Every once in a while, a film comes along that nobody saw coming — and then everybody goes to see it. Sony Pictures Animation’s latest release, GOAT, is exactly that kind of movie. It is the heartwarming, laugh-out-loud story of a small goat with enormous basketball ambitions, and it has quietly become the feel-good cinematic surprise of early 2026.
What makes this story even more impressive is the context. In an industry increasingly obsessed with sequels, reboots, and pre-existing franchises, GOAT is a completely original idea — no comic book source, no beloved cartoon to lean on, no built-in fanbase to guarantee opening weekend ticket sales. Just a great story, stunning animation, and a whole lot of heart. Families showed up, fell in love with it, and then told everyone they knew. That is the kind of momentum that studios dream about — and it is exactly what is happening right now with the GOAT Box Office Collection.
GOAT opened across 3,863 North American theaters on February 13, 2026. Its three-day debut of $27.2 million was impressive on its own — but what really turned heads was how well the film held through the holiday. On Monday, February 16, the film dropped just 5% from Sunday’s numbers, adding another $7.9 million — a sign of incredible audience satisfaction and repeat viewing. By Wednesday, February 18, the domestic total climbed to $39.65 million.
Here is the complete global earnings breakdown for GOAT as of February 18, 2026:
| Market Segment | Collection (Estimated) |
|---|---|
| North America (Domestic) | $39.65 Million |
| International Markets | $16.10 Million |
| 🌐 Total Worldwide Gross | $55.75 Million |
International markets are still warming up. Early European and Latin American debuts have been promising, and as more markets open in the coming weeks, the global tally is expected to grow steadily. The film’s universal theme of chasing your dreams gives it genuine cross-border appeal.
Numbers do not lie — and when it comes to audience reception, GOAT is delivering at the highest level. The film earned the coveted CinemaScore “A” rating and is sitting at a stellar 93% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. These are the kinds of grades that keep a movie earning week after week.
Wednesday’s domestic haul of $1.64 million — a typically quiet mid-week period after a holiday — signals that the film has serious “legs.” Films with this level of audience enthusiasm rarely fall off a cliff; they hold well and keep earning. Analysts are now tracking GOAT to become the highest-grossing basketball-themed film of all time, with the record currently held by the original Space Jam squarely in its sights.
💡 Industry Insight
With a production budget of roughly $80–90 million, GOAT is already on a fast track to profitability. The film has significantly outperformed Disney’s recent original animated feature Elio, marking a major commercial victory for Sony Pictures Animation and proving that original animated stories — without a pre-existing franchise — can still win big at the box office.
Heading into its second weekend (February 20–22, 2026), GOAT is gearing up for a serious battle at the top of the charts. Its main competition will be Wuthering Heights, the gothic romance starring Margot Robbie, which currently holds the number-one spot worldwide. But projections suggest GOAT is more than capable of making things very interesting.
📈 Weekend 2 Projections
- Expected Weekend Haul: $18 million to $22 million domestically
- Projected Domestic Total by Monday: Past the $60 million mark
- Competition: Wuthering Heights (currently #1 worldwide)
- Long-Term Target: Surpass Space Jam as the highest-grossing basketball film ever
For Sony Pictures Animation, this is a moment worth celebrating. An original concept — no sequel, no franchise, no pre-built fanbase — earning $55 million in under a week proves there is still a huge appetite for fresh, heartfelt animated storytelling. And if the GOAT Box Office Collection continues at this pace, it will be remembered as one of the most successful animated originals in recent years.
Also Read: Wuthering Heights Box Office Collection: Margot Robbie Starrer Surges Past $92 Million Worldwide

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