AceShowbiz - After two weeks in theaters globally, director Wuthering Heights has proven its box office strength by doubling its production budget in under 14 days. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film’s strong commercial performance underscores the adage that all publicity is good publicity. This success also continues Warner Bros.’ recent run of backing director-driven films targeting adult audiences, following hits like Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, and Zach Cregger’s Weapons from last year.

Originally almost sold to Netflix, Wuthering Heights opted for Warner Bros.’ smaller bid to secure a wide theatrical release and a significant marketing campaign, a move that appears to have paid off. The film has outperformed several older releases during its two-week run and is now closing in on a $200 million global box office total. Its latest achievement is overtaking the lifetime worldwide earnings of Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed 1992 Western, Unforgiven.

Wuthering Heights stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in leading roles. The film’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 19th-century novel has sparked debate due to its departures from the source material. However, it has attracted praise for its daring visual style, modern tone, and technical craftsmanship. Director Emerald Fennell, who previously faced similar polarized reactions for her film Saltburn, seems to embrace a provocative creative approach. While Wuthering Heights is Fennell’s most commercially successful movie to date, it remains her least favored critically, holding a 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus points out that the film “liberally adapts Emily Brontë’s classic story with a heavy dose of carnality and chic stylization,” resulting in “a visually vibrant pleasure” that may not satisfy fans of high literature.

Financially, Wuthering Heights has generated approximately $72 million domestically and nearly $120 million internationally, bringing its total global haul to around $191 million against an $80 million production budget. In doing so, it has surpassed the $160 million worldwide gross of Unforgiven, a film often hailed as the definitive Western of the 1990s, a decade when the genre was considered past its peak.

Unforgiven featured Eastwood himself alongside prominent actors Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. It was originally intended as a sort of farewell project for Eastwood as a director and actor, though his career continued robustly for more than thirty years after its release. The film won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and currently holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praise it for stripping away Hollywood’s romanticized version of the Wild West to deliver “harshly eloquent statements about the nature of violence.”

While Unforgiven remains available for home viewing, Wuthering Heights is making its mark in theaters with its bold stylistic choices and box office momentum. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how the film’s trajectory continues as it approaches the $200 million milestone worldwide.

Released on February 13, 2026, Wuthering Heights runs 136 minutes and is directed and co-written by Emerald Fennell, who also co-produced along with Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara. The screenplay is credited to both Fennell and Emily Brontë, reflecting the film’s loose adaptation of the classic novel.

Stay tuned to Collider for continued box office updates and further analysis of how adult-oriented, director-led films are reshaping the cinematic landscape in 2026.