In an era of cautious cinema, where on-screen intimacy is often sidelined or poo-pooed by younger generations, director Emerald Fennell is making a loud statement: passion belongs on the big screen.The full-length trailer for her adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights confirms what the first snippets suggested—this is an aggressively provocative, unapologetically erotic reinterpretation of "the greatest love story of all time."The glimpses we get are not subtle: several clips show the lovers entangled in intense moments of "kissing and crying in the rain." This is a relationship driven by self-destruction and underscored by the film's visually bold style.Fennell injected dark sexual tension into Saltburn and wielded the weapon of female rage in Promising Young Woman, and now she is reinventing stuffy literature into something much more erotic and modern.Maybe leave the kids at home for this one.The trailer’s most revealing moment comes in its final line, delivered by Elordi’s Heathcliff: “So kiss me, and let us both be damned.”This line perfectly encapsulates the illicit nature of their bond, which is precisely the kind of uncompromising passion that Hollywood has often shied away from.With an original new track by Charli XCX titled "Chains of Love" soundtracking the madness, this Wuthering Heights is set to make romance dangerous again.Mark your calendars: this aggressively provocative take on a literary classic arrives in cinemas on Valentine's Day, 2026. (Jason Hellerman)
While the teaser was all about toxicity and kink, the full trailer is more about the love story of Wuthering Heights, going so far as to tag the film as being “inspired by the greatest love story of all time”, which is exactly the kind of bullsh-t take about Wuthering Heights I do not support. Honestly, nothing about Emerald Fennell’s filmmaking or her approach to this material could ever annoy me as greatly as proclaiming Wuthering Heights, a story about two festering boils of humanity, a great love story.But if you look at any poll of great literary love stories, you’re bound to find Wuthering Heights at the top of the chart, followed by some ordering of Jane Eyre, Romeo & Juliet, and Gone With the Wind, because when people talk about their favorite love stories, they are almost always talking about stories that either involve some degree of abuse or love between idiotic children (R&J). We love love as long as it’s either toxic as f-ck or kids killing themselves over their first crush not calling them back fast enough. Actual, healthy expressions of love between adults take a back seat to complete tire fires emotionally dragging each other for decades.Anyway, no complaints about the actual substance of the trailer. The visual look stunning. I just do not care about anachronistic clothing or pop music on the soundtrack or any of that. Emerald Fennell is working in a distinctive style, I am down with it, and she’s allowed to frame her version of Wuthering Heights however she likes, just as we are each allowed to decide how we respond to it. I’m already sick of seeing people complain about historical inaccuracy, it’s a movie for chrissakes, it is going to reflect the taste and style of the people who made it, who are probably not you. (If you’re reading this Emerald Fennell, howdy.)I’m just so peeved about the marketing. I loved the teaser because it felt like Fennell got the subtext that everyone in Wuthering Heights is miserable because they live in a society so restrictive as to be an actual nightmare, but this trailer feels like a step backward. But maybe it’s a response to the criticism of the teaser, over which a lot of people flipped their lids about the prospect of Too Much Sex on screen. We’re still in the marketing phase, so we’ll have to wait for the full film to see how far Fennell does or does not take the toxic subtext of the story.At least we know there will definitely be some weird sh-t, there’s still plenty of licking and biting in his trailer. Wuthering Heights is for the orally fixated. (Sarah)
The trailer is set to Charli XCX's new track Chains of Love from her upcoming original album made especially for the movie soundtrack. One thing to note: the film's title is in quotation marks, seemingly to alert audiences that this is not going to be a completely faithful adaptation. But a new detail that has left fans perplexed is the film's claim to be "inspired by the greatest love story of all time". The original novel is not a heartwarming romance but more of a dark story of obsession and Heathcliff's vengeance after Catherine marries another. Needless to say, fans had some thoughts."'The greatest love story of all time' I don’t think we’ve read the same book," one confused fan wrote in the comments section of the YouTube video. "Are there two Wuthering Heights? Cause the one I read was NOT a LOVE story," someone else commented. Another viewer pointed out, "Wuthering Heights is a revenge story, not a love story". One person wrote: "Loved the story. But it's definitely not the greatest love story but the opposite, it's really sad and cruel". While the film's claim to be a romantic tale left fans of the book scratching their heads, others praised the cinematography.The trailer features stunning landscape shots of Margot and Jacob on the West Yorkshire moors. The original story takes place on the Yorkshire moors, with the 2026 version filming parts in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The trailer is a mix of sensual close-ups, shots of Jacob Elordi shirtless, and looks at Margot Robbie's luxurious costuming in corseted gowns and jewels. It ends with the two actors drenched in the rain as Jacob's Heathcliff tells Margot's Catherine: "So kiss me. And let us both be damned." "The cinematography is MAGNIFICIENT ! Every single shot could be a beautiful painting that's a master work here!!" one person praised. "Faithful to the original book or not, you can not deny this film looks BEAUTIFUL," another argued. "Say what you want about the "creative liberties" they to took in regard to the actual book....the cinematography looks dope," a third said. (Ella Rayment-Ward)
The trailer already has over 12.7 million views on YouTube in a matter of hours, but the reaction hasn’t been entirely positive. Many people have taken to social media to criticize the movie’s tagline stating that it is "inspired by the greatest love story." (Alyce Collins)
With a soundtrack by Charli XCX and plenty of shirtless Jacob Elordi moments, Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights seems scientifically engineered to captivate the attention of Gen Z. But as a new trailer makes its way into TikTok edits and Twitter discussions, something is missing that perhaps no one needs more than the film’s target audience.Text in the new trailer declares Wuthering Heights the “Greatest Love Story of All Time,” but we have yet to see whether Fennel will highlight that the film’s protagonists, Heathcliff (Elordi) and Cathy (Margot Robbie) also totally suck.Emily Brontë’s 1847 book is often paralleled to Romeo and Juliet due to its tragic elements, but in truth, this is a story of toxic love that a younger generation would benefit from seeing.For Gen Z, a brief lesson to take from the book would be that your first love, and all the ways it makes you selfish, vengeful, and manipulative, is often doomed from the outset, and pursuing any love at the expense of everyone around you has disastrous consequences.In Brontë’s text, all of Heathcliff’s so-called “romantic qualities” are indicative of the kind of love you might glamourize as a young person. Who wouldn’t want a man to be so in love with you that he’d bash his head against a tree until he bleeds and dig up your grave after seven years just to see your face?But as it plays out in the book, and hopefully in Fennel’s screen adaptation, Heathcliff’s wickedness, abuse, and manipulation are hard to fall in love with.The same goes for Cathy. Bitterly selfish in all the ways young affluent women might be, Cathy doesn’t have her priorities in order at any point in the book. Despite admitting a deep love for childhood friend Heathcliff, Cathy chooses social status and wealth by marrying Edgar Linton. Later, she only deems Heathcliff worthy when he returns with wealth, but he is back, as he once promised, to wreak havoc on all who wronged him.Whether these toxic elements make their way into Fennel’s reimagining of Brontë’s work remains to be seen. So far, the film is described as a love story in which “forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love, and madness.”But if Fennel could do one thing for the young audience she’s targeting, please don’t let them leave the theatre wanting a love like Cathy and Heathcliff’s. (Alice Kelly)
We here at Book Riot are firmly of the opinion that no adaptation—be it good, bad, or middling—can change the legacy of a beloved classic book, so I’m greeting the new trailer for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights with curiosity and a not-small appreciation for the trolling. Emily Brönte [sic] is going to be fine, and honestly, what did we expect from the filmmaker behind Saltburn? On a second viewing, the most outrageous thing about the trailer is the claim that Wuthering Heights is “the greatest love story of all time.” Whither the Romeo + Juliet stans? (Rebecca Joines Schinsky)
- Jacob Elordi has been given long hair and a decently well-kept beard, but he still looks like he smells of ethanol vomit and musk, as was the style at the time. Sort of sexy, if that's your thing — it's Elordi, after all. It's giving Long John Silver. Was this what Heathcliff looked like in the original Brontë novel? I've not read it, but as far as I know, it is not considered a staple of pirate literature.
- 30 seconds in, and there are plenty of shots that boast the stylistic flourishes you'd expect from the director of Saltburn. The standout: a stately, arctic white manor, in the middle of a snowstorm, with warm, amber light pouring out of its bay windows. It's all about striking, eye-catching contrast, which makes it all feel very dream-like; Fennell's really leaning into literary fantasy, here.
- Another example is the scene wherein we see a couple of aristocrats having afternoon tea in an impressively well-pruned garden. The background, which depicts a series of rolling hills, looks painted; none of it looks real, which is the point. It's interesting that Fennell has allegedly taken so many liberties with the plot of Wuthering Heights, because stylistically the film feels very storybook.
- Owen Cooper, ie. the brilliant kid from Adolescence, makes his debut as Young Heathcliff in an early shot. Doesn't he look cute? We're not in the manosphere anymore, Toto.
- Say what you like about the substance of Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, but they were both visual treats. Fennell just knows how to compose an eye-catching image — like here, 44 seconds in, with Elordi on horseback silhouetted against the blood-red horizon, galloping into the distance. Alexa, play “Holding Out for a Hero.” (...) (Jack King)
1. Conversation About the FutureA young Catherine and Heathcliff are shown sitting on the Yorkshire moors by the cliff talking about their future plans, where Heathcliff expresses his wishes to become rich and have a wife. To which Catherine responds with 'A wife?', clearly jealous.2. The Rain SequenceA storm-drenched moment shows Catherine and Heathcliff close together in the downpour. By the looks of it, this can be the scene where the two childhood friends give in to their feelings for each other.Their proximity in the rain marks one of the trailer's most transparent displays of shared intensity, capturing a turning point in their relationship.3. The Black-White-Red EntranceRobbie appears in a white lace top paired with a striking white-and-red Victorian skirt, standing beside Elordi's wealthy Heathcliff, who is dressed in classic black gentleman's attire. In one scene, the pair make an entrance to a parlour room together, showcasing how great they look next to each other.4. Heathcliff's ReturnElordi's Heathcliff re-enters the narrative, emerging from the mist after time away. Catherine is shown pausing in a foggy meadow as she turns and sees him, a moment that visually amplifies the emotional weight of their reunion.5. The Second Rain MomentFollowing Heathcliff's return, the trailer revisits the rain motif. The two characters face each other again in a storm, with the footage emphasising the unresolved history that resurfaces between them. The moment is labelled as very 'book-coded' by fans, as Heathcliff asks Cathy 'So kiss me. And let us both be damned.'6. Catherine in Mourning ClothesAnother shot features Robbie in severe black attire and a black veil associated with mourning, with Heathcliff standing next to her, also in black. It is a quiet, tense moment that highlights the layered grief and attachment between the characters.7. The Dinner Table ExchangeAt a candlelit table, Catherine and Heathcliff exchange a sustained look across the setting as he smokes a cigar and passes a smirk to her. The restrained environment contrasts sharply with the underlying tension, capturing the emotional friction for which Brontë's story is known.8. The Close-Up of CatherineWarner Bros has released the official trailer for Wuthering Heights, Emerald Fennell’s new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 gothic classic, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Warner Bros. YouTubeThe trailer closes in on Catherine's eyes in a quiet scene, focusing on Robbie's expression as she studies Heathcliff's face with all the emotions and yearning as he asks her to kiss him. The shot centres the character's inner conflict and longing, echoing the tone of the source novel. (Ria Pathak)
Now, a second preview of the album has been shared with the new song ‘Chains Of Love’. Like ‘House’, the song carries a similar spooky feel to it, and begins with a swirling, cinematic melody, as it gradually builds towards an euphoric chorus.“I’d rather lay down in thorns/ I’d rather drown in a stream/ I’d rather light myself on fire/ I’d rather wear all these scars/ I’d rather watch my skin bleed/ In the eye of your storm,” Charli sings as the song steadily builds towards the chorus. “Shattering like glass/ Yes, they’re breaking up my heart/ The chains of love are cruel.” (Liberty Dunworth)
1/91939The first version of Emily Brontë's story – that had sound – was released in 1939, 92 years after the book was released. The film stars Merle O'Brien as Catherine Earnshaw and Oscar-winner Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff. The adaptation is beloved and was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role.2/91954Wuthering Heights crossed international borders in 1954 when director Luis Buñuel created the film Abismos de pasión. The 91 minute adaptation renamed the classic characters – instead of Catherine, Irasema Dilián starred as Catalina, and instead of Heathcliff, Jorge Mistral portrayed Alejandro.3/91966Hollywood isn't the only industry obsessed with Emily Brontë's work. In 1966, Bollywood created its first adaptation of Wuthering Heights with Dil Diya Dard Liya. The film is 169 minutes and features several songs. While it wasn't initially well received, it is a fun version of the dark romance.4/9197031 years after Laurence Olivier's Wuthering Heights, the next version was released. The adaptation is directed by Robert Fuest and stars Timothy Dalton – a.k.a. James Bond – as Heathcliff. Unlike the 1939 version, the only nomination this version received was a Golden Globe for Best Original Score, but it is still a fun adaptation!5/91985The French took on Wuthering Heights in 1985. Director Jacques Ribette's version is set in 1930s southern France and features relatively unknown actors Fabienne Babe as Catherine, Lucas Belvaux as Heathcliff, and Olivier Cruveiller as Catherine's brother.6/91988Wuthering Heights is beloved across the globe. Three years after the French version, Japanese director Yoshishige Yoshida adapted Emily Brontë's story. The film is set in medieval Japan and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival that year.7/91992Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights was released in 1992 and starred a young Ralph Fiennes as Heathcliff. The adaptation was his first feature film. Peter Kominsky's version of the classic tale stirred up a bit of drama as it omitted the second generation of the story with the children of Cathy, Hindly, and Heathcliff.8/9201119 years after Ralph Fiennes' version of Heathcliff, the next adaptation hit theaters. Directed by Andrea Arnold, the 2011 adaptation starred Kaya Scodelario as Catherine and James Howson as Heathcliff, who was the first Black author to play the character, fitting the original description of him in Brontë's story.9/92022The most recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights was released three years ago. While not well received, the 2022 version stars German-American actress Jet Jandreau as Catherine and Bryan Ferriter as Heathcliff. (Tess Hill)
11Wuthering High School (2015)When it comes to the 2015 adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel, I’ve just one word for it: abomination. This version, known as Wuthering High School, modernized the entire story and set it in a California high school, which immediately removes the gothic atmosphere that defines the classic novel.Plus, the characters, relationships, and themes feel watered down, and the 88-minute runtime rushes through important emotional moments. Not that anyone was dying for this modernized take, but it literally changed almost everything, from setting to tone to character motivations, leaving barely anything from the original story.Naturally, it is widely viewed as the weakest version, mainly because it abandons the novel’s tragic depth and haunting intensity.10Wuthering Heights (2003)Next in line is the 2003 MTV adaptation that once again transformed the story into a modern musical, featuring a rock-themed reinterpretation of Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship. I literally don’t see the necessity of such adaptations, but it is what it is. Set around a lighthouse instead of the Yorkshire moors, the film overall takes major creative liberties.And that’s what made this film feel more like a teen melodrama than a gothic tragedy. Not to mention, while the musical elements are unique, they also distract from the emotional turmoil at the heart of Brontë’s novel. So all I can say is, this adaptation strays far from the book’s structure, themes, and character arcs.That’s what resulted in a loose retelling rather than a faithful portrayal, receiving mixed reception and limited impact.9Wuthering Heights (1967)Well, the 1967 TV adaptation did bring the novel to life with a theatrical style common for BBC productions of the era. And it also included more scenes from the book than earlier versions. But its stage-like sets, long dialogue sequences, and slow pacing made it feel dated today. Even the emotional weight of Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship doesn’t fully land.And that’s partly due to limited production design and filming techniques. So, although it followed the novel’s outline more closely than some versions, I believe it still simplified major plotlines and character developments. Perhaps that’s the reason why this adaptation remains one of the lesser-known versions.Basically, it’s not the worst, but it’s not the best version of Wuthering Heights either.8Wuthering Heights (1962)Yet another adaptation from the 60s; in fact, this one came before the TV adaptation, and still it managed to be better than the above-mentioned ones. This 1962 version focused primarily on the first half of the novel, emphasizing Catherine and Heathcliff’s tumultuous childhood and early adulthood.However, with limited sets and mostly indoor scenes, while the film captured the emotional conflict, it missed the wildness of the moors, which are essential to the book’s mood. Plus, while the performances felt strong, the production seemed restrained and lacked the intensity of the full story.Not to mention, it also omitted the second-generation storyline, which is crucial to understanding the novel’s themes of revenge and redemption. But overall, despite the faults, I felt like this one remains a solid early televised interpretation.7Wuthering Heights (1958)To be honest, this is one of the oldest adaptations of Emily Brontë’s novel, which often sparks comparisons with the 1939 adaptation. But sadly, this one doesn’t stand a chance due to its lack of atmospheric authenticity, a not-so-compassionate portrayal of Heathcliff, and a feeling that it deviates too much from the source material.But then, if I come to the performance, while some of the cast members have been praised for their strong and emotional delivery, the overall consensus is that the film failed to capture the novel’s essence. Not to mention, even the gothic atmosphere of the story seemed largely absent.So in the end, I guess the only good thing about this version is that it’s one of the few surviving television performances of Richard Burton, who played Heathcliff.6Wuthering Heights (2009)Okay, so here’s where the good stuff begins. The 2009 two-part TV adaptation offered one of the more emotionally charged depictions of Heathcliff and Catherine, which was only amplified by the actor’s strong performances and atmospheric locations. This version expanded the story across two episodes, allowing more time to explore the second generation than most film adaptations.A still from Tom Hardy’s adaptation of Brontë’s novel | image: British ITVIn my opinion, while this version took certain creative liberties, especially in character interpretation, it also captured the passionate, destructive energy of the novel. The moors and settings feel authentic and add to the gothic tone. Also, a fun fact: this one starred Tom Hardy as Heathcliff.Naturally, it is widely appreciated for its raw intensity and slightly more complete approach to Brontë’s multi-layered narrative.5Wuthering Heights (2011)Like I mentioned earlier, we’re already in the finer territory of Wuthering Heights adaptations. This 2011 film is yet again another visually striking version that focuses on realism, harsh landscapes, and raw performances. Shot with a handheld, almost documentary-like style, it highlighted Heathcliff and Catherine’s childhood in greater depth than most versions I’ve mentioned so far.Plus, the film deliberately used natural lighting and bleak imagery to capture the unforgiving world of the novel. But one thing that still hurts is how this version has spent less time on the second-generation story, meaning it doesn’t fully encompass Brontë’s complete narrative structure. But looking on the positive side, the 2011 movie won the Best Cinematography Award at the Venice Film Festival.So, while unconventional for its bold artistic choices, this one stands out for emotional realism.4Wuthering Heights (1970)So, this is my personal favorite, which I watched while reading the novel. And honestly, it didn’t disappoint. The 1970 adaptation stars Timothy Dalton and presents one of the most faithful renditions of the first half of Emily Brontë’s love story. It stays close to the source material, maintaining the tragic complexity of Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship.Plus, the film also leans heavily into the gothic mood, using dark, dramatic visuals and an emotional score that earned a Golden Globe nomination. Sadly, although the film omitted the second-generation plot, it captured the intense, destructive passion at the heart of the story.So, with strong performances and atmospheric production, it remains a respected adaptation and one of the best classic interpretations of the novel.3Wuthering Heights (1939)Despite my preference towards the 1970s version, I can’t deny that there are actually better adaptations of Wuthering Heights, like the 1939 film, which is considered a classic Hollywood adaptation of the novel, famous for its stunning black-and-white cinematography and emotional performances.So much so that this one even received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Cinematography. But sadly, while the film only adapts the first part of the novel and ends with Catherine’s death, it captures the dramatic, doomed romance in a way that shaped how generations of viewers understood the story.Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon delivered iconic portrayals of Heathcliff and Catherine. And lastly, I believe that despite simplifying the plot, the film’s atmosphere, music, and emotional power compensated for it, turning this into one of the best adaptations.2Wuthering Heights (1998)By far, the 1998 TV adaptation stands out as the second best version of the novel’s onscreen imagination, because of its lush cinematography, emotional storytelling, and its devotion to accuracy. Plus, this adaptation also embraced the darker, more gothic elements of the novel, presenting Heathcliff’s obsession and Catherine’s conflict with striking intensity.Not to mention, the pacing felt so fine that it allowed key events to unfold naturally, without rushing emotional development. The only disappointment that several fans have shown is regarding the casting. So while the cast isn’t universally loved, their performances do capture the novel’s sorrow, trauma, and generational cycles. And due to the film’s eye for accuracy, the novel remained intact.And together, it made this version widely regarded as one of the most atmospheric and emotionally faithful interpretations of Brontë’s work.1Wuthering Heights (1992)People’s opinions might vary on this one, but I truly believe this is the most faithful retelling of Wuthering Heights. Why? Because the 1992 version not only stays true to Brontë’s novel, but it was also the first adaptation to include the second-generation storyline that most films skip. Therefore, by giving equal weight to the younger Earnshaws and Lintons, it mirrored the book’s structure and themes in a better way.Plus, the movie is also praised for its lush cinematography, emotional storytelling, and memorable performances by Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. Yep, this one featured Fiennes in his youth as Heathcliff, completely stunning audiences. Sadly, this one won no awards or appreciation. (Krittika Mukherjee)
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