The weekend box office saw a close contest between animated newcomer “GOAT” and the gothic romance “Wuthering Heights,” but the story of an aspiring animal athlete edged out the star-studded adaptation for the No. 1 spot in North America. “GOAT” earned $17 million from 3,863 theaters, a 36% decline from its debut, while “Wuthering Heights” followed closely with $14.2 million from 3,682 locations, dropping 57% from its opening weekend. This outcome highlights the continued importance of family-friendly films in attracting audiences to theaters, a trend observed throughout 2025 with successful releases like “Lilo & Stitch,” “Zootopia 2,” and “A Minecraft Movie.”
The success of “GOAT,” produced by Sony Pictures Animation, is particularly encouraging for the studio, given its $80 million production budget. Sony is hoping the film will demonstrate staying power, mirroring the performance of recent original animated hits like “Elemental,” “The Wild Robot,” and “Migration,” which all enjoyed extended runs in cinemas. To date, “GOAT” has grossed $58.3 million domestically.
“Wuthering Heights” Strong Overseas, But Faces Competition
While “Wuthering Heights” ceded the top spot domestically, director Emerald Fennel’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel has found a stronger foothold internationally. The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has generated $59.5 million in North America and a substantial $91.7 million overseas, bringing its global total to $151.7 million. Warner Bros. Invested $80 million in the production, not including the significant costs associated with its global promotional campaign.
Faith-Based Film and Concert Experience Round Out Top Performers
Beyond the top two, the box office landscape this weekend included a solid performance from Lionsgate’s faith-based sequel, “I Can Only Imagine 2,” which landed in third place with $8 million from 3,105 theaters. However, its opening weekend numbers fall significantly short of the original 2018 film, “I Can Only Imagine,” which debuted with $17 million in North America. Despite the lower opening, the sequel’s $18 million production budget makes it a relatively low-risk venture for the studio. Notably, audiences gave “I Can Only Imagine 2” an “A+” grade on CinemaScore, mirroring the positive reception of its predecessor, which went on to earn $86 million worldwide against a $7 million budget.
Further down the chart, Neon’s concert film “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” surprised with a $3.2 million debut, despite playing on only 325 IMAX screens. The film, directed by Baz Luhrmann, utilizes never-before-seen footage of Elvis Presley discovered during the making of his 2022 biopic, “Elvis,” starring Austin Butler. Neon’s chief distribution officer, Elissa Federoff, expressed excitement about audience engagement, stating, “We’re excited to see audiences connecting with ‘EPiC.’ It’s a powerful testament to the enduring impact of the King.” She credited partners Sony Music Vision and Imax for delivering “something deeply personal and undeniably cinematic — Elvis at his best, on the biggest screens possible.”
New Releases Struggle to Gain Traction
Several new releases faced a more challenging weekend. A24’s black comedy “How to Make a Killing,” starring Glen Powell and directed by John Patton Ford (“Emily the Criminal”), debuted in sixth place with $3.5 million, despite playing in 1,600 theaters. Critics were largely unimpressed, giving the film a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Disney’s road-trip thriller “Psycho Killer” fared even worse, “cratering” at No. 11 with just $1.6 million from 1,100 theaters, landing behind “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which earned $1.7 million in its tenth weekend. “Psycho Killer” also received negative reviews, with a 33% average on Rotten Tomatoes, and cost under $10 million to produce.
The current box office landscape, while showing signs of stability, continues to demonstrate a preference for established franchises and family-friendly content. The performance of “GOAT” underscores this trend, offering a positive sign for Sony Pictures Animation and suggesting that original animated films can still resonate with audiences. The coming weeks will see the release of several new titles, including Disney/Pixar’s “Hoppers,” Amazon MGM Studios’ “Project Hail Mary,” and Searchlight’s “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” which could further shift the dynamics of the market.
Looking ahead, the release of “Super Mario Galaxy Movie” in April is expected to significantly boost box office numbers. March’s performance, while better than the previous year, will be closely watched to see if the momentum can be sustained. The success of films like “GOAT” and “Wuthering Heights” demonstrates the continued appeal of theatrical experiences, even as streaming services offer alternative entertainment options.
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