“Wuthering Heights”
February 11th, 2026
MOVIE: “WUTHERING HEIGHTS”
STARRING: MARGOT ROBBIE, JACOB ELORDI, HONG CHAU, SHAZAD LATIF
DIRECTED BY: EMERALD FENNELL
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 136 MINUTES
The movie setting the world ablaze this Valentine’s Day weekend is Emerald Fennell’s loose adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel Wuthering Heights. I use the word “loose” deliberately—those expecting a rigid, word-for-word translation of the text may leave disappointed. This is unmistakably Fennell’s version: lush, sexy, tortured, and unapologetically tragic. Featuring two of Hollywood’s biggest stars and drenched in constantly gorgeous cinematography, this “Wuthering Heights” is bold and instantly memorable.
When the trailer first arrived, early complaints centered on the casting of Heathcliff, played by the always fascinating Jacob Elordi. In the novel, Heathcliff is described as having a dark complexion, and some viewers objected to the casting choice. It’s a fair critique—but Fennell sidesteps strict fidelity altogether by reimagining nearly every character visually. Margot Robbie is notably older than Brontë’s Cathy, Hong Chau plays Nelly, and Shazad Latif portrays the wealthy neighbor Mr. Linton. Description fidelity clearly isn’t the goal. Fennell is telling the story entirely on her own terms.
The framework of the novel remains. We first meet young Cathy (Charlotte Mellington), who lives on the foggy hills of Wuthering Heights with her alcoholic yet idealistic father (Martin Clunes). When he brings home a mysterious young boy (Owen Cooper), Cathy names him Heathcliff and becomes instantly attached, treating him at first almost like a prized possession. The two grow into inseparable companions, and as adolescence creeps in, their bond deepens into a volatile, irresistible love.
The second act ushers in Robbie and Elordi, and the emotional stakes intensify. Cathy has long dreamed of escaping her crumbling home. When the wealthy Mr. Linton (Latif) and his sheltered sister Isabella (scene-stealing Alison Oliver) move in next door, Cathy openly schemes to seduce Linton and secure a life of luxury. Yet her unresolved passion for Heathcliff tangles her ambitions. Choosing wealth over love, she sends Heathcliff away. He returns transformed—polished, affluent, and burning with quiet vengeance. Their reunion reignites old desires, and the two finally surrender to the passion that has always simmered beneath the surface.
What feels undeniably true is that this is, through and through, an Emerald Fennell film. As in Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, she luxuriates in themes of excess, status, and the moral decay that accompanies ambition. The set and costume design are lavish without feeling artificial, and the cinematography by Linus Sandgren gives the Yorkshire moors a sensual, dreamlike quality. Paired with a sharp, unexpected soundtrack curated by Charli XCX, the film stands as one of the most striking technical achievements of 2026. It’s nearly impossible not to be swept away by its atmosphere of romance, manipulation, and betrayal.
And it’s not only the technical craftsmanship that works. Robbie delivers yet another commanding performance. The Barbie star weaponizes both her beauty and her ability to embody Cathy’s immaturity, allowing us to sympathize with a character who is often selfish and destructive. Still, the film isn’t without flaws. For all its sensuality, the central romance feels somewhat undercooked; much of the lovers’ connection unfolds in montages, never fully allowed to breathe. A more patient, raw exploration of their passion might have elevated the emotional devastation.
Literary purists will undoubtedly prefer Brontë’s novel. But this isn’t the novel—it’s pure Emerald Fennell. A filmmaker very much of this cultural moment, she crafts something that feels both modern and curiously vintage, like a melodrama unearthed from the late 1930s and infused with contemporary decadence. Audiences will be talking about “Wuthering Heights” for quite some time. I’m certainly glad it exists.
3 ½ STARS
“WUTHERING HEIGHTS” IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
