The first reactions to the forthcoming Wuthering Heights movie have roundly hailed the film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel.
The film, which stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is set on the windswept moors of West Yorkshire and tells the story of Catherine Earnshaw (Robbie) and her turbulent relationship with Heathcliff (Elordi).
Written for the screen and directed by Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn), the cast includes Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes and Ewan Mitchell and will land in cinemas on February 13.
Early reactions have hailed the movie with Charli XCX‘s songs in the film coming in for particular praise.
“#WutheringHeightsMovie is a sumptuous feast for the romantic in us all. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s chemistry is divine. It’s a little long and patchy, but it’s easy to get caught in its web. Anthony Willis’s score & Charli XCX’s songs are major. Stunning cinematography,” wrote film critic Jeff Nelson.
#WutheringHeightsMovie is a sumptuous feast for the romantic in us all. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s chemistry is divine. It’s a little long and patchy, but it’s easy to get caught in its web. Anthony Willis’s score & Charli XCX’s songs are major. Stunning cinematography. pic.twitter.com/DZR4dHjl60
— Jeff Nelson (@SirJeffNelson) February 3, 2026
Entertainment writer Christopher Gallardo added: “WUTHERING HEIGHTS is a seductively captivating tear-jerker. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are simply magnetic together and Emerald Fennell’s inspired vision pans out well. Plus, Charli XCX’s music blends with the orchestra nicely.”
“WUTHERING HEIGHTS” is a seductively captivating tear-jerker. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are simply magnetic together and Emerald Fennell’s inspired vision pans out well. Plus, Charli XCX’s music blends with the orchestra nicely. #WutheringHeightsMovie pic.twitter.com/ZMo2QG1FqH
— Christopher Gallardo || FALLOUT S2 FINALE (@chrisagwrites) February 3, 2026
Other critics praised the director’s adaptation with IndieWire editor at large, Anne Thompson writing: “Wuthering Heights will open well and soar at the box office. It’s a rip-roaring, bodice-ripping crowd-pleaser. Both Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie will come out ahead. Audiences will fall for Emerald Fennell’s garish visuals and unrestrained direction. Everything is BIG.”
Wuthering Heights will open well and soar at the box office. It’s a rip-roaring, bodice-ripping crowd-pleaser. Both Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie will come out ahead. Audiences will fall for Emerald Fennell’s garish visuals and unrestrained direction. Everything is BIG.
— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) February 4, 2026
Scott Mendelson, box office columnist at Puck News, was equally as gushing. He wrote: “I won’t speak on source fidelity. But as a film, #WutheringHeights rocks. A large-scale retelling of a small(er)-scale melodrama, with all the big-budget production value and cinematic style value we once took for granted, it works on its own terms as a nuanced romantic tragedy.”
I won’t speak on source fidelity. But as a film, #WutheringHeights rocks. A large-scale retelling of a small(er)-scale melodrama, with all the big-budget production value and cinematic style value we once took for granted, it works on its own terms as a nuanced romantic tragedy. pic.twitter.com/Mu2BxboT3w
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) January 29, 2026
Entertainment reporter at ComingSoon.net and Us Weekly, Jonathan Sim added: “#WutheringHeights is an epic, yearning romance with a beautiful vision from Emerald Fennell. Breathtaking cinematography, production design, and score, with two incredible performances from Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Steamy, emotional, and captivating.”
#WutheringHeights is an epic, yearning romance with a beautiful vision from Emerald Fennell.
Breathtaking cinematography, production design, and score, with two incredible performances from Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Steamy, emotional, and captivating. pic.twitter.com/u22RfqnLix
— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) February 3, 2026
Charli’s soundtrack for the movie, which is due to land on the same day as the film arrives in cinemas, was revealed at the weekend.
So far, the record has been previewed by ‘House’, which saw the singer team up with The Velvet Underground’s John Cale, as well as the gothic track ‘Chains Of Love’, and the haunting ‘Wall Of Sound’. It also features a new collaboration with Sky Ferreira and is available to pre-order here.
Elsewhere, the first trailer for Wuthering Heights arrived last September and was skewered for everything from its anachronistic wardrobe to its overt eroticism.
What’s proven most controversial, though, has been Elordi’s casting in the film, which drew significant backlash because of Heathcliff’s ethnicity, given he is described as “dark-skinned” in the book.
Robbie leapt to his defence last year, urging fans approach the film with an open mind and saying he was “incredible” as Heathcliff.
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