Emerald Fennell's adaptation of 'Wuthering Heights,' starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has sparked significant controversy and debate since its release on February 13, 2026. The film, which focuses solely on the first half of Emily Brontë’s novel, has been criticized for its 'sweeping departures from the original material,' as noted by Geo Entertainment. The opening scene, depicting a man being hanged, has been particularly contentious, with Fennell explaining to USA Today that it was meant to set a tone of 'arousal and danger,' aligning with the Gothic nature of the story. Critics have been divided, with The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey calling it an 'astonishingly bad adaptation,' while others have praised its boldness and visual flair.