Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights: Early Reviews Call It Addictive

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Pamela Bailey
Margot Robbie stuns in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation. [Image Source: YIMG]

Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, has generated enthusiastic early reviews ahead of its scheduled release on February 13, 2026. Premiering at Los Angeles’ TCL Chinese Theatre, the romantic drama has been widely praised for its lead performances by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, as well as its striking cinematography and production design. The film’s fresh take on a familiar story has sparked particular interest among critics and audiences alike.

Robbie and Elordi’s Chemistry Garners Praise Alongside Visual Excellence

Early feedback commends the emotional intensity between Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, describing their on-screen relationship as electric and deeply compelling. Critics have also highlighted the film’s lavish costumes and detailed set pieces that bring a vivid atmosphere to this reinterpretation of the well-known tale. Importantly, reviewers noted that the adaptation diverges significantly from the original novel’s tone and narrative, offering a more modern, visceral portrayal.

Jazz Tangcay of Variety expressed high admiration for the film on X (formerly Twitter), calling it

a scorching hot and twisted tale,

and applauding the leads’ chemistry as

a whole other level of HOT!

She credited Emerald Fennell’s direction for her bold approach, noting

could take a classic, turn it on its head, make you fall completely in lust, and then utterly destroy your soul.

Margot Robbie
Image of: Margot Robbie

Tangcay further described the film as an exquisite spectacle of craftsmanship, praising the richly detailed costumes, the elegant production design, and the evocative cinematography, finishing with Obsessively in love with it.

Reinterpretation of Passion and Obsession in Wuthering Heights

Meredith Loftus from Collider echoed these sentiments, highlighting the film’s intense atmosphere created through a combination of impressive set design, costumes, and cinematography. She emphasized the contribution of Charli XCX’s dynamic score, writing,

Fall in love again and again with Emerald Fennell’s imagining of #WutheringHeights. From its gorgeous set design & costumes, striking cinematography, & bombastic music by Charli XCX, the film leans into the passion + obsession of Catherine & Heathcliff’s torrid love story.

Similarly, Buzzfeed UK’s Ada Enechi remarked that this adaptation challenges expectations, especially for those familiar with the novel from school. She suggested viewers might polarize between dislike and admiration. She praised Jacob Elordi’s performance as

Potentially my favourite performance from Jacob Elordi,

and ranked Margot Robbie’s work among her top roles. Enechi also lauded the film’s soundtrack and cinematography as

breathtaking. It’s passionate, it’s daring and explores a version of the classic that deserves our attention,

underscoring the film’s bold reinterpretation.

Additional Voices on the Film’s Intensity and Style

Other commentators have shared similarly glowing impressions. Jairo Jiménez described the film as

a visceral vortex of obsessive passion, with chemistry so incendiary between Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi that you can practically reach out & touch their performances. Visually exquisite, laced with soul-shattering longing. Twisted perfection and addictive!

Scott Mendelson, meanwhile, commented on the film’s presentation beyond faithfulness to the original text:

I won’t speak on source fidelity. But as a film, #WutheringHeights rocks. A large-scale retelling of a small(er)-scale melodrama, with all the big-budget production value and cinematic style value we once took for granted, it works on its own terms as a nuanced romantic tragedy.

Emily Burack added her voice to the chorus of appreciation, noting,

ok #WutheringHeightsMovie social embargo up and may I just say I loooooved it. Margot Robbie completely captivating. Allison Oliver weird and wonderful. soundtrack (esp. when “The Dark Eyed Sailor” plays) was perfection.

Emerald Fennell’s Continuing Film Direction and Cast Details

This project marks Emerald Fennell’s third full-length directorial feature following her works on Promising Young Woman and Saltburn. Beyond directing, Fennell also penned the screenplay, steering the project with a distinctive artistic vision. Alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the cast features Hong Chau, Owen Cooper, Ewan Mitchell, and Allison Oliver, contributing to the film’s layered ensemble.

Why This Version of Wuthering Heights Matters

With its official release approaching, this iteration of Wuthering Heights promises to captivate viewers through its passionate performances and stylistic reinvention. Margot Robbie Wuthering Heights serves as a contemporary exploration of a timeless story, distinguishing itself through fervent emotion and striking visual storytelling. The film’s blend of intense love and torment, supported by a compelling soundtrack and careful production design, is expected to spark both admiration and debate among audiences. It signals a bold new chapter in how classic literature can be reshaped for modern cinematic expression.

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Pamela Bailey
Pamela Bailey