Driven by a massive female turnout and a high-fashion promotional tour, the Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi starrer has officially set new career highs for its creators and stars, proving that the Brontë sisters’ gothic angst still has a death grip on the modern audience. Released on Friday the 13th and capitalizing on a Valentine’s Day bump that saw Saturday earnings hit $14 million, the film secured the No. 1 spot in North America.
International Domination and Global Records
While the domestic numbers were strong, the film truly “ravished” the international markets, where it outperformed even the most bullish studio expectations.
- The Global Haul: Across 76 international territories, the film collected $42 million, bringing its total worldwide opening to $82 million.
- Career Milestones: This marks the biggest box office opening of Jacob Elordi’s career and the largest opening weekend for Emerald Fennell as a director, far surpassing the theatrical reach of Promising Young Woman and Saltburn.
- Home Field Advantage: The film performed exceptionally well in the UK/Ireland ($10.3 million) and Australia ($4.3 million), the home country of both Robbie and Elordi.
Budget vs. Break-Even: The Road Ahead
Warner Bros. and MRC took a calculated risk with the project, which carried an $80 million production budget (not including substantial marketing costs). By grossing $82 million in its first four days, the film has effectively recouped its production cost in a single weekend—a rare feat for a period literary adaptation.
Despite a mixed 61% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B CinemaScore, the film’s “aesthetic-heavy” marketing—which included brand partnerships ranging from passport covers to luxury apparel—has clearly resonated with Gen Z and millennial women, who made up an estimated 76% of ticket buyers.
Projections: Long-Term Legs?
With major markets like Japan and Vietnam (Feb 27) and China (March 13) yet to open, analysts are already adjusting their long-term forecasts. While Valentine’s Day romances traditionally have shorter “legs,” the film’s massive social media footprint and the star power of Robbie and Elordi suggest it could aim for a global total north of $200 million. For Fennell, the success is a vindication of her “pop-opera” approach to the classics; for the box office, it’s a sign that the “female gaze” is currently the most powerful currency in Hollywood.
