Sony Pictures Animation released GOAT last February, which is not only about a goat, but it’s also about the GOAT. For those unfamiliar, current vernacular deems GOAT as shorthand for the acronym “Greatest of All Time,” with Sony’s GOAT using the barnyard animal as a surrogate for NBA superstar Steph Curry, a player many might call the GOAT in his respective field. Given that the film isn’t a reboot or a sequel or a reimagining, its debut in theaters didn’t shatter records, but given that it’s a title that appeals to families, audiences have consistently shown up to support the title, allowing GOAT to topple another sports drama GOAT.
Just a few weeks after its release, GOAT has taken in $75.9 million domestically and $132.4 million globally, at the time of this writing. These might not be Disney numbers, but it’s still impressive. Highlighting the feat is the fact that it has now overcome Rocky‘s domestic run of $117.2.
Underdog stories don’t get much better than Rocky, with Stallone playing an amateur boxer who gets a title shot with the world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). The movie marked the first sports-inspired experience to score Best Picture at the Oscars, along with winning Best Director and Best Editing. Despite Rocky‘s deserved accolades, in some respects, it’s not even the GOAT installment in the Rocky franchise.
The True Underdog Success Story
The original Rocky would earn four sequels, all of which saw dwindling reactions from audiences and critics, leading to 2006’s Rocky Balboa, which could have revitalized the series, but instead felt like Stallone’s swan song. Then, a new contender emerged. After making his feature-film debut with Fruitvale Station, the somewhat unknown filmmaker Ryan Coogler was tapped to develop a Rocky spin-off, following Apollo Creed’s son, which starred the somewhat unknown Michael B. Jordan.
Understandably, many viewers approached Creed as merely being an extension of a beloved franchise, which don’t often reach the heights of what came before it. Instead, Creed scored the franchise its best reviews, earning 95% positive reviews from critics on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the original’s 93% positive. Despite those accolades, though, only Sylvester Stallone scored any Oscar nominations, and he won Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globe Awards.
Creed III would go on to be the best performer at the box office for the franchise, tallying $273.7 million worldwide. The legacy of Coogler and Jordan speak for themselves.
Can ‘GOAT’ Go the Distance?
GOAT has proven it has legs (and GOAT‘s got game), though just how far its family-friendly appeal can carry it has yet to be determined. Given how desolate the January and February months can be at the box office, GOAT didn’t have much competition when it came to titles aimed at younger audiences. That looks like it will entirely change this weekend, as Pixar is releasing its Hoppers into the wild.
This weekend could mean the end of GOAT‘s reign, as each passing week saw diminishing returns. The release of a Pixar film often means that animated release will top the charts, which only seems to seal GOAT‘s fate further. Additionally, Sony’s latest scored 83% positive from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, a promising response for an animated adventure, but Hoppers sits at an even more impressive 96%.
We still have a few more days before GOAT wraps up its career, but being able to topple the heavyweights it’s already conquered is nothing to be ashamed of.
GOAT
- Release Date
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February 13, 2026
- Runtime
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93 minutes
- Director
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Tyree Dillihay
- Writers
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Aaron Buchsbaum, Teddy Riley, Nicolas Curcio
- Producers
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Rodney Rothman, Stephen Curry, Michelle Raimo Kouyate, Erick Peyton, Adam Rosenberg
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