Review: Wuthering Heights (2026) – Emerald Fennell reimagines a classic with a darker edge
In Wuthering Heights, director and writer Emerald Fennell brings her own interpretation to Emily Brontë’s iconic gothic romance, centering on the destructive relationship between Cathy Earnshaw and Heathcliff. Margot Robbie stars as Cathy opposite Jacob Elordi’s brooding Heathcliff, with supporting performances from Hong Chau and Millie Kent.
Emerald Fennell bends the story into the shape she wants. If you’re expecting a straight book-to-film adaptation, you’re not going to get it. If you’re familiar with her work on Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, you know she gravitates toward complicated, often toxic relationships that rarely end happily, and that sensibility is very much present here.
Robbie leans into Cathy’s more frustrating qualities, portraying her as spoiled, bratty, and at times emotionally immature – but she does so with intention. When you consider the limited choices women had during the period, Cathy’s desire to marry for financial security reads less as selfishness and more as survival.
Jacob Elordi continues his impressive run of roles. With his brooding presence and undeniable screen charisma, he embodies Heathcliff’s tortured intensity in a way that feels natural for him. For anyone showing up purely for the thirst-trap factor, Elordi certainly delivers, but there’s real depth in the performance as well.
Visually, the film leans heavily into theatricality. The production design is lush and detailed, creating a world that feels both period-accurate and slightly modern in its aesthetic. The costumes are equally striking, and the recurring use of deep red throughout the film becomes a visual motif that underscores the story’s passion and volatility.
This isn’t a traditional adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and it’s not trying to be. If you walk in expecting a faithful retelling of the novel, you may find yourself frustrated. But if you’re open to seeing the story through Emerald Fennell’s lens, the film delivers exactly what her fans have come to expect: bold choices, complicated characters, and a vision that refuses to play it safe.
Wuthering Heights is playing in theaters, Valentine’s Day.
02/13/26 S10:E13 Broadcast Package
