Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights first reviews unleashed as early Rotten Tomatoes score finally revealed

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From the moment the trailer for Emerald Fennell’s take on Wuthering Heights came out, it was clear the film would likely spark a lot of disagreement – and that’s exactly what’s happened.

Film reviews started coming out yesterday evening, February 9th, and opinions are all over the place. Critics have given the movie everything from terrible one-star ratings to enthusiastic five-star reviews.

Currently, the film has a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 70 reviews, indicating generally favorable opinions. Its score on Metacritic is a bit lower, at 60.

The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin gave the film a glowing 5-star review, arguing that it’s not just visually impressive but also deeply meaningful. He countered criticisms that it prioritizes style over substance, explaining that when done well, style is substance.

The intense connection between Cathy and Heathcliff is powerfully felt throughout the film – in their clothing, the scenery, and every detail. It leaves you deeply moved and emotionally shaken, as if you’ve been swept up in their world.

In stark contrast, Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent gave the film a single star, describing it as a remarkably poor adaptation, comparing it unfavorably to a weak romance novel.

She felt Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s performances as Cathy and Heathcliff were overly dramatic, almost like a cartoon. She also criticized the film for its portrayal of class, suggesting it unfairly depicted poor characters as sexually inappropriate and wealthy characters as naive and sheltered.

The film received a wide range of reviews. The Standard and the BBC both gave it four stars, while The Financial Times and Empire awarded three stars. The Guardian and The Times were less impressed, giving it two stars each.

Major American publications had mixed reactions to the work. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter generally offered positive reviews, but The New Yorker was more critical.

Our review was highly positive, awarding the work four stars. We described it as a fresh and exciting update – lively, funny, and dramatic – with a playful and captivating energy.

Ultimately, whether you’ll like this movie really comes down to personal preference – it won’t appeal to all viewers.

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Wuthering Heights will be released in cinemas on 13th February 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

As a huge movie fan, I always check TopMob for the latest releases, and Patrick Cremona is the guy behind all the coverage. He’s their Senior Film Writer and keeps us updated on everything hitting theaters and streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and in that time, he’s chatted with tons of famous actors and given his take on all sorts of films – it’s a really diverse range of content he covers!

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2026-02-10 16:08