Wuthering Heights hits theaters with mixed reviews, 63% on RT

Emerald Fennell’s audacious adaptation of Wuthering Heights just hit theaters with a scorching Rotten Tomatoes score that reveals a deeply divided film world. The 63% critics rating signals that this Valentine’s weekend release is part sensation, part provocation. Critics can’t agree on whether it’s reckless genius or stylish disaster.

A Period Drama That Swings for the Fences

Fennell’s Wuthering Heights abandons traditional literary restraint. The film embraces sensuality, chaos, and visual extremism rather than melancholy introspection. Shot largely in Yorkshire’s Dales during early 2025, this adaptation filters Emily Brontë’s gothic narrative through a contemporary directorial lens that prioritizes passion over precision. Reviewers describe it as uncompromising, whether that’s praise or critique depends on your expectations from period drama.

The R rating for sexual content, violent content, and language signals where Fennell’s vision commits. This isn’t a costume drama for purists seeking fidelity to the novel. Instead, it’s a provocative reimagining that tests audience boundaries.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi Ignite the Screen

Margot Robbie commands the frame as Catherine Earnshaw with a raw intensity that critics found both compelling and polarizing. Jacob Elordi embodies Heathcliff as a seething, complex figure consumed by obsession and rage. Their chemistry crackles across every scene, and the film luxuriates in exploring the psychological torment of their relationship.

Supporting cast members Hong Chau and Alison Oliver provide grounding for the narrative’s darker elements. However, Elordi’s casting choice sparked pre-release debate about character interpretation, though critics focused primarily on the finished film’s emotional impact rather than production controversy.

Critical Consensus: Style-Obsessed, Substance-Challenged

Early reviews reveal a schism. Admirers celebrate Fennell’s visual audacity and refusal to sanitize Emily Brontë’s brutal source material. Reuters and specialty critics noted the film’s “pulpy carnal energy” and cinematic boldness. Yet detractors argue it prioritizes aesthetics over emotional depth, describing the film as “style over substance” and “emotionally hollow.”

“This is a large-scale costume drama with an epic scope, and Fennell makes sure it’s anything but stodgy. There’s fun to be found in this pulpy, carnal, proudly idiotic Wuthering Heights.”

— Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus, Multiple Publications

The Box Office Question at Valentine’s Weekend

Released on February 13, 2026, mere hours before Valentine’s Day, Wuthering Heights competes internally for audiences. Some studios position dark romances during this period to capture couples seeking passion over sentimentality. Fennell’s film delivers intensity, but the mixed critical reception may temper mainstream appeal. Audiences, however, prove more forgiving, with 85% audience score substantially outpacing critics. This disconnect suggests casual viewers arrive expecting Gothic melodrama and leave satisfied, while critics judge it against broader cinematic standards.

Industry observers note the film’s 2 hour 16 minute runtime and theatrical exclusivity create momentum through February before streaming arrives on HBO Max likely by late April or May 2026.

Is Wuthering Heights Worth Your Weekend?

This adaptation poses a genuine question for film audiences: Do you want Emily Brontë’s psychological depths reinterpreted as visceral visual spectacle, or would you prefer faithfulness to the source text? Emerald Fennell clearly chose the former, crafting a confrontational period piece that refuses compromise. Margot Robbie’s fearless performance and Fennell’s directorial vision create a film that occupies cultural conversation space, whether through enthusiasm or debate. The 63% score perfectly encapsulates this divide, making Wuthering Heights one of 2026’s most polarizing releases yet a valentine to those who prized audacity over tradition.

Jessica Morrison

Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.