Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights liberally adapts Emily Brontë’s classic story with a heavy dose of carnality and chic stylization — it might not be the stuff of high literature, but it is a visually vibrant pleasure. Starring Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the film opened in theaters on February 13, 2026, and is now streaming on HBO Max. Our verdict: it’s the most audacious, most polarizing, and most visually striking adaptation of this story ever put to screen — whether that makes it great or not depends entirely on what you came looking for.
At a Glance
| Streaming on | HBO Max |
| Theatrical release | February 13, 2026 |
| Director | Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) |
| Screenplay | Emerald Fennell |
| Cast | Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, Ewan Mitchell, Owen Cooper |
| Soundtrack | Charli XCX |
| Runtime | 134 minutes |
| Box office | $230M+ against an $80M budget |
| IMDB score | 6.2/10 |
| InfoBrave score | ⭐⭐⭐½ / 5 |
What Is Wuthering Heights (2026) About?
Released by Warner Bros., Wuthering Heights stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love, and madness.
Since Heathcliff was born into the servant class, they cannot be together — and despite Catherine’s marriage to her neighbor Edgar Linton, the two stay inseparable. Fennell’s version is set in 18th-century England and doesn’t reinvent the bones of Brontë’s plot. What it does reinvent — aggressively, deliberately, and not always successfully — is the tone. This is not your grandmother’s Wuthering Heights. This is the version where desire drives every frame.
What Works: Visuals, Soundtrack, and the Young Cast
Fennell has never made an ugly film. Wuthering Heights is no exception.
The film is visually stunning, with sizzling chemistry, immersive sound, and moody gothic romance that draws you in. The production design and costume work are genuinely exceptional — every single production and costume element feels produced at the highest possible level, and it’s always nice to see a film where its budget comes across on screen.
The Charli XCX soundtrack is one of the most talked-about elements of the entire project — and for good reason. The film is in many moments beautiful in images and sound, especially when it uses Charli XCX’s original songs. Whether original compositions or reimagined period pieces, the music lends the film a jittery, anachronistic electricity that mirrors Fennell’s own sensibility.
Charlotte Mellington and Owen Cooper have a lot of natural chemistry in the film’s first act and set up a dynamic very akin to the source material: these are two hateful little brats who like each other. Owen Cooper, fresh off his acclaimed turn in Adolescence, is a revelation as young Heathcliff — watchful, wounded, and ferociously alive on screen.
What Doesn’t Work: Chemistry, Depth, and Tonal Inconsistency
Here’s where the film runs into trouble — and where critics have split most sharply.
Jacob Elordi delivers a physically imposing and brooding presence, especially in the film’s earlier, rougher portrayal of his character. Yet as his character evolves into a more polished figure, the dynamic between the two sometimes feels visually uneven, making their shared history slightly harder to believe.
More damaging: despite their incredible acting ability, Elordi and Robbie simply have no on-screen chemistry. Robbie’s Earnshaw is whiny and petulant, but only when the plot needs her to be. Elordi’s Heathcliff is a complete blank slate, a man whose only character trait is simping for Catherine.
The emotion and drama of the novel are not found on screen and have not been replaced with anything else. That’s the core problem. Fennell’s previous films — Promising Young Woman and Saltburn — replaced their source material’s emotional register with something new and deliberate. Here, what replaces Brontë’s psychological complexity is mostly aesthetics.
Ultimately, this movie feels stuck between wanting to be a sweeping period romance and a toxic, messy nightmare. It’s tonally inconsistent and jarring between scenes, both cautioning us against and yet wanting us to root for Catherine and Heathcliff’s romance.
Is It Faithful to the Book?
Not especially — and that’s fine, depending on your expectations.
The 2026 adaptation presents itself as a sweeping romantic drama but leans heavily into sensuality as its primary storytelling device. Lost entirely are the emotional intensity, moral complexity, and Shakespearean depth that make the original novel so enduring. What remains is a glossy, surface-level spectacle that mistakes eroticism for passion and visual excess for dramatic weight.
Book purists will struggle here. Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is a sexually driven, campy, visually maximalist fever dream — and while that’s a genuinely exciting creative premise, the execution doesn’t always deliver on the provocations it sets up.
Rolling Stone’s David Fear put it best: “There are better adaptations of Wuthering Heights, and there are far, far worse adaptations of Wuthering Heights — yet you will certainly not find a hornier version of this material than Fennell’s fast-and-loose spin on the torrid tale of Heathcliff and Catherine.”
The Divided Critical Reaction
This is one of 2026’s most split films — and that split is itself interesting.
The Daily Telegraph’s Robbie Collin branded the film “resplendently lurid, oozy and wild” and gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. HeyUGuys’ Linda Marric gave it 4 stars, writing: “For viewers willing to embrace a stylized, modernized interpretation rather than a traditional period drama, this Wuthering Heights offers a lurid, provocative, and strangely compelling ride.”
On the other end: Wuthering Heights ends up as a true waste of potential — something that just felt like a first real disappointment for those expecting Fennell to deliver on the promise of her earlier work.
Despite opening to mixed reviews, Wuthering Heights was a hit at the box office, pulling in over $230 million against an $80 million budget. Audiences, whatever critics think, showed up.
Is Wuthering Heights (2026) Worth Watching?
Yes — but know exactly what you’re walking into.
Ultimately, Wuthering Heights is a decent one-time watch for mature audiences who understand its tone and intentions. It tells its story through desire as much as dialogue, which will either resonate or alienate depending on the viewer.
Watch it if:
- You’re a fan of Emerald Fennell’s visual style and don’t need every adaptation to be faithful
- You want the most gorgeous-looking period film of 2026
- The Charli XCX soundtrack alone is reason enough for you
- You enjoy divisive, provocative filmmaking that has something to say even when it stumbles
Skip it if:
- You love the novel and want a faithful adaptation
- You’re looking for the psychological complexity of the Brontë original
- Chemistry between the leads is non-negotiable for you in a romance
Liberally adapting Emily Brontë’s classic story with a heavy dose of carnality and chic stylization, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights might not be the stuff of high literature — but it is a visually vibrant pleasure. That sentence is probably the fairest verdict you’ll find anywhere.
Where to Watch Wuthering Heights (2026)
You can currently stream Wuthering Heights on HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, and YouTube TV. It is also available to rent or buy digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.
The Blu-ray and 4K physical editions are also available, with director commentary and a featurette on the costume design from Jacqueline Durran.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wuthering Heights (2026) on HBO Max?
Yes. Wuthering Heights premiered on HBO Max on May 1, 2026, and is currently streaming on the platform. It’s also available to rent or purchase digitally on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
Who stars in the 2026 Wuthering Heights?
The film stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. The supporting cast includes Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, Ewan Mitchell, and Owen Cooper as young Heathcliff.
Who directed Wuthering Heights 2026?
The film was directed by Emerald Fennell, who also wrote the screenplay and produced alongside Josey McNamara and Margot Robbie. Fennell previously directed Promising Young Woman and Saltburn.
Who did the soundtrack for Wuthering Heights 2026?
The soundtrack was created by Charli XCX, who composed original songs specifically for the film. The score has been widely praised as one of the film’s strongest elements, blending anachronistic energy with gothic atmosphere.
Is Wuthering Heights (2026) faithful to the book?
Not closely. Emerald Fennell takes significant liberties with the tone and structure of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, leaning heavily into sensuality and visual maximalism over the psychological complexity of the source material. Book purists are likely to be frustrated; viewers approaching it as its own work may enjoy it more.
How much did Wuthering Heights (2026) make at the box office?
Despite opening to mixed reviews, Wuthering Heights was a hit at the box office, pulling in over $230 million against an $80 million budget.
Wuthering Heights is streaming now on HBO Max.
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