Wuthering Heights (2026): Cast, Story and Where to Watch

The first posters for Wuthering Heights introduced Emerald Fennell’s versions of Cathy and Heathcliff, but the movie has now completed its theatrical launch. It opened in the United States on February 13, 2026, began streaming on HBO Max on May 1, and is also available to buy or rent through digital stores. Services and language options vary by region.

What the 2026 film is about

The story follows the destructive bond between Cathy Earnshaw and Heathcliff against the Yorkshire moors. Their attraction collides with class, family expectations, jealousy and revenge. The film draws on the characters and central conflicts of Emily Brontë’s novel, but it compresses the plot and changes its emphasis substantially.

Fennell has framed the movie as an emotional interpretation rather than a chapter-by-chapter transcription. Viewers looking for a faithful adaptation should know that this version makes Cathy and Heathcliff’s desire more explicit and leaves much of the novel’s second-generation story outside its focus.

Cast

• Margot Robbie plays Cathy Earnshaw.
• Jacob Elordi plays Heathcliff.
• Hong Chau plays Nelly.
• Shazad Latif plays Edgar.
• Alison Oliver plays Isabella.
• Martin Clunes plays Mr. Earnshaw.
• Ewan Mitchell plays Joseph.

Emerald Fennell wrote and directed the adaptation. Josey McNamara, Fennell, Robbie and Tom Ackerley are credited as producers. MRC, Lie Still and LuckyChap produced the film, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling distribution.

Runtime and age rating

The British Board of Film Classification lists a runtime of 135 minutes and 59 seconds and a 15 certificate. The film is rated R in the United States for sexual content, language and some violence. It is an adult romantic drama, so the glamorous poster campaign does not communicate every content warning.

Critical and box-office response

Reviews were divided. Variety praised the heightened passion and the leads’ chemistry, while the Associated Press found the production visually bold but dramatically simplified. Whatever the critical split, the movie opened at No. 1 in North America with an estimated $34.8 million across its first three days, according to studio estimates reported by AP.

Where to watch Wuthering Heights

The official Warner Bros. site lists the digital and 4K Ultra HD release. Prime Video offers rental or purchase in supported territories. The Associated Press included the movie in its guide to the May 1 HBO Max streaming release.

Sources

The BBFC entry provides the exact runtime and content guidance. Variety’s review supplies critical context about the adaptation’s choices.

Original image credit: Film.ru.