February 13, 2026 was a highly anticipated day for many film and book lovers across the globe.  The timeless tale of Wuthering Heights, explores many dark and heavy topics from revenge and obsession to passion and intensity. 

 The film is an adaptation from English Writer and Author Emily Brontë’s one and only classic novel, Wuthering Heights, written in 1847. 

While the film has only just been released, the press surrounding

While this novel can be explored in someone’s own interest, it is also very popularly known as a requirement in a lot of high level English and literature classes for many students between high school and college age.

The trailer for the film, released in mid November of last year, left many fans anxious to see Hollywood Icon’s Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the two main characters, Cathrine Earnshaw and Heathcliff.

The buzz from fans surrounding the new movie has also prompted an upsell of the original novel, leaving many fans confused by the harshness of read.  Where they expected love, longing, and passion came the exploration of topics such as abuse, trauma, and inequality.

In relative news, Pop Icon Charli XCX, who has written many upbeat hits of today’s generation, was the voice of the soundtrack for the movie. The release date, which happened just over Valentine’s day weekend, left many fans who saw the film under the impression that the story would be something of a tragic love story, and they would be correct, as the film achieves that on a surface level, compared to the depth of the original storyline. 

Not only that, but with a run time of 2 hours and 16 minutes (136 minutes), much of the story had to be consolidated from Brontë’s original version as the movie focuses on one of the two main interlocking storylines of the book.  

This new film has caused quiet the controversy amongst many critics since before the movie was even released. And after watching the film, I can see why, where Brontë explored dark topics of racial indifference and abuse, Fennell’s exploration is more set in focus of the costume design and intense, raunchy love scenes.

When it came to costume design, Fennell understood that style can uphold substance if done the right way.  Throughout the entirety of the film, we see Catherine Earnshaw in an array of beautiful gowns, intricate head pieces, and fancy updo’s.  

Not only is the costume design something that catches the eye, but also in the detail of the intricate set design, for example in the Thrushcross Grange, the estate where Catherine and her husband Edgar live, there are a multitude of sequences where the viewer gets to absorb and understand the luxurious, elegant and posh life that Catherine lives after she marries.

Another thing that many fans of the original novel were let down by was the casting of both main characters.  In the novel, Heathcliff is said to have melanin, meaning a darker complexion, whereas Jacob Elordi does not.  Margot Robbie, who produced the film under her label, Lucky Chap Entertainment carries the film with her high star status.  Though for many fans knowledgeable of the story, the reader is informed that Catherine is 18 by the time the novel reaches its climax and ending.

Laura Brodnik, with mamamia.com said it best, “It’s classic literature meets consumerism.”

If you are asking yourself, “is this movie worth a watch?”, I would say yes, but do not take that lightly if you are a fan of Brontë’s original version. This movie is a very modern take on the classic novel, meaning, don’t go into this movie expecting everything the novel portrays, but rather, go into it with an open mind.

While this film can be respected as an art form, it is not to be taken as a direct adaptation of Brontë’s work. With Emerald Fennell even going as far to put quotations in the opening sequence, letting fans know, this film is rather a personal and modern interpretation.