A new movie version of Wuthering Heights became the biggest film at the North American box office during the Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day weekend. The romantic drama earned $34.8 million in its first three days, and studio estimates said the total could reach $40 million by the end of the holiday Monday. Warner Bros. released the film in more than 3,600 theaters, and surveys showed that 76% of ticket buyers were women. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the movie performed better than new releases like the animated film GOAT and the thriller Crime 101. The strong opening gave Warner Bros. its ninth number-one debut in a row.

The film is also doing well overseas and is expected to earn about $42 million from 76 international markets. With a reported production cost of $80 million, experts described the start as encouraging, especially during a typically quiet time for theaters. Critics offered mixed reviews, and audience surveys showed that only about half of viewers would strongly recommend the movie. Even so, the film’s strong ticket sales helped the industry show recovery after a slow start to the year. Several major releases arriving soon are expected to continue the improvement in cinema attendance.