Lots of great things happen in February: Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Lunar New Year (some years). What’s typically not so great during this time is the box office, a term that’s become synonymous with a film’s income from theater ticket sales. But as long as an ambitious blockbuster capitalizes on Presidents’ Day weekend, there’s a chance February doesn’t always have to be a dull month for Hollywood releases.

What do we mean when we deem a film a “blockbuster?” Typically, it’s known as one that’s highly popular and financially successful, but it doesn’t come cheap. Blockbusters are large-budget productions aimed at mass markets with associated merchandising, sometimes on a scale that meant the financial fortunes of a film studio or a distributor could depend on it.

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Films generate income from several revenue streams, including theatrical exhibition, TV broadcast rights, on-demand and merchandising. However, box office earnings are the primary metric for trade publications in assessing the success of a film. In the spirit of welcoming the month of February, we looked at some of the highest grossing films that have hit the masses during this time of the year. They range from Marvel hits to romance dramas, but there are certainly some similar marketing trends noticed across the board. Here’s a closer look.

Black Panther (2018)

     Marvel Studios 

After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Prince T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new king. However, T’Challa soon finds that he’s challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with a C.I.A. agent and Wakandan special forces to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.

Black Panther stars the late Chadwick Boseman alongside an incredibly stacked cast including Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis. Fun fact: Wesley Snipes had planned to make a Black Panther film in the 1990s, but the project didn’t come to fruition.

Black Panther hit theaters nationwide on February 16, 2018, and made more than $240 million over the Presidents’ Day weekend. Many critics considered the film to be one of the best in the MCU, and it was also noted for its cultural significance. It grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and broke numerous box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker. What better time, then, to release such a film than during Black History Month? A sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is scheduled for release on November 11, 2022, while a TV series set in Wakanda is in development for Disney+.

Deadpool (2016)

     20th Century Fox

This is the origin story of former Special Forces operative-turned-mercenary Wade Wilson who, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Directed by Tim Miller from a screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the megahit stars a career-best Ryan Reynolds in the title role. Development of the film began in February 2004 and continued after 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released and criticized for the character’s portrayal — after all, there wasn’t even any fourth-wall breaking. Come on now!

Deadpool hit theaters nationwide on February 12, 2016 and made more than $150 million over the Presidents’ Day weekend—which also coincided with Valentine’s Day weekend that year. That’s why much of the film’s marketing featured stills of Deadpool making a heart shape with his hands. Ticket buyers were presumably the many Marvel fans killing two birds with one stone by turning a romantic Valentine’s Day celebration into a trip to the cinema. After all, the film broke numerous records, such as becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film at the time. It received many awards and nominations, including two Critics’ Choice Awards and two Golden Globe nominations. A sequel was released in 2018 and a third Deadpool film is in development at Marvel Studios.

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

     Universal Pictures

Based on the erotic fiction novel that took the U.S. by storm, Fifty Shades of Grey follows a college graduate (Dakota Johnson) who begins a sadomasochistic relationship with young business magnate Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan. While it didn’t win any Oscars, it did receive some love from the Razzies (who recognize the worst films in the industry each year—yikes). It was the most awarded film at the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards, winning five of six nominations.

Fifty Shades of Grey hit theaters nationwide on February 13, 2015, and made more than $93 million over the Presidents’ Day weekend—another convenient Valentine’s Day weekend crossover. I myself joined the ranks of those whose significant other pushed to see the film in celebration of Hallmark’s beloved holiday. Clearly, the sexy, evocative “Valentine’s Day 2015” billboard marketing worked out for the studio here. In similar fashion, its two sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, were received negatively but were commercially successful.

The Lego Movie (2014)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

The Lego Movie follows lead character Emmet, a completely ordinary LEGO mini-figure who is identified as the most “extraordinary person” and the key to saving the Lego universe. Emmet and his friends go on an epic journey to stop the evil tyrant, Lord Business. Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman provide their dynamite voices for the film’s characters.

The Lego Movie hit theaters nationwide on February 7, 2014, and made more than $69 million over the Presidents’ Day weekend. Warner Bros. originally scheduled its release for February 28 of that year but then pushed it up, perhaps in order to catch the Presidents’ Day weekend like the other hits previously mentioned in this article. The film has expanded into a major franchise that ties into the Lego brand, with sequels and spin-offs, both in film and TV.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

     Paramount Pictures

Based on the global blockbuster videogame franchise from Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog tells the story of the world’s speediest hedgehog as he embraces his new home on Earth. In this live-action adventure comedy, Sonic and his new best friend Tom (James Marsden) team up to defend the planet from the evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and his plans for world domination. The family-friendly film also stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty) as the voice of Sonic.

Sonic the Hedgehog hit theaters nationwide on February 14, 2020, and made more than $70 million over the Presidents’ Day Weekend. And wouldn’t you know it, the film landed precisely on Valentine’s Day—another date night opportunity for cinephiles. Interestingly enough, it was supposed to hit theaters three months earlier, but following negative reactions to the first trailer in 2019, the film’s release was delayed to redesign Sonic. Therefore, the studio can surely thank the online outrage for the end result’s success, as the delay allowed the studio to capitalize on the holiday weekend. Despite the film’s mixed reviews overall, it set the record for the biggest opening weekend for a video game film in the U.S. and Canada. A sequel, titled Sonic the Hedgehog 2, is scheduled for release on April 8, 2022.