Heathcliff, it's me...I'm Cathy

The UK box office surged this weekend thanks to a trio of major openers and a broad slate of family, genre, and prestige titles. With several films posting notable milestones and a handful of new releases making strong impressions, the market showed renewed momentum heading into late February.

Weekend roundup

• Wuthering Heights: £7,665,296 opening; 750 screens; Week 1; includes £26,561 from 16 previews. This is the top opening of 2026 so far, and the 3rd widest release of all time. It also ranks as the 177th biggest opening weekend ever, sitting just behind Night At the Museum. A commanding debut that set the pace for the entire market.

• Goat: £3,499,777 opening; 663 screens; Week 1; includes £1,278,105 from 617 previews. The second: best opening of the year, behind only Wuthering Heights. Its footprint makes it the 117th widest release ever, and its preview: heavy launch suggests strong fan: driven demand.

• Crime 101: £1,408,042 opening; 523 screens; Week 1; includes £136,866 from 144 previews. A solid mid: tier debut for a crime thriller, landing comfortably in the upper half of the chart.

• Stitch Head: £264,670 opening; 506 screens; Week 1; includes £202,489 from 472 previews. A family: friendly newcomer with a preview: heavy start, likely to play steadily through half: term.

• Whistle: £233,470 opening; 297 screens; Week 1; includes £204 from 2 previews. A focused genre launch with minimal preview activity.

• The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie: £135,749 opening; 508 screens; Week 1; includes £69,603 from 458 previews. A modest start for the animated title, though its preview share indicates strong early fan turnout.

• O’ Romeo: £116,125 opening; 120 screens; Week 1. A selective release with a targeted audience.

Holdovers and milestones

• Send Help: £790,136; Week 2; down 50%. Without previews, the fall: off is 41%, indicating a steadier underlying hold. Total now £3,060,548.

• The Housemaid: £554,455; Week 8; down 40%. Total now £31,102,041. This places it as the 155th highest: grossing film of all time, just behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. A remarkable run for a late: year breakout.

• Zootropolis 2: £448,887; Week 12; down 26%. Total now £33,947,297. It has now become the 136th top: grossing film ever, sitting just behind Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. One of the strongest animated performers of the past decade.

• Hamnet: £353,237; Week 6; down 58%. Total now £17,515,940. A prestige: driven success story with a robust cumulative gross.

• Avatar: Fire And Ash: £196,227; Week 9; down 49%. Total now £42,296,161. Still one of the highest: grossing titles currently in release.

• Shelter: £144,826; Week 3; down 70%. Total now £2,306,897.

• Marty Supreme: £141,331; Week 8; down 67%. Total now £15,926,679.

• Iron Lung: £111,933; Week 3; down 69%. Total now £1,971,202.

Quick Take:

A trio of major openers reshaped the chart, with Wuthering Heights delivering a dominant, record: adjacent debut and Goat securing a strong second: place finish buoyed by heavy previews. Crime 101 added further depth to the top end, while family and animation titles continued to provide stability across the market. Holdovers such as The Housemaid, Zootropolis 2, and Avatar: Fire And Ash crossed or approached significant all: time milestones, underscoring the breadth of audience demand.

Ones to watch next week:

A varied slate arrives, with several titles poised to make an impact across multiplexes and specialty venues:

• If I Had Legs I'd Kick You  

• EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

• Assi

• Bambukat 2

• Cold Storage

• Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

• Man On The Run

• Night King

• Running Man: Revengers

• Scare Out

• The Secret Agent

• Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined (Concert)

  
  

Final Take:

A powerhouse weekend led by the year’s biggest opener reinvigorated the UK box office, with strong preview activity and a diverse slate driving momentum. With a wide mix of commercial, fan: driven, and event titles arriving next week, the market looks set to maintain its pace as February continues.