal with ambitions of athletic greatness, earned $17 million from 3,863 theaters, dropping only 36% from its debut weekend. Meanwhile, *Wuthering Heights*, a star-studded gothic romance featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, brought in $14.2 million from 3,682 venues, down 57% from its opening frame. This outcome highlights the enduring appeal of family-friendly films in a post-pandemic box office landscape still recovering to pre-COVID levels. *GOAT*’s success is particularly notable given its $80 million production budget and the fact that it outpaced *Wuthering Heights*, which had strong international performance but struggled more significantly stateside. With $58.3 million domestically and $102 million worldwide, *GOAT* continues to demonstrate the staying power of original animated films. Its performance is being closely monitored by Sony Pictures Animation, as its longevity in theaters could mirror recent hits like *Elemental* and *The Wild Robot*. In contrast, *Wuthering Heights*, directed by Emerald Fennell, has grossed $59.5 million in North America and $91.7 million internationally, underscoring its appeal overseas. Other new releases saw mixed results. *I Can Only Imagine 2*, a faith-based sequel, debuted in third place with $8 million from 3,105 theaters, despite being nearly twice as expensive as the original. The film received an impressive “A+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, but its $8 million opening was far below the $17 million debut of its predecessor in 2018. Meanwhile, *How to Make a Killing* and *Psycho Killer* struggled in

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Originally published on Variety on 2/22/2026