Showbizztoday.com – February 19, 2026
There’s something magical about walking into a dark theater, popcorn in hand, with no idea what world you’re about to enter. And right now, audiences around the globe are flocking to cinemas in droves, proving that the big screen experience is alive and well in 2026.
From a sizzling literary adaptation that had couples swooning on Valentine’s Day to a talking sloth who still can’t figure out how to work a smartphone, the box office is serving up a deliciously diverse menu. Let’s grab our virtual tickets and dive into the five movies everyone’s talking about right now.
The Box Office Breakdown
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick snapshot of this week’s top contenders:
| Rank | Movie | Weekend Gross (Feb 13-16) | Total Gross | What’s the Vibe? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wuthering Heights | $38 million | $38 million | Steamy, brooding, literary—with extra Margot |
| 2 | GOAT | $35 million | $35 million | Animated sports comedy for the whole family |
| 3 | Crime 101 | $16.3 million | $16.3 million | Star-studded heist thriller with brains and brawn |
| 4 | Send Help | $10.4 million | $24.5 million | Sam Raimi’s horror rollercoaster |
| 5 | Solo Mio | $7.4 million | $10.5 million | Angel Studio’s first-ever rom-com |
1. Wuthering Heights: The Romance That Broke the Mold
Let’s start with the undeniable queen of the box office this week. Emerald Fennell’s reimagining of Emily Brontë’s 1847 classic has done something nobody expected: it made literary romance cool again .
Starring Margot Robbie as the wild, tempestuous Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as the brooding Heathcliff, this adaptation has audiences swooning, crying, and immediately booking second tickets. The film pulled in a staggering $38 million over the four-day Valentine’s Day weekend, marking the biggest debut of 2026 so far .
Here’s the thing about this movie: it’s rated R. It’s not for kids. It’s a dark, passionate, sometimes uncomfortable exploration of obsession and class. And yet, couples lined up around the block. Valentine’s Day alone added $14 million to its domestic haul .
Who’s driving this success? Mostly women. PostTrack data shows that a whopping 76% of the opening weekend crowd were female moviegoers . There’s something about watching two of Hollywood’s most attractive humans tear each other apart on the moors that speaks to the romantic soul. Despite earning a B CinemaScore (which usually spells trouble), strong word of mouth and the undeniable chemistry between Robbie and Elordi have kept the film soaring.
Fun fact: The film’s tagline—”Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same”—has become the most-quoted line on Instagram this week. Sorry, Shakespeare.
2. GOAT: The Animated Underdog That Refused to Lose
In second place, we have something entirely different: an original animated sports comedy simply titled GOAT. And no, it’s not about the Greatest of All Time—well, actually, maybe it is .
Directed by Tyree Dillihay for Sony, this film follows a group of unlikely animal athletes competing in the world’s most ridiculous sporting event. In an era where animated movies often struggle unless they’re attached to a major franchise, GOAT pulled off the impossible. It earned $27.2 million in its opening three-day weekend and $35 million over the four-day holiday frame .
Here’s what makes this success so remarkable: original animated movies are supposed to be dead. Disney and Pixar have dominated for so long that audiences have been conditioned to wait for sequels. But GOAT proved that if you make something genuinely funny, visually stunning, and packed with heart, families will show up.
The voice cast—which includes some of the funniest names in comedy right now—has been praised for bringing genuine warmth to their characters. And the animation? Critics are calling it “a feast for the eyes” with action sequences that rival anything in live-action sports films.
Mom, can we see it again? Probably yes.
3. Crime 101: The Heist Film That Stole Our Hearts (and Wallets)
Coming in at number three is Amazon MGM’s star-studded heist thriller, Crime 101 . And when we say star-studded, we mean it: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Halle Berry headline this slick, stylish crime saga about a series of seemingly impossible heists along the Pacific Coast.
The numbers tell an interesting story. The film grossed $14.2 million in its opening weekend and $16.3 million over the four-day holiday . Against its reported $90 million budget, that might sound modest, but context matters. This is a gritty, adult-oriented crime drama opening against a massive romance juggernaut and a family-friendly animated hit. Finding an audience at all is a win.
Critics have been surprisingly kind. The film holds strong reviews for its taut pacing, clever twists, and the undeniable chemistry between Hemsworth (playing against type as a cerebral detective) and Ruffalo (chewing scenery as an aging career criminal). Berry, in a supporting role as a federal agent caught in the middle, reminds everyone why she’s an Oscar winner.
For crime-action lovers looking for a date night with a little more edge, Crime 101 delivered exactly what the doctor ordered .
Best line of the week: One critic called it “Ocean’s Eleven for people who think Ocean’s Eleven is too cheerful.”
4. Send Help: Sam Raimi’s Horror Rollercoaster
Remember when Sam Raimi made you afraid of the dark? He’s back .
Send Help, the horror thriller from the legendary director, slides into the fourth spot this week with an additional $8.8 million in its third weekend and $10.4 million over the four-day holiday . Its total domestic gross now sits at a healthy $24.5 million.
Here’s the thing about horror movies: they either open huge and vanish, or they build slow, steady momentum through word of mouth. Send Help is doing the latter. Audiences who love being scared are telling their friends, who are telling their friends, who are buying tickets.
The premise is classic Raimi: a young woman’s routine house-sitting gig turns into a nightmare when she discovers the security system she’s been relying on has a sinister mind of its own. It’s part haunted house, part tech thriller, and entirely Raimi—which means it’s funny when it shouldn’t be, terrifying when you least expect it, and completely unforgettable.
Pro tip: Don’t watch this one alone. Or with the lights on. Or in a house with a smart speaker. Actually, maybe just watch it in a crowded theater surrounded by people who will scream with you.
5. Solo Mio: The Rom-Com That Refuses to Be Ignored
Rounding out our top five is the sweetest surprise of them all: Solo Mio .
This marks a fascinating milestone: it’s the first-ever romantic comedy from Angel Studio, the company best known for faith-based hits like Sound of Freedom. And they’ve proven they can do hearts and flowers just as well as they do inspiration.
The film earned $6.5 million in its second weekend and $7.4 million over the four-day holiday, bringing its total to $10.5 million . Those numbers might look small compared to the blockbusters above, but for a romantic comedy with a modest budget, this is a quiet victory.
Solo Mio tells the story of a fiercely independent chef (played with charm by a rising star) who accidentally falls for the one person who could complicate everything: her best friend’s ex. It’s predictable, it’s formulaic, and it’s utterly delightful. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
In a world of dark thrillers and brooding romances, Solo Mio offers a warm hug. And audiences are gratefully accepting.
The Bigger Picture: Why Sequels Aren’t Dominating
Here’s the most interesting trend in this week’s box office: there are no sequels in the top five .
Think about that for a moment. We’re living in an era where studios are terrified of original ideas. Everything is a franchise, a reboot, a continuation. And yet, this Valentine’s Day weekend, audiences chose new stories.
The massive sequels are still out there, of course. Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash continue to perform well, but they’re deep into their theatrical runs . Both films opened back in 2025 and have been steadily collecting box office gold for months. Zootopia 2 has now grossed over $410 million domestically, while Avatar: Fire and Ash sits just shy of $388 million .
But for one glorious weekend, fresh faces dominated. Wuthering Heights attracted female moviegoers with its steamy romance. GOAT served as the perfect family-friendly option. Crime 101 appealed to adult audiences craving something smart and tense .
It’s a reminder that audiences aren’t tired of movies. They’re tired of the same movies. Give them something new, well-made, and emotionally resonant, and they will show up.
What’s Coming Next?
As we look ahead, the box office landscape is about to get even more interesting. New releases are already jockeying for position, and the battle for February’s crown is far from over.
But for now, the winners are clear. Whether you’re in the mood for windswept romance, animated laughs, edge-of-your-seat thrills, or a warm hug of a comedy, this week’s top five has something for everyone.
So grab your popcorn, silence your phone, and lose yourself in the magic of the movies. The big screen is waiting.
BY HANNAH FLINN