AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 10:10 a.m. EST

Powered by women, ‘Wuthering Heights’ digs up $34.8 million at the box office for a No. 1 debut

Emerald Fennell’s new “Wuthering Heights” has opened in first place at the North American box office. Studio estimates on Sunday say it made $34.8 million in its first three days. The total could climb to about $40 million by the end of Monday’s holiday. PostTrak says 76% of ticket buyers for the Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi film were women. Second place went to the animated basketball film “Goat,” which earned $26 million. “Crime 101” made an estimated $15.1 million in its first three days. Further down the charts was the sci-fi comedy “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die,” which made $3.6 million.

'Adolescence' and 'Train Dreams' win top prizes at Film Independent Spirit Awards

Clint Bentley’s Netflix film “Train Dreams” has taken the top prize at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, as Netflix’s “Adolescence” swept the TV categories. On Sunday in Los Angeles, Bentley also won best director. Rose Byrne won the lead acting prize for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” Organizers are keeping acting awards gender neutral. “The Secret Agent” won international feature. “The Perfect Neighbor” won documentary. “Sorry, Baby” earned a screenplay win, and Naomi Ackie took the supporting acting prize. The show was held at the Hollywood Palladium for the first time since 1994, as its longtime beachside perch in Santa Monica is undergoing renovations.

What to Stream: Emma Thompson, Jennifer Garner, 'The Night Agent,' Dove Cameron and Hilary Duff

The Emma Thompson-led thriller “Dead of Winter” and Hilary Duff’s first full-length album in 11 years are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time for the week of Feb. 16 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: A new season of “The Night Agent” lands on Netflix, Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia star in the new series “56 Days” for Prime Video and Harris Dickinson’s brilliant directorial debut, “Urchin,” lands on Hulu.

How many feet are in 500 miles? Nobody knows, at least Nate Bargatze doesn't at the Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Comedian Nate Bargatze served as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500. His “Big Dumb Eyes World Tour” set a record for biggest one-year gross by a comedy performer in history and has broken more than 40 arena attendance records. Bargatze played it straight Sunday as he gave the command for drivers to start their engines at the Daytona 500. He had considered squeezing a joke or two into the command. He said it was a dream to be asked to participate in Daytona.

After 800 episodes, ‘The Simpsons’ creators look back — and ahead

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Simpsons” is reaching the 800-episode milestone. The people behind it say the show lasts because it always resets. Just don't ask if the characters remember everything that's happened to them. The 800th episode airs Sunday on Fox. Executive producer Al Jean says they avoid an overarching plot, so every story can end back at square one. Creator Matt Groening says the team still tries to improve the animation. Producers credit early outrage, famous guest stars, and a streaming-era boost on Disney+ as keys to the show's success and longevity. And it's not going anywhere.

Skrilla: How the 6-7 craze from his drill rap hit almost didn't happen

Skrilla says his drill rap hit "Doot Doot (6-7)" and the global 6-7 phenomenon that came with it almost didn't happen. Released in 2024, the song became popular on TikTok with basketball players last year. Now, young people worldwide are saying "6-7" with an arm motion. Skrilla nearly didn't release the song, considering it a "throwaway." He leaked it without much faith, but now the phrase is everywhere, including classrooms, concerts and basketball courts. Skrilla says “6-7” means whatever people want it to mean and loves the joy it brings.

Love on the big stage: Couples star in Broadway's 'Aladdin' and 'The Lion King'

NEW YORK (AP) — Rodney Ingram plays the title role of “Aladdin” on Broadway, and he shares the stage with his new wife, Sonia. On Saturday, they'll spend Valentine’s Day at work on the same show. They met in Mexico City during rehearsals in 2021. Sonia joined the Broadway cast in 2024, and they married in December. Ingram steps into the lead role permanently this winter. Ingram’s path includes early rejections, intense training and years of understudy work. The Ingrams aren’t the only couple working together on Broadway. Two performers in “The Lion King” also work together.

Movie Review: Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' is a bold but shallow take on Brontë's classic

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi play Catherine and Heathcliff in the new adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.” Filmmaker Emerald Fennell has said she wanted to make a film that captured how she felt when she read it at 14. Emily Brontë’s novel is just the starting point. In her review for The Associated Press, film writer Lindsey Bahr writes that “for all the big swings, Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ amounts to something oddly shallow and blunt: garish and stylized fan fiction with the scope and budget of an old-school Hollywood epic.” “Wuthering Heights” is rated R and opens in theaters Friday.

Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling on the surprisingly sweet BDSM romance ‘Pillion’

Alexander Skarsgård plays a biker who begins a dom-sub relationship with a younger, more inexperienced man in “Pillion.” The film co-starring Harry Melling and directed by Harry Lighton premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival and is now playing in North American theaters. While it is explicit in its depiction, it's also surprisingly sweet and comedic too. Lighton says he refused to sanitize the sex scenes between Skarsgård and Melling's characters. The filmmaker says the story lands as “sex net positive” because the lead grows into his sexuality. Both the BDSM community and their moms have responded positively to the movie.