Theater Counts: GOAT Tops a Slate of Fresh Films, Arriving as the Weekend’s Widest Release.
•February 13, 2026
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Why It Matters
The strong opening of GOAT and sustained performance of Send Help illustrate resilient theatrical demand amid a crowded, genre‑diverse lineup, signaling opportunities for studios to capitalize on wide releases before streaming dominance. Upcoming wide releases will test audience appetite for new content across multiple genres, shaping distribution strategies for early 2026.
Key Takeaways
- •GOAT opens in 3,863 theaters, widest release this weekend
- •Send Help tops box office with $9 million, $38 million total
- •Four new wide releases slated for next weekend, diversifying slate
- •Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights launches in 3,682 theaters, including IMAX
- •Genre mix spans animation, romance, thriller, sci‑fi, horror
Pulse Analysis
The weekend’s box‑office landscape underscores how a strategically timed wide release can dominate screen count without guaranteeing top gross. GOAT’s 3,863‑theater rollout leverages family‑friendly animation and a star‑studded voice cast to capture broad demographics, a tactic studios increasingly employ to offset the fragmentation caused by streaming platforms. Meanwhile, Send Help’s steady earnings demonstrate that modest‑budget comedies can sustain momentum when paired with strong word‑of‑mouth and limited competition.
Genre diversification is a clear theme this weekend, with titles ranging from the classic literary adaptation Wuthering Heights to the high‑octane crime thriller Crime 101 and the sci‑fi horror‑comedy Cold Storage. This variety reflects studios’ attempts to attract niche audiences and fill gaps left by streaming releases, offering theatrical experiences that cannot be replicated at home. The inclusion of an IMAX version for Wuthering Heights further highlights the push for premium formats to boost per‑ticket revenue.
Looking ahead, the upcoming slate—including I Can Only Imagine 2, Psycho Killer, Midwinter Break, and A24’s How to Make a Killing—suggests a continued emphasis on wide releases across multiple genres. Early‑year releases often set the tone for the spring market, and their performance will inform distribution decisions, especially as studios balance theater windows with digital rollouts. Successes or shortfalls will provide valuable data on audience willingness to return to cinemas for fresh, varied content in 2026.
Theater counts: GOAT tops a slate of fresh films, arriving as the weekend’s widest release.
Theater counts: GOAT tops a slate of fresh films, arriving as the weekend’s widest release.
February 12, 2026
Three newcomers made their way into the top five over the weekend, but none were quite strong enough to stop Send Help from claiming its second consecutive weekend win, as it hauled in just over $9 million in its sophomore frame, finishing the weekend with total domestic earnings of $38.18 million. Debuting in second was Kevin James’ romantic comedy, Solo Mio, capturing $7 million, with Iron Lung right on its heels, picking up $6.72 million over the three‑day stretch. Moviegoers who enjoy variety should appreciate this weekend as a plethora of fresh films are set to make their theatrical debut.
Kicking off as the widest theatrical run in 3,863 locations this weekend is the animated sports‑comedy movie, GOAT. The film follows Will (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin), a small goat with big dreams who gets a once‑in‑a‑lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball—a high‑intensity, co‑ed, full‑contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. The film features a huge ensemble cast, including Gabrielle Union, David Harbour, Patton Oswalt, and NBA superstar Steph Curry.
Rolling out this weekend is the latest from Warner Bros. with the release of “Wuthering Heights.” Based on Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, the film showcases the passionate but destructive love between Heathcliff and Catherine. Heathcliff, an orphan, is adopted by Catherine’s family and grows up alongside her. The two fall in love, but social‑class differences drive a wedge between them, sending Catherine into the arms of a wealthy man. The film stars Jacob Elordi as the embittered Heathcliff, while Catherine is played by the talented Margot Robbie. “Wuthering Heights” will be available in 3,682 theaters, including IMAX locations where available.
Another film making its theatrical launch is Crime 101. The crime thriller stars Chris Hemsworth as a successful criminal who has left police baffled with heists all along California’s 101 Freeway. As he plans his biggest heist yet, he crosses paths with a disillusioned insurance broker (Berry), and the two become intertwined in the unfolding plot. As the investigators piece things together, the lines between the hunter and hunted become blurred. Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo co‑star in the Bart Layton‑directed film, which will arrive in 3,161 theaters.
Opening in 1,610 movie houses this weekend is the sci‑fi action‑comedy, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die. The film follows a man claiming to be from the future who takes the patrons of an iconic Los Angeles diner hostage in search of unlikely recruits in a quest to save the world. Sam Rockwell leads the ensemble cast, which also includes Haley Lu Richardson, Zazie Beetz, Juno Temple, and Michael Peña.
Making its way into 1,041 theaters is the sci‑fi horror‑comedy Cold Storage. The film follows two employees at a self‑storage facility who discover a deadly parasitic fungus escaping from a sealed underground military lab. As the organism spreads and mutates, they team up with a former bioterrorism agent to stop it before it triggers a global catastrophe. Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, and Liam Neeson star.
Releasing for one day on February 16 across 271 locations is Crunchyroll’s Fruits Basket: Prelude. The romantic drama anime is based on the manga “Fruits Basket” by Natsuki Takaya, specifically adapting the standalone prequel chapters “Kyoko and Katsuya’s Story.”
Looking ahead to next weekend, we see four new wide releases making their cinematic starts. These include I Can Only Imagine 2, set to open in approximately 2,900 theaters; Psycho Killer, debuting in roughly 1,000 locations; and Midwinter Break, which will release in approximately 800 theaters. A24’s How to Make a Killing will also open wide. We will update that count once it becomes available.
Theater Counts for February 13
| Movie | Distributor | Theaters | Previous Theaters | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOAT | Sony Pictures | 3,863 | New | — |
| “Wuthering Heights” | Warner Bros. | 3,682 | New | — |
| Crime 101 | Amazon MGM Studios | 3,161 | New | — |
| Solo Mio | Angel Studios | 3,000 | 3,052 | -52 |
| Send Help | 20th Century Studios | 2,975 | 3,475 | -500 |
| The Strangers: Chapter 3 | Lionsgate | 2,565 | 2,565 | — |
| Iron Lung | Markiplier Studios | 2,445 | 2,916 | 0 |
| Zootopia 2 | Walt Disney | 2,200 | 2,715 | -515 |
| Avatar: Fire and Ash | 20th Century Studios | 1,650 | 2,365 | -715 |
| Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die | Briarcliff Entertainment | 1,610 | New | — |
| Melania | Amazon MGM Studios | 1,204 | 2,003 | -799 |
| The Housemaid | Lionsgate | 1,140 | 2,030 | -890 |
| The Moment | A24 | 1,119 | 581 | +538 |
| Cold Storage | Samuel Goldwyn Film | 1,041 | New | — |
| Mercy | Amazon MGM Studios | 765 | 2,502 | -1,737 |
| Marty Supreme | A24 | 465 | 1,124 | -659 |
| Hamnet | Focus Features | 415 | 925 | -510 |
| Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie | Neon | 361 | New | — |
| Fruits Basket: Prelude | Sony Pictures | 271 | New | — |
| Whistle | IFC Entertainment Group | 250 | 1,200 | -950 |
| Sinners | Warner Bros. | 200 | 230 | -30 |
| One Battle After Another | Warner Bros. | 200 | 230 | -30 |
| Song Sung Blue | Focus Features | 147 | 448 | -301 |
| F1: The Movie | Warner Bros. | 140 | 150 | -10 |
| The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants | Paramount Pictures | 113 | 453 | -340 |
| The Testament of Ann Lee | Searchlight Pictures | 80 | 230 | -150 |
| Pillion | A24 | 24 | 4 | +20 |
Theater counts for February 20
| Movie | Distributor | Theaters | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Can Only Imagine 2 | Lionsgate | 2,900 | New |
| Psycho Killer | 20th Century Studios | 1,000 | New |
| Midwinter Break | Focus Features | 800 | New |
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