Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' Divides Critics

Praise, backlash and controversy in early reviews of the new adaptation of the Emily Brontë classic.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Emerald Fennell's new film adaptation of 'Wuthering Heights' has sparked a range of reactions from critics, with some praising its bold, operatic approach as a thrilling reinvention, while others see it as an emotionally hollow, overworked provocation. The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has been framed as an interpretation rather than a faithful adaptation, leading to debate around its tone and representation.

Why it matters

Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' is the latest in a long line of screen adaptations of the Emily Brontë classic, but it stands out for its willingness to significantly deviate from the source material. The divisive reactions highlight the challenges of reinventing a canonical work for a modern audience, balancing fidelity to the original with a filmmaker's distinct creative vision.

The details

The film has drawn praise from some critics, like The Telegraph's Robbie Collin, who calls it a 'bosom-heaving, gasp-inducing thrill ride' and commends Fennell's pursuit of 'trembling, transgressive depths.' However, others like The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw see the film as 'emotionally hollow,' with Fennell pushing the story toward 'stylized silliness' at the expense of Brontë's corrosive intimacy. The Los Angeles Times' Amy Nicholson and The New Yorker's Justin Chang offer more conditional praise, arguing the film needed to go further in its eroticized, heightened approach or grapple more deeply with the implications of its changes to the source material.

  • The film was released in theaters on February 12, 2026.

The players

Emerald Fennell

The director of the new 'Wuthering Heights' film adaptation.

Margot Robbie

The actress who plays Catherine 'Cathy' Earnshaw in the film.

Jacob Elordi

The actor who plays Heathcliff in the film.

Robbie Collin

The chief film critic for The Telegraph, who gave the film a positive five-star review.

Peter Bradshaw

The film critic for The Guardian, who gave the film a negative two-star review.

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What they’re saying

“You could never accuse Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights of being a faithful adaptation of Emily Brontë's 1847 novel. Fidelity doesn't appear to be remotely of interest to it.”

— Robbie Collin, Chief Film Critic, The Telegraph (The Telegraph)

“Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights is an emotionally hollow misfire, a film that looks lavish but feels like mock emotion.”

— Peter Bradshaw, Film Critic, The Guardian (The Guardian)

What’s next

The film's performance at the box office and its potential awards season recognition will be closely watched in the coming months.

The takeaway

Fennell's bold, divisive interpretation of 'Wuthering Heights' highlights the challenges of reinventing a classic literary work for modern audiences, as filmmakers must balance fidelity to the source material with their own creative vision and the desire to provoke strong reactions.