Stephen Curry's GOAT Ascends to Box Office Dominance in Second Weekend
Sony Pictures Animation's family film GOAT has officially captured the number one position at the North American box office during its second weekend of release. The movie, which is produced by NBA superstar Stephen Curry, earned an impressive $17 million in its sophomore frame, successfully dethroning the previous chart-topper.
GOAT Dethrones Wuthering Heights in Competitive Marketplace
The film ascended to the top spot by overtaking Warner Bros.' Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic 1847 novel had initially led the charts during the Valentine's and Presidents' Day holiday period. However, Wuthering Heights experienced a sharper 57% decline and finished the weekend with $14.2 million, bringing its cumulative domestic total to $60 million.
In contrast, GOAT demonstrated stronger staying power with a 38% dip during the same period. According to studio data, the film maintained its momentum through high audience engagement and positive word-of-mouth, largely attributed to its family-friendly themes and accessible narrative.
Record-Breaking Performance for Sony Pictures Animation
As of its tenth day in release, GOAT has amassed a total of $58.3 million domestically and has crossed the significant $100 million milestone globally. This achievement makes the movie the fastest original production in Sony Pictures Animation's history to reach that financial mark, highlighting its exceptional commercial performance.
The film's per-theater average remained healthy at $4,401 across 3,863 screens, according to data from Comscore. This strong showing indicates sustained audience interest and effective theater utilization despite the overall weekend decline.
Plot and Competitive Landscape
GOAT follows the story of Will, voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, an underdog goat navigating the high-stakes world of roarball where his size presents a significant disadvantage. This sports-centric narrative, combined with Stephen Curry's substantial promotional reach and basketball credibility, helped the film outperform other new releases.
The weekend's other notable performers included the faith-based sequel I Can Only Imagine 2, which debuted in third place with $8 million. Following closely in fourth position was Amazon MGM's heist thriller Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo, which earned $5.8 million.
International Success and Future Prospects
On the international stage, GOAT has mirrored its domestic success, crossing the $102.3 million threshold globally. The film added $17 million from 51 international markets this weekend, with the United Kingdom contributing significantly with $14.5 million to the total.
Produced with a $80 million budget, the film currently appears to be marching toward significant profitability. As GOAT prepares to widen its global trajectory with upcoming releases in key markets including China, Australia, and South Korea, it is expected to receive a further commercial boost.
Market experts believe the film's basketball themes will likely resonate strongly in China, where the sport maintains a massive cultural footprint. Stephen Curry's global appeal as an NBA icon is anticipated to enhance the movie's reception in international markets, particularly in regions with strong basketball followings.
The combination of accessible storytelling, strategic marketing leveraging Curry's popularity, and favorable audience reception has positioned GOAT as a standout performer in the current box office landscape. Its rapid ascent to the top spot and record-breaking pace for Sony Pictures Animation suggest continued strong performance as it expands into additional international territories.
