Monday Morning Hangover Report (Presidents’ Day Holiday: February 13–16, 2026)
This week, the Monday Morning Hangover Report is Posted Tuesday, Feb 17 so we can use the most up-to-date holiday numbers. As always, we break down what happened at the box office, who won, who didn’t, and what the numbers are really saying about moviegoing right now. Quick hits, real context, no studio spin.
Opening Pour
This was a proper holiday box office weekend, not the sleepy February warm-up. Valentine’s Day plus Presidents’ Day gave theaters a nice long runway, and audiences split cleanly into three camps: prestige romance, family animation, and grown-up crime. Wuthering Heights took the crown with a strong four-day, GOAT came in right behind it with legit family power, and Crime 101 proved there is still room for adult thrillers when the calendar cooperates. Also, a quick note from the cheap seats: we thought Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die would have popped a little louder than it did.
Top 5 Domestic Films
Presidents’ Day 4-Day Gross (Feb 13-16) via Box Office Mojo
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Wuthering Heights – $40.0M
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GOAT – $32.0M
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Crime 101 – $17.792M
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Send Help – $10.7M
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Solo Mio – $8.0M
(Next up: #6 Zootopia 2 at $5.0M, then #7 Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die at $4.125M.)
Recap
Three new releases owned the podium, and the holdovers basically played defense. The big story is how clearly the audience segmented: date-night romance at #1, family animation at #2, and an adult crime thriller at #3. That is a healthy mix for a holiday frame.
Highlights and insights
Notes from the Monday Morning Hangover Report:
1) Wuthering Heights won because it was the event
The four-day $40M is the headline, but the why is simple: it was positioned as an occasion movie for couples and groups, and the timing did the rest.
2) GOAT is the family counter-programming that actually works
A $32M four-day tells you parents showed up in force, and it did not need to “beat” the romance crowd to be a win. Families just needed something new that felt safe and fun in a holiday corridor.
3) Crime 101 did exactly what it needed to do
$17.8M puts it squarely in “solid adult option” territory. Not a breakout, not a faceplant, just a clean opening that can build if word of mouth is decent.
4) We thought Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die would’ve done a little better
It landed at $4.125M (four-day), which is not nothing, but the title has hooky energy and gamer appeal that felt like it should’ve translated into a louder opening. Our read: it got squeezed by the holiday’s three big lanes. Romance, kids, and crime took most of the oxygen, and the movie’s “what is it?” factor may have kept casual folks from taking a chance. Timing, positioning, and a crowded frame can flatten a movie fast.
5) Holdovers held, but the market clearly moved on
Send Help ($10.7M) and Solo Mio ($8.0M) did fine, but this weekend was about the new releases taking the spotlight.
What’s next
Now we find out what was holiday heat and what was real love.
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Week 2 drops will tell the truth. If Wuthering Heights and GOAT hold, you’ve got actual legs, not just a long-weekend sugar rush.
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Watch the adult lane. If Crime 101 stabilizes, that is a good sign for early 2026 that audiences will still turn out for smart, non-superhero grown-up fare when it’s marketed cleanly.
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Niche titles need a clearer lane. If you’re not romance, kids, or a big franchise, you need a sharper hook or you get lost in the holiday noise. (Pour one out for the movies that learned that lesson this weekend.)
Monday Morning Hangover Report Final Pour
This holiday frame did what a good three-day plus Monday should do: bring people back to theaters with a few clear choices for different moods. Wuthering Heights took the crown, GOAT proved the family lane is alive and well, and Crime 101 opened like a respectable adult thriller should. Now let’s see who’s still standing when the holiday bump disappears. 🍸🍿




