Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s on-screen chemistry is finally coming to theaters this Valentine’s weekend. But their much-awaited collaboration Wuthering Heights It has already sparked debate among critics and early audiences.
Directed by Emerald Fennell, the new adaptation re-imagines Emily Brontë’s Gothic classic for a modern audience. The film explores the doomed love story between Cathy and Heathcliff – two passionate, complex souls torn apart by passion, vengeance, and social barriers.
Ahead of its release on February 13, Wuthering Heights It has a score of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a sharply divided critical reaction. Those who liked it have called it a cinematic triumph, while those who did not have said it was too far removed from Brontë’s original text.
‘Compelling, bold and mesmerizing,’ fans say.
Some early viewers of X have praised the film’s adventurous tone and striking visuals. One review reads, “Emerald Fennell’s #WutheringHeightsMovie is a god-level new classic. Intoxicating, sublime, mesmerizing, mesmerizing, lust-worthy, hypnotic. Masterfully captures the essence of captivating pain and desire.”
Another wrote, “#WutheringHeightsPremiereIndia – a visually stunning, hugely imaginative and exhilarating adaptation of Brontë’s Gothic classic that speaks to cinematic prowess – that should only be seen on the biggest screen.”
A third user shared, “I was a little skeptical about #WutheringHeights but it’s brilliant. Filled with desire, it’s mesmerizing to watch, a tribute to the greatest love story ever told… Bold, poignant and utterly tragic, it’s a triumph.”
Others say, ‘Incorrect, dull and far from the book.’
However, not all reactions were enthusiastic. Many felt that Emerald’s creative liberties were excessive. One viewer wrote, “Wuthering Heights is the first time inaccuracies in a book-to-film adaptation have really bothered me… If I need to completely throw out the book to enjoy it, why not just write an original script?”
Another said, “It seems like the only thing they borrowed from the book are the characters’ names. Why make this an adaptation is beyond me.”
Some have also called the film miscast or tonally inconsistent. One user commented, “The Wuthering Heights movie is shockingly misogynistic.” Another wrote, “It’s a technical achievement, full of grandeur and breathtaking cinematography, but surprisingly non-committal in tone. Alison Oliver MVP!”
With passionate praise on the one hand and harsh criticism on the other, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights has already become one of the most polarizing releases of the year. Are you going to see it?