Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense, steamy (but not explicit) gothic romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Wuthering Heights
What's the Story?
In Emerald Fennell's adaption of Emily Brontë's 1847 gothic romance novel, Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie) and her father's ward, Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), have grown up together on the Yorkshire moors at WUTHERING HEIGHTS. They're best friends and soulmates, but their future is complicated by the fact that the Earnshaw family's fortunes have dwindled, thanks to Cathy's father's weaknesses for drinking and gambling. With little money left to care for the property, the staff, and the Earnshaws themselves, things look grim—until wealthy aristocrat Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif) makes a proposal that will solve all of their financial problems ... but create significant emotional ones.
Is It Any Good?
Basking in the afterglow of the credits, young romantics might just consider Fennell's devastating take on the classic novel to be one of the most sigh-inducing movies they've ever seen. With her update of Brontë's tortured tale of love and longing, Fennell proves that the most passionate story of today is, in fact, one of the most passionate stories of all time. Sure, there are elements in this version of Wuthering Heights that 1939's Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier may have blushed at the very thought of, and some Brontë purists may not appreciate the movie's changes to the story. But for many teens, Fennell's version is likely to be the full swoon.
Cathy and Heathcliff's love will feel, to at least some viewers, like the kind everyone longs for. When he shelters her eyes from the rain, his adoration is obvious. And when he picks her up by the corset using only a finger, it may be viewers who find they can't breathe. But considering that the two later show their love to each other by inflicting emotional pain, their relationship may ultimately end up feeling like the kind everyone fears experiencing: so all-encompassing that you literally can't live without it. Their passion is both toxic and compelling, leaving viewers somewhere between fully satisfied and fully destroyed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the nature of Cathy and Heathcliff's relationship in Wuthering Heights. Is it loving or toxic? What does true love really look like? Compare how Heathcliff and Edgar each treat Cathy: Which one would you describe as unconditional love?
What "rules" and limitations does society function under in the movie's world? What options were available to women for financial survival in the mid-19th century? How do these factors play into Cathy's decision? What would you have done in her place?
Would you describe any of the characters as role models or admirable? Why, or why not? Do their flaws make them relatable?
How does this adaptation compare to Emily Brontë's 1847 novel? What changes were made? What challenges do you think might exist in adapting a classic novel for a modern audience?
How is drinking depicted here? Is it glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 13, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : March 31, 2026
- Cast : Margot Robbie , Jacob Elordi , Hong Chau
- Director : Emerald Fennell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros. Pictures
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 130 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, some violent content and language
- Last updated : February 24, 2026
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