🎬 Before You See the New Wuthering Heights… Did You Know About All of These?

So much flowing hair!

By Valerie Cameron

There’s a new Wuthering Heights hitting theaters this weekend — directed by Emerald Fennell, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi — and yes, it’s already one of the most talked-about literary adaptations in years.

But before you step onto the moors with this bold new version, I am using the word "Moors" very loosely here when it comes to the new version… did you know this story has been haunting audiences for more than a century on and off the big screen?

Emily Brontë’s gothic romance has inspired nearly 35 film and television adaptations worldwide. Silent films. Classic Hollywood epics. BBC serials. Gritty modern reinterpretations. Heathcliff and Catherine have been reinvented again and again — each era shaping their obsession into something new.

Quick note about the new adaptation, much like the book, if you are looking for traditional romance and smolder kind of moment this weekend, this is not a dark red lipstick movie. It is more of a mauve with peach lipliner kind of romance...Yep peach. That shade does not look good on everyone. Save the red lipstick for your own steamy romance #goals.

🎥 The Classics You May Have Heard Of

The first known film adaptation dates back to 1920, during the silent era.

Then came the iconic 1939 version directed by William Wyler, starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon — a sweeping, romantic Hollywood take that cemented Heathcliff as one of cinema’s great brooding anti-heroes.

🏆 Academy Awards

• Won: Best Cinematography (Black-and-White)

• Nominated for: Best Picture (and several others)

It didn’t win Best Picture — that year went to Gone with the Wind —

Later adaptations:

• 1970 – starring Timothy Dalton

• 1992 – starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

• 2011 – directed by Andrea Arnold, which leaned into the rawness and brutality of the novel in a way few before it had.

  
  
  
  

📺 The TV Versions (Including the Tom Hardy One 👀)Yep, Tom Hardy. His lox are flowing.

Television has loved Wuthering Heights just as much.

The BBC produced major adaptations in 1967 and 1978, and ITV delivered its own versions over the decades.

And yes — the one people always forget:

The 2009 ITV miniseries starring Tom Hardy as Heathcliff and Charlotte Riley as Catherine.

It was darker. More brutal. More physically charged. And fun fact? That’s where Hardy and Riley met. Guess why I liked this version? I will give you some hints: Hardy, dark and brutal.

🎬 So What Makes 2026 Different?

The new 2026 adaptation brings a distinctly modern voice.

Directed and written by Emerald Fennell (yes, that Emerald Fennell), sadly you will not get an ending quit like Salt Burn in this film. You will get mesmerizing cinematography by Linus Sandgren, and some say this version promises a stylized, visceral, almost primal take on Brontë’s story. (I would not categorize it as primal, I would love your take.) I don't want to leave out what I know will be one of the best movie scores and soundtracks of the year.

Charli xcx has released a new track, 'Chains Of Love' - from her upcoming 'Wuthering Heights' album written for Emerald Fennell's film (starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi). https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/charli-xcx/20211

Score Composer: The film’s original score — the instrumental music that underlies the drama — was composed by Anthony Willis, a frequent collaborator of director Emerald Fennell. Willis is responsible for crafting the atmospheric, cinematic music that supports the emotional and narrative beats of the movie. (Wikipedia)

🎵 Songs & Soundtrack: In addition to the score, Charli XCX created an original soundtrack album of songs inspired by the film, featuring tracks like “House” (with John Cale) and “Chains of Love.” 

🎧 What to Hear Before You Go

Before you step into the film, set the mood.

The new Wuthering Heights features an original score by Anthony Willis, whose emotional compositions lean into the gothic tension and romantic devastation of the story. His notes really bring the dark moments into deeper places. The score is a character of it's own that lingers in the film, like the ghost we are waiting for.

An original soundtrack curated and created by Charli XCX — she keeps upping her game, I want to say it is surprising, but the more I see of her, I am not surprised at her many talents. — She brings a modern, atmospheric edge to a movie that needs helping pulling the right type of drama in for the audience to stay focused.

Here’s what to listen to before you go:

🎵 1. “House” – Charli XCX (feat. John Cale)

Moody. Sparse. Haunting.

🎵 2. “Chains of Love” – Charli XCX

Dark romance energy. Obsessive devotion. Exactly the emotional temperature of Catherine and Heathcliff.

🎼 3. The Main Theme – Anthony Willis

Main Cast:

• Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw

• Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff

• Hong Chau as Nelly Dean (A pleasant surprise for me.)

• Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton

• Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton

Releasing Valentine’s weekend 2026, it’s clearly positioning itself as the stormiest love story of the year.

So why does it matter?

With nearly 35 adaptations. More than a dozen major English-language films and series. Over 100 years of cinematic obsession. That’s not just a remake. That’s legacy. And if you are a huge fan of the book, the expectations of this film are probably great...👀👀👀

So before you see the new one… ask yourself:

Which Heathcliff was your first?

Which Catherine broke your heart?

And is this finally the version that gets it exactly right?

—

If you’ve seen more than two versions, you officially earn moor-level film nerd status.

🖤Just for funzies! Lets Rank the Heathcliffs

Let’s be honest — this story lives or dies by Heathcliff. And evil, Heathcliff and evil.

Brooding romantic?

Vindictive anti-hero?

Unhinged chaos king of the moors?

Before you see the 2026 version, here’s your assignment:

🎬 The Heathcliff Lineup

• Laurence Olivier – 1939 (Classic, tortured Hollywood romantic)

• Timothy Dalton – 1970 (Brooding intensity turned up)

• Ralph Fiennes – 1992 (Dark, obsessive, emotionally volatile)

• Tom Hardy – 2009 ITV (Raw, physical, almost feral)

• Jacob Elordi – 2026 (The question mark… for now) I don't want to give any spoilers on this one. For now...

Your Turn

Rank them 1–5.

Who understood the rage?

Who embodied the obsession?

Who actually made you believe Catherine would ruin her entire life for him?

Drop your ranking in the comments' or send me an email.

I will judge. (Lovingly.) and do some call outs on my next podcast TikTok.

💬 Bonus Question

Do you prefer:

A. Romantic Heathcliff

B. Toxic Heathcliff

C. Gothic ghost Heathcliff

D. Full chaos Heathcliff

Choose wisely.

Stay tunes for my review and here is a hint, it was not evil enough for me. Wink Wink

Wuthering Heights is in theatres just intime for Valentines Day, February 13th, 2026.

— Valerie Cameron What to See with Val