Courting Controversy

Jo-Blo discusses why literary adaptations divide audiences:

In his review of Wuthering Heights, our own Chris Bumbray noted that the film would likely divide critics, and we’re certainly seeing that as other reviews roll in.

“One thing is for sure—it’s strikingly different as far as adaptations go, with the classic tale reimagined into a corset-loosening erotic drama that at times feels like it owes more to E.L. James than Brontë,” Bumbray wrote. “It’s a defiantly maximalist take on the costume flick, with director Fennell throwing everything but the kitchen sink into her adaptation, which boldly ditches the entire second half of the novel and takes huge liberties with the rest.“

Before the film’s release, Fennell emphasized she never aimed for a definitive version. Her goal was to capture how the novel felt to her as a teen. “That would mean it had a certain amount of wish fulfillment,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “The Gothic, to me, is emotional and it’s about the world reflecting everyone’s interior landscape. This is my personal fan tribute to this work.“

For many classic novel fans, any deviation feels like a betrayal. But Wuthering Heights isn’t the only recent literary adaptation to court controversy. (Kevin Fraser)

Screenrant updates the top ten highest-grossing movies of 2026, so far:

8. Wuthering Heights

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi teamed up for Emerald Fennell's fresh take on Wuthering Heights, and with that starpower and the book's name recognition, the movie became a hit. It made $241.6 million throughout its theatrical run after launching over Valentine's Day weekend, on February 13.

Wuthering Heights' box office is largely due to international audiences. It made $157.6 million (or 65.2%) of its total overseas, with the United Kingdom ($34.3 million), Australia ($14.5 million), and Italy ($12.8 million) driving the most interest. But after making $37.5 million and finishing at #1 in its 4-day domestic opening weekend, it was quickly forgotten and finished with just $83.9 million. (Cooper Hood)

According to the Manchester Evening News, Haworth is among the most affordable towns in the UK for a week's stay in 2026:

Haworth, West Yorkshire: Brontë country at its most atmospheric. Cobbled streets, moorland walks, the famous Parsonage Museum, and a nostalgic heritage railway make this a brilliant budget literary escape. (Milo Boyd and Kieran Isgin)

Antena 3 (Spain) explores the Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week 2026:

Tras una última época en que las novias se carcterizaban por vestidos sencillos y contenidos, para 2027 vuelve a resurgir el drama romántico: una estética más emocional, con corsés visibles como protagonistas, mangas dramáticas, faldas con vuelo y tejidos etéreos.

Esta tendencia aparece, en parte, gracias a los estímulos que hemos visto últimamente, con los fenómenos Bridgerton y Cumbres Borrascosas, entre otros. Hace falta destacar que lo que se busca es una reinterpretación de vestidos históricos, por opciones más modernas y fashion. (María Toro) (Translation)

Movie-Locations has updated its Wuthering Heights 1970 section. The Japan Brontë Society's blog reports on the 2026 Brontë Day public lecture, held on 6 June at Waseda University with 56 attendees. Two papers were delivered: one examining Charlotte's autobiographical novels (Jane Eyre and Villette), and another on embodied vision in her work, tracing links to the camera obscura and stereoscope. The day also saw the launch of a Society-supervised picture book on the Brontë siblings.