The review embargo has lifted on Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” and—absolute shocker—those first-wave social media reactions were a mirage. The film isn’t “God-tier classic” after all (I’ll be seeing this one tonight).
Yes, as expected, the response has been deeply divisive, though much of the reaction has skewed openly hostile. The Independent calls the film “astonishingly bad,” while Collider writes that “Emily Brontë is absolutely rolling in her grave.” Den of Geek goes even further, except they actually liked the film, labeling it a “bastardization of Brontë.”
The negative reviews are coming in from ScreenRant (2/5), RogerEbert (2/4), Slant (2/4), The Film Verdict, The Guardian (2/5), Mashable, Collider (2/10), Vulture, The New Yorker, Toronto Star (2/4), AV Club, The Independent (2/5), The Daily Beast, The Times (2/5), and Slash Film (5/10).
Positive takes: IndieWire (B),THR, BBC, The Irish Times (3/5), Little White Lies (3/5), USA Today (3.5/4), and Variety.
As of this writing, the film currently sits at 60 on Metacritic, and 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. Of course, these mixed reviews are unlikely to affect the box office for this type of movie. The core female demographic has already made up its mind about turning out opening weekend, and current box office projections place the opening in the $50M+ range.
There will be audiences who love this film, but plenty of hate will follow as well. There’s almost no middle ground when it comes to Fennell’s brand of cinema. After the one-two, viral punch of “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn,” she’s sticking with her provocative voice in “Wuthering Heights,” purists be damned.
The film has a production/distribution budget reported at around $80M. That figure largely reflects the deal Warner Bros. struck to acquire and back the film after a competitive bidding war — including a higher reported offer of around $150M from Netflix that Fennell and her producers ultimately declined in favor of a theatrical rollout.
“Wuthering Heights” is set to hit theaters on February 13, 2026, via Warner Bros. Pictures.
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