A gothic romance soundtracked by Charli XCX and directed by Emerald Fennell of Saltburn fame? This adaptation has all the ingredients of a modern classic. Wikipedia
On February 13, 2026 — Valentine's Day — Wuthering Heights premiered in theaters. Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw. Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. Emerald Fennell behind the camera. And Charli XCX composing an original album for the soundtrack.
BookTok exploded. Classic literature fans debated. And everyone who had ever heard the name Heathcliff suddenly had an opinion.
What is Wuthering Heights about?
Wuthering Heights is one of the most read and most discussed Gothic novels in English literature. Written by Emily Brontë in 1847, it tells the story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff — two people whose all-consuming love and obsession cause harm for generations.
The film explores love, revenge, and social class based on Brontë's 1847 novel. aol
Catherine grows up on the Yorkshire moors, at Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff arrives as an orphan brought home by her father — and the two develop a bond that no one fully understands and that changes both families forever. When Catherine chooses social status over love, she sets in motion a chain of destruction that lasts for decades.
It is not a cheerful love story. It is a story of obsession, revenge, and what happens when love is not enough — or perhaps too much.
The film's cast
The film stars Robbie as Cathy, Elordi as Heathcliff, Hong Chau as Nelly Dean, Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, and Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton. aol
Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw
Robbie also serves as a producer through her LuckyChap Entertainment. She was already familiar with Fennell's work from Promising Young Woman and Saltburn. Robbie's casting as Catherine was widely welcomed — her ability to portray both charm and self-destruction perfectly suits the character.
Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff
Fennell wrote Wuthering Heights with Elordi in mind. She was inspired by the sideburns he wore for Saltburn, which reminded her of the Heathcliff on her old copy of Brontë's book. "Wuthering Heights"
Elordi's casting as Heathcliff also sparked discussion. Heathcliff is described in the book as dark-skinned — a description Brontë never explicitly explained but which has historically led to diverse interpretations.
Charli XCX as composer
With Charli XCX composing an original album to accompany the film, Wuthering Heights looks set to be the most intoxicating cinematic event of 2026. Wikipedia
Why Emerald Fennell?
Fennell writes, directs, and produces the project based on Emily Brontë's 1847 novel. It is her third collaboration with LuckyChap after Promising Young Woman and Saltburn. Deadline
Fennell discovered the book at fourteen and was completely captivated by it. She has always been obsessed with the gothic — and that is precisely evident in her earlier work. Saltburn was a modern gothic thriller. Promising Young Woman was a dark revenge story. Wuthering Heights is the natural next step. Wikipedia
The film sparked a fierce bidding war after Robbie and Elordi were confirmed, with Netflix offering $150 million. However, the filmmakers accepted Warner Bros.' $80 million offer for a wide theatrical release. Variety
How did the film do?
The film earned $242 million worldwide — a solid result for a literary adaptation with an $80 million budget. Reactions were mixed:
Positive: The cinematography, the chemistry between Robbie and Elordi, the Charli XCX soundtrack, and the visual splendor are widely praised.
Critical: Some reviewers feel that the film lacks Brontë's emotional intensity, moral complexity, and Shakespearean depth. Where previous versions reduced the story to romance, this film further compresses that romance into a series of sexual encounters dressed in luxurious costumes and beautiful cinematography. Variety
This is precisely the kind of debate Wuthering Heights has always provoked — no adaptation has ever satisfied everyone, and this one won't either.
Read the book before or after the film
Wuthering Heights is a book you experience differently depending on when you read it. Before the film, it gives you your own interpretation of Heathcliff and Catherine — unaffected by Elordi and Robbie. After the film, it gives you the layers that Fennell's adaptation condensed.
Brontë's novel is shorter than you might expect — 300 to 350 pages, depending on the edition. It is dense, emotionally heavy, and perfect for an autumn or winter weekend.
Why Wuthering Heights is still relevant for BookTok
Wuthering Heights was one of the first gothic romances to challenge the mores of its time. The story has no moral lesson, no redemption arc for Heathcliff, and no neat happy ending.
Heathcliff is one of the earliest examples of a morally gray love interest in English literature. He is possessive, destructive, and obsessive — but his background and the way society has treated him make him understandable in a way that simply "bad" cannot describe. IMDb
For readers who love dark romance, morally gray love interests, and gothic settings, this is the original reference point. Everything from Haunting Adeline to The Cruel Prince stands in a long tradition that began on the Yorkshire moors.
🖤 Read your next gothic romance
Our Blind Date Book (Thriller) is perfect for readers who love gothic suspense and dark romance.
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Similar books if you've read Wuthering Heights
The Cruel Prince — Holly Black
Dark fae courts and a love interest who simultaneously irritates and obsesses you — the direct spiritual heir of Heathcliff in romantasy.
Haunting Adeline — H.D. Carlton
For readers who want the obsession dynamic of Wuthering Heights but in a modern dark romance setting.
Rebecca — Daphne du Maurier
Wuthering Heights' most direct literary cousin: gothic, atmospheric, and with a tension that slowly but surely creeps in.
Jane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë
Emily's sister wrote her own gothic romance — with a morally gray love interest who is slightly more redeeming than Heathcliff.
Complete your Wuthering Heights reading experience
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✔ Fantasy bookmark — for the most intense gothic moments
✔ Spicy bookmark — for the dark romance elements
✔ Blind Date Book (Thriller or Fantasy) — let yourself be surprised with a gothic story
✔ Book Review Notepad — record your feelings about Heathcliff
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — keep track of which gothic romances you've read
✔ Glass Can — for the tea that accompanies dark moor-evenings
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Happy reading — and keep your blanket close on the moors! 🖤📚
Frequently Asked Questions about Wuthering Heights 2026
When was the Wuthering Heights film released?
Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights was released on February 13, 2026. Grazia
Who stars in the new Wuthering Heights?
The adaptation stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The rest of the cast includes Hong Chau, Alison Oliver, and Shazad Latif. Grazia
Who directed the new Wuthering Heights?
Emerald Fennell, the Oscar-winning director of Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, wrote and directed the film.
Who composed the music for the new Wuthering Heights?
Charli XCX composed an original album to accompany the film. Wikipedia
Is the new Wuthering Heights good?
The film is controversial. Visually, it is widely praised. Some critics miss the emotional depth of the book. Robbie and Elordi's chemistry is almost universally positively received.
What is the book Wuthering Heights about?
Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (1847) tells the story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, whose all-consuming love and obsession wreak havoc across generations on the Yorkshire moors. It is a gothic novel about love, revenge, and social class.
Is Heathcliff a morally grey character?
Yes. Heathcliff is one of the earliest examples of a morally grey love interest in English literature — possessive, destructive, and obsessive, but understandable due to his background and how society treated him.