After months of online debate, TikTok edits and trailer breakdowns, the new film adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” finally hit the theaters on Feb. 15. Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the movie takes on Emily Brontë’s 1847 gothic romance novel with a bold, stylized approach.
From the very first scene, it is clear that this version of “Wuthering Heights” is more of a dramatic romantic dream than a dark psychological tragedy. The cinematography is easily one of the movie’s strongest elements. The sweeping shots of the Yorkshire moors are breathtaking, with heavy fog, golden sunsets and stormy skies that mirror the characters’ emotions. Every frame feels carefully designed in order to build a world for audiences.
The costumes are also fabulous, blending historical fashion with slightly modern touches that make the characters feel both classic and current. Catherine’s flowing dresses and Heathcliff’s dark, dramatic wardrobe help create the film’s moody aesthetic. Nonetheless, these costumes are quite the opposite in comparison to the typical historical costume found in most period pieces.
The storytelling is engaging and easier to follow than the novel, contrasting how the book is famous for its complicated structure with multiple narrators and a second generation of characters. The movie simplifies this by focusing almost entirely on Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship, while also simplifying the characters themself to be more bearable to the viewers. Though this makes the plot more accessible for modern audiences, it also removes an important part of the original message.
In Brontë’s novel, the story continues after Catherine’s death, following her daughter Cathy Linton, Hareton Earnshaw and Linton Heathcliff. This second half shows how the cycle of revenge and cruelty can eventually be broken. The film cuts this storyline, ending instead with a dramatic and tragic finale centered only on Catherine and Heathcliff. This change makes the movie feel more like a passionate love story than a generational warning about obsession and destruction. While the tighter focus keeps the movie intense, it also makes it less meaningful than the novel.
Another noticeable change is how Heathcliff is portrayed. In the book, his identity as a racial and social outsider plays a huge role in shaping his anger and isolation. The film downplays this aspect, focusing more on his romantic obsession with Catherine. This makes him seem less complex and more like a brooding romantic hero. For some viewers, this may make him easier to sympathize with. For others, it weakens one of the novel’s most important themes about class and prejudice.
The movie also increases the physical and romantic elements between Catherine and Heathcliff. Their relationship feels more openly passionate on screen than in the book, where much of the intensity is emotional and psychological. Some of these added scenes successfully show the chaos of their love and make their connection feel raw and powerful. However, at times it feels like the film confuses obsession with romance, softening the darker truth that their love destroys nearly everyone around them.
Even with these differences, the performances are strong. Robbie captures Catherine’s wild energy and selfishness, while Elordi brings a quiet intensity to Heathcliff. Their on-screen chemistry carries the film, especially in scenes where love and anger mix together.
This version of “Wuthering Heights” feels less like a faithful gothic adaptation and more like a high school girl’s dramatic interpretation of the novel. Fans looking for a deeply accurate adaptation may feel disappointed. Yet it is still entertaining, visually impressive and emotionally powerful. It probably should have been marketed more clearly as a stylized reimagining rather than a darker, truer version of the book. Those open to a modern, romanticized interpretation will likely enjoy the ride.
The movie may not fully capture the haunting depth of Brontë’s novel, but it certainly proves that this story, nearly 180 years later, can still spark emotion and a little bit of chaos.
Cutline: New “Wuthering Heights’ movie starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi takes film lovers and literature enthusiasts by storm with this new adaptation of the beloved novel.
