Exploring the Controversial Reception of Wuthering Heights Film Adaptation
John Kim
Published May 17, 2026
By Published May 3, 2026, 11:44 AM EDT Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 6 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
's controversial movie is defying the odds.
Elordi rose to fame through his role in Netflix's rom-com movie series The Kissing Booth and HBO's controversial teen drama Euphoria. The actor then transitioned into more movie roles and earned for his role in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and a BAFTA nomination for Emerald Fennell's Saltburn.
Fennell reunited with Elordi in arguably one of the most controversial adaptations of the 179-year-old novel titled Wuthering Heights as Heathcliff. The actor starred opposite Margot Robbie in an erotic interpretation of Emily Brontë's novel. Since its release on the streaming giant HBO Max, the movie has become number 1 on the charts in over 50 countries, including the U.S., which is a surprise for many given the incredibly divisive feedback upon its theatrical release.
Fennell's interpretation of Wuthering Heights showed a whole new side to the classic story, where the troubled and highly controversial Heathcliff (played by Elordi) falls in love with , who has to make a choice between money and power or passion and love. The movie's cast also includes Owen Cooper, Alison Oliver, Shazad Latif, Ewan Mitchell, Hong Chau, and Martin Clunes.
There have been many adaptations of Brontë's novel, which was extremely controversial when it was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. The novel initially shocked the Victorian public due to its amoral characters, brutal cruelty, domestic abuse, and its challenging takes on morality and the class system in place during the time period. However, Wuthering Heights has since been celebrated for being ahead of its time as a literary masterpiece.
has been picked apart by critics and audiences due to several factors, including casting Elordi as Heathcliff, who has been racially ambiguous for some time and has been depicted as not white through the years. Critics have also stated that the excessive eroticism and showing abuse as kink rather than the dangerous sides has led to many being truly offended by the movie. Critics gave the movie a 58% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences being more generous with a 76% rating.
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Fennell's Wuthering Heights has grossed over $241 million worldwide against a reported $80 million budget. Despite , his performance has been praised in the movie. The actor isn't slowing down either, as the third and final season of Euphoria is currently airing with Elordi reprising his role as Nate Jacobs. He will also be appearing in Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars as Hig alongside Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, Margaret Qualley, and Benedict Wong.
Wuthering Heights is available to stream on HBO Max.
Cast
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Catherine Earnshaw -
Heathcliff
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WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingWriters Emerald Fennell, Emily Brontë Producers , Tom Ackerley, Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara Expand Collapse
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