Wuthering Heights Box Office Roars: $80M Budget Recouped Fast

Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights" is poised for a massive box office debut, with early projections suggesting it will recoup its $80 million production budget over its opening weekend. The film is anticipated to gross around $50 million domestically in the US and an additional $40 million internationally, benefiting from a soft competitive landscape and its Valentine's weekend release.

This early success continues a strong performance streak for Warner Bros, following a slate of films including "A Minecraft Movie" and "Final Destination Bloodlines." The studio also hosts this year's leading Oscar contenders, "Sinners" and "One Battle After Another," both of which have been financial successes. "Wuthering Heights" marks Fennell's third directorial effort, reuniting her with "Saltburn" actors Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, who portray Heathcliff and Catherine, respectively.

While reviews have been mixed, with some US critics praising its ambition and UK critics expressing skepticism, the film's marketing and star power appear to be driving strong audience interest. Fennell has described her adaptation as a personal interpretation of Emily Brontë's novel, taking liberties with the source material. Disquiet has been noted regarding anachronisms and the casting of older actors for characters typically depicted as younger and darker-skinned.