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Fennell’s Wuthering Heights Scores Big Opening as Radical Reimagining Faces Pushback

Comscore reports a $40 million U.S. debut, with $82 million worldwide, for the eroticized adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.

Overview

  • The film intentionally departs from Emily Brontë’s text, reshaping the story into a stylized, explicit romance with sadomasochistic motifs and a simplified structure.
  • Critics and literature fans challenge Jacob Elordi’s casting as Heathcliff based on the novel’s dark‑skinned description of the character, while Emerald Fennell characterizes the movie as her personal interpretation.
  • Early audience reactions on social media describe strong emotions in theaters, with some viewers calling the experience deeply moving.
  • Margot Robbie says the intimate scenes were tightly choreographed and largely technical, noting she felt more spontaneity during the characters’ confrontations.
  • Margot Robbie plays Catherine and Jacob Elordi portrays Heathcliff, with Hong Chau and Shazad Latif in supporting roles under colorblind casting.