Valentine’s day movie ‘Wuthering Heights’ hits theaters tonight with Margot Robbie

Emerald Fennell’s provocative adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’ just arrived in theaters tonight on Valentine’s Day Eve. Margot Robbie stars as the tempestuous Cathy opposite Jacob Elordi’s brooding Heathcliff in a bold reimagining that transforms Emily Brontë’s 1847 masterpiece into this year’s most talked-about romance.

A Bold Reimagining That Shatters Period Drama Conventions

Emerald Fennell read ‘Wuthering Heights’ at 14 years old and has been obsessed ever since. She approached this adaptation with a provocative vision, refusing to make a traditional period piece. Instead, Fennell crafted something sensual and melodramatic that explores desire and repression through the lens of a modern sensibility. The film shot entirely on 35mm VistaVision, creating lush cinematography by Linus Sandgren that captures the raw passion of the Yorkshire moors. Fennell told Variety, ‘I wanted to make something that made people feel, that made people physically respond.’ This is decidedly not your grandmother’s adaptation.

The director deliberately stylized the title with quotation marks, signaling her approach. ‘The thing for me is you can’t adapt a book as dense and complicated as this,’ Fennell explained. ‘I’m making a version of it, [with quotation marks around the title] because any adaptation of such a dense novel should have them.’ She’s crafted something that respects the source material while pushing boundaries.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi Ignite on-Screen Chemistry

Margot Robbie was drawn to the role of Cathy Earnshaw like it was a puzzle she needed to solve. The Australian star, famous for her Oscar-nominated roles in everything from ‘Barbie’ to ‘I, Tonya,’ pitched herself to Fennell after reading the screenplay. ‘I would follow her anywhere,’ Robbie said of the director. ‘Working with directors you would follow anywhere is the best thing you can do.’ She wears 50 different costumes throughout the film, including a striking wedding gown, as Cathy navigates her tortured love with Heathcliff. Fennell described Cathy as ‘a movie star stuck in the middle of nowhere with no audience,’ emphasizing Robbie’s perfect fit for this complex, emotionally gigantic character.

Jacob Elordi, her fellow Australian, finally achieved his bucket-list dream of collaborating with Robbie. Elordi was cast after Fennell noticed his sideburns in ‘Saltburn’ reminded her of classic illustrations of Heathcliff. The BAFTA-nominated actor steps into legendary shoes, following in the footsteps of Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes, and Tom Hardy. Elordi said about Heathcliff, ‘He’s the original outcast, bracing for impact. There’s joy, darkness. It’s an unrestricted look at the complexity of love, without judgment.’

A 2-Hour-16-Minute Sensual Experience

Detail	Information
Release Date	February 13, 2026 (Tonight)
Rating	R (explicit scenes and language)
Runtime	2 hours 16 minutes
Studio	Warner Bros. Pictures

The film runs 2 hours and 16 minutes, packed with sensual moments that ratchet up physical intimacy significantly from the literary source. One iconic scene involves Cathy masturbating under her skirts after witnessing another couple’s encounter on a rock, illustrating themes of desire and repression central to Brontë’s work. This isn’t restrained adaptation territory. The soundtrack by Charli xcx adds a gothic, contemporary edge. Every musical choice and visual element serves Fennell’s larger vision of telling an unrestricted story about toxic love and destructive passion.

Box Office Momentum and Valentine’s Day Weekend Impact

‘Wuthering Heights’ hit the ground running with $3 million in Thursday night previews, setting the stage for a dominant Valentine’s Day weekend opening. Industry projections suggest the film could earn over $50 million domestically in its opening weekend, making it one of the biggest surprises of early 2026. The Valentine’s Day Eve release timing perfectly captures audiences seeking an intense, grown-up romance. Competitor titles like ‘Crime 101’ and ‘Goat’ are nowhere near the star power or cultural momentum of Fennell’s provocative epic. Audiences are hungry for what critics are calling either a masterpiece or a gloriously messy provocation, depending on who’s reviewing.

Warner Bros. has positioned this as an event film, releasing it on IMAX screens nationwide and leveraging the massive star power of Robbie and Elordi. The studio’s confidence is reflected in the wide theatrical rollout, treating ‘Wuthering Heights’ as prestige entertainment rather than niche period drama.

Why Critics, Audiences, and Everyone Else Can’t Stop Talking About It

What makes ‘Wuthering Heights’ the film everyone is discussing tonight? Emerald Fennell has created something genuinely provocative in an era of safe, formulaic franchises. Her previous films ‘Saltburn’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’ sparked national conversations, and early screenings suggest this adaptation will generate similar passionate debate. Slate called it ‘preposterous, proudly stupid, and the director’s best film yet.’ Some reviewers praise its sensual audacity, while others question whether Fennell has captured or betrayed Brontë’s vision. One thing is certain: people are talking, sharing, and rushing to theaters to form their own opinions. That’s the mark of event cinema, the kind that dominates social media and water-cooler conversations for weeks. Is ‘Wuthering Heights’ a feminist reimagining of a gothic classic, or a provocative spectacle that misses the point? That debate alone is driving midnight screenings and reservation surges.

“I would follow her anywhere. Working with directors you would follow anywhere is the best thing that you can do. Find those people that you really believe in, and then just follow them.”

— Margot Robbie, Actress and Producer

Sources

• Deadline: Box office preview reporting and weekend projections
• Variety: Cast interviews and director insights from world premiere coverage
• The Guardian: Director and cast profiles and production details