The 2026 film adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” directed by Emerald Fennel, starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, reimagines Emily Brontë’s novel as a more refined, intimate, and gothic romance that mainly focuses on the first half of the book.
The new film brought significant changes, including omitting the entire second generation, removing certain characters, and getting rid of key character details to focus solely on the intense romance between Heathcliff and Cathy.
“Wuthering Heights” is rarely the romantic love story adaptations often portray, but rather a dark, gothic tale of abuse, revenge, and obsession. Instead of forbidden lovers, readers find deeply flawed and toxic characters. This controversy left the people who read the book irritated, but the people who didn’t read it are in love with the new movie.
Professional reviewers seem divided in their reactions to the film. Certified Rotten Tomato Critic, Lauren Veneziani, wrote, “Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s chemistry is a sight to behold in one of the best, most cinematic and ambitious films of the year.” While in contrast Certified Rotten Tomato Critic, Kirsten Saylor, wrote, “The romance, the so-called “sexiness,” the glossy visuals — none of it makes up for what the story loses. What’s left is a hollow shell, all shock value and aesthetic flourishes.”
Senior Isabelle Thompson, who read Wuthering Heights, said, “It would be especially difficult for any film to capture the real depth of Wuthering Heights because I feel like the main depth is not in the plot; it’s in the internal debates of the characters. For example, Catherine Earnshaw is battling with herself between wanting to marry Heathcliff for love, but in the end she ends up marrying Edgar Linton for stability, societal standing, and money.
Thompson continued “I also think it would be extremely difficult for a film to capture the real essence of Catherine and Heathcliff’s obsession in the way that Emily Brontë was able to. A film would probably not be able to accurately capture the internal debate of the characters, with Heathcliff wanting revenge on the Earnshaw family, wanting money from them, and also loving Catherine but not being able to have her because she was married to Edgar.”
These controversies have led to a broader debate online about whether the adaptation is just a misguided reinterpretation or a modern take on a classic.
