“Wuthering Heights” (2026) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights (2026) was never going to be a quiet adaptation. From the very first frame, it declares that this will not be a museum-piece retelling of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel. Instead, it’s a maximalist, sensual, visually aggressive reinterpretation of one of literature’s most turbulent love stories.
Set against the Yorkshire moors, the film follows the obsessive, destructive relationship between Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). It’s a story about passion, class, longing, cruelty, and emotional self-destruction. But Fennell’s version leans hard into lust, spectacle, and stylized melancholy—sometimes brilliantly, sometimes frustratingly.
If you’re wondering whether this version captures the soul of Brontë’s novel—or whether it’s worth watching online—here’s my personal review.
A Bold Opening That Sets the Tone
The film opens with heavy breathing over a black screen—intimate, almost erotic. Then the image appears, and it’s not what you expect. Instead of sex, we see a man being hanged in a public square.
It’s provocative. Subversive. Intentionally misleading.
Right away, Fennell tells us that in her vision, lust and death are inseparable. Desire is suffocation. Passion is violence. It’s a daring opening that promises a radical, even dangerous adaptation.
Unfortunately, after that electric start, the film becomes strangely cautious. Stylish, yes. Visually extravagant, absolutely. But emotionally? It often feels oddly restrained.
Gothic Aesthetic and Visual Identity
Let’s start with what undeniably works: the visual direction.
The production design and art direction are striking. Wuthering Heights itself feels embedded in harsh black rock, raw and primitive. Thrushcross Grange, by contrast, looks like a porcelain dollhouse—delicate, artificial, almost sterile. The contrast between nature and culture is obvious and intentional.
The moors are where the film truly breathes. Wind, fog, high-contrast lighting, deep reds and blacks—it’s cinematic and grand. Some frames genuinely make your jaw drop.
Costumes are daring, often symbolic rather than historically accurate. Catherine’s wardrobe shifts in color and tone to reflect her emotional descent—red, then black. Some pieces are stunning, like her wedding gown. Others feel oddly plastic, almost like high-fashion perfume ads rather than lived-in garments.
This adaptation isn’t subtle. It’s maximalist, theatrical, almost psychedelic at times.
And I loved parts of that.
Music and Sound Design: Sensual and Disruptive
The music choices add a modern pulse to the period setting. Heavy bass tones and atmospheric sound design create a sensual undercurrent. At times, it feels hypnotic. At others, distracting.
It’s very much in line with Fennell’s signature style—big emotions, bold choices, and zero interest in playing safe.
Does it always serve the story? Not entirely. But it undeniably gives the film its own identity.
The Love Story: Passion Without Depth?
Here’s where things get complicated.
Catherine and Heathcliff are meant to embody obsessive, almost feral love. They are soulmates in the most destructive sense—two equally volatile spirits.
Margot Robbie delivers a compelling performance as Cathy. She’s magnetic, unstable, frustrating, and emotionally raw. Even when the script flattens her, she finds moments of depth.
Jacob Elordi, however, will likely divide audiences. Some viewers find his Heathcliff too restrained, too polished. Heathcliff in the novel is rage personified—racially marginalized, brutalized, vengeful. This version softens that edge considerably.
There’s heat between them, yes. The film is arguably the most openly sexual adaptation of Wuthering Heights ever made. But strangely, despite all the physical intensity, the emotional bond feels underdeveloped.
We don’t spend enough time watching their connection grow before the drama explodes. The film jumps quickly from longing to chaos, leaving the romance feeling more aesthetic than visceral.
It’s passionate. It’s provocative. But it rarely devastates.
Style Over Substance?
That’s the central debate surrounding this adaptation.
Fennell chooses to adapt only half of the novel, skipping some supernatural framing elements and leaning more toward romantic melodrama than gothic horror. The original novel straddles romance and gothic brutality. This film chooses romance—with horror undertones—but doesn’t fully commit to either.
There are moments filmed like horror scenes, particularly in the early interactions between young Cathy and Heathcliff. And I genuinely wish the film leaned harder into that macabre energy.
Instead, it sometimes feels like it’s trying very hard to be provocative. And as someone once said: there’s nothing less sexy than trying too hard to be sexy.
That doesn’t mean it’s bad. It means it feels conflicted.
Supporting Characters and Missed Opportunities
One of the biggest weaknesses is how heavily the film centers Catherine and Heathcliff at the expense of everyone else.
Hong Chau’s Nelly is quietly powerful but underused. Alison Oliver’s Isabella brings chaotic energy and arguably delivers one of the most memorable supporting performances. She embraces the artifice and perversity in a way that feels refreshingly committed.
But overall, the emotional weight of the wider story—class tension, cruelty, racial implications, generational damage—feels smoothed over.
Some viewers have criticized the casting of Heathcliff as a white man, arguing it erases key subtext about racial discrimination in the novel. Whether you agree or not, it’s undeniable that the adaptation shifts the thematic focus away from social hierarchy and toward spectacle.
Does It Work as Entertainment?
Surprisingly… yes.
Despite its flaws, the film is undeniably watchable. It’s visually arresting. It’s emotionally heightened. And the final act does manage to stir something real.
I didn’t find it a definitive adaptation. I still feel other interpretations capture the soul of the novel more powerfully.
But as a standalone cinematic experience? It’s dramatic, sensual, and occasionally moving.
You just have to accept that this is Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, not Emily Brontë’s.
Where to Watch “Wuthering Heights” (2026) Online
As of the time this article is written, Wuthering Heights (2026) is not yet available on streaming platforms in the United States.
There are currently:
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No subscription streaming options
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No rental options
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No digital purchase listings
To monitor real-time availability in the US, check JustWatch here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/wuthering-heights-2026
You can also visit the official film website for updates and announcements: https://www.wutheringheightsfilm.com/
Predicted Streaming Release
Based on typical distribution patterns for prestige literary adaptations and awards-season releases, here’s a reasonable expectation:
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Premium VOD (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play) likely within 2–4 months of theatrical run
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Possible streaming home on a major platform such as Netflix, Max, or Prime Video depending on distribution deals
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Digital rental likely before subscription streaming
Keep an eye on JustWatch for updates, especially if you’re planning to watch online as soon as it becomes available.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Watching?
If you’re expecting a faithful, literary, emotionally devastating adaptation of Brontë’s novel, you may leave disappointed.
If you’re open to:
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A visually extravagant reinterpretation
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Bold stylistic choices
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Sensual intensity
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A modernized gothic atmosphere
Then yes, it’s worth seeing.
It’s flawed. It’s divisive. It’s occasionally superficial. But it’s never boring.
And in a sea of safe adaptations, at least this one dares to be loud.
Should You Watch It When It Streams?
Absolutely—especially if you’re curious about how modern directors reinterpret classic literature.
Bookmark the JustWatch page, check the official site for updates, and be ready to stream it once digital rentals go live.
Love it or hate it, this Wuthering Heights demands to be experienced—and debated.
