A lush adaptation of the classic “Wuthering Heights” story written by Emily Brontë, the new movie, released Feb. 13, 2026, was a controversial retelling of the classic novel. The movie was not as highly rated as past, more cookie-cutter reimaginings of the story. Was this unique telling of Brontë’s work a flop or not?

The movie more loosely follows the book than previous adaptations, but it is still based on the Gothic story in a more mild, less nuanced way. The main protagonists are Catherine and Heathcliff. Catherine is the daughter of Mr. Earnshaw, the owner of Wuthering Heights estate, and Heathcliff enters their life as a newly adopted, peasant brother to Catherine. The two form an inseparable bond as kids and carry it into adulthood. The bond can be interpreted as more, but when the impending lack of wealth threatens the Wuthering Heights estate, plot twists lead to an unsatisfying outcome for Heathcliff and Catherine, disregarding their desire for a deeper relationship. 

This film is star-filled with Catherine and Heathcliff being portrayed by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, respectively and supporting characters played by Alison Cooper, Owen Cooper, Hong Chau and others. This movie was given high expectations solely due to the impeccable cast. Margot Robbie, known for her blockbuster roles in “Barbie,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “I, Tonya” and many other successful films, seemed to focus on a new acting style for her, but she did not misstep in her portrayal at all. She has received criticism for her age relative to the role, as she is 35 years old, while Catherine, throughout the present part of the movie, is 15 and when the movie ends, is 18-19. It is common for the producers of this movie to cast older females to play Catherine and it did not ruin the movie, but it was inaccurate. Given the old-timey, dark narrative this movie creates, it didn’t affect the story being told. The actor cast as Heathcliff, Jacob Elordi, is another asset to the cast, known for many movies and TV series such as “The Kissing Booth (Trilogy),” “Saltburn,” “Euphoria,” “Priscilla” and many more hits. He added a fresh clash against Robbie’s character and brought yearning and depth to the movie that was definitely a hit with his usual demographic of female audiences. The supporting actors and actresses also filled the gaps brought by the main characters’ stories, adding a much-needed edge of hatred, revenge, sympathy and essential character background. Most of the backlash for the film does not have anything to do with the exceptional acting.

For many, including myself, the movie was a harsh contrast to what was expected from an adaptation of the book, but it was in no way disappointing to the enthusiasm for the classic tale. Although a bit confusing and dizzying, I found the movie quite enthralling, keeping the viewer’s attention throughout. I did not like the unreliable, neglected background characters that were included but could have played a more essential role in the development of the characters. This was slightly expected given the modern way of re-purposing the movie for maximum profit and viewers. My issues with the missing characters and the lack of development for background characters on-screen were not for many viewers, as this is more of a critique from viewers who had previously read the book or are lovers of classic tales imagined to parallel the books. The only other issue faced was the overused, intense and sexualized storyline. Although not explicit, it was a bit harsh given the expectations of a gothic romance. Overall, I did not have much to dislike about the movie, as it was an imaginary, consuming narrative.

There is much to learn from the lessons brought forth in this movie, even if not directly stated. The underlying message is that class standing and situation should not impact ones choices, especially regarding love, as Heathcliff and Catherine base some of their choices on their differences in standing. Another one of the main lessons to take away from this film was how destructive and harmful love can be when given because of regret and revenge. Throughout the whole movie, the narcissistic ways of the protagonists are shown, revealing their personal vendettas that were created as consequences of their own actions. Love is a powerful force, but when expressed the wrong way for the wrong reasons, it will hurt and destroy everyone. Anyone who watches the movie should more clearly see and understand that one must voice their love for someone rather than silently suffer, as it will end in a catastrophe.

“Wuthering Heights” is a movie for those who love a modern, imaginative spin on a classic. The movie expands its audience demographic by combining elements from different genres, appealing to many types of viewers. By tying in an eerie, horror-like feeling and setting, a relationship storyline for romance lovers, and a tragedy with plot twists for those attracted to action and unsettling endings, it has it all. This movie, however, would not be appropriate for younger audiences and also would not be appealing to older, more traditional audiences. If someone does not like unique, out-of-the-box adaptations, this movie is not for them. The rating for this movie is R, as it is more directed towards mature audiences. Whilst only creating roughly half of Brontë’s books’ full story, the movie is still largely entertaining and holds your attention well. “Wuthering Heights” was an unconventional, provocative yet completely engrossing film. It is a worth-it watch if you are willing to feel all the feels.