Wuthering Heights (2026) is a British-American gothic psychological drama romance adapted from Emily Brontë’s novel.
The film is written, directed, and produced by Emerald Fennell, known for provocative, character-driven storytelling.
The cast includes Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Ewan Mitchell, and Martin Clunes.
The story follows the obsessive and destructive bond between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, set on the harsh English moors.
This is a loose, modernized adaptation that emphasizes erotic obsession and emotional violence. The film releases theatrically on February 13, 2026, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, with an IMAX release planned.
Wuthering Heights Age Rating
Wuthering Heights is officially rated R by the MPAA for sexual content, some violent content, and language, indicating it is restricted to adult audiences and not intended for children or younger teens. Here’s everything you need to know, broken down by content category so you can make the right call for your family.
Sexual Content
This is where the film earns the bulk of its R rating, so let’s not sugarcoat it.
The film leans heavily into the sadomasochism of Brontë’s original book, with a hot-blooded adaptation that includes BDSM sequences — one involves a character being tied up and fitted with a horse’s bridle during intercourse. There is a woman pleasuring herself, followed by a man sucking her fingers. A woman is chained up and ordered to bark like a dog. An explicit sex montage depicts a male and female performing intimacy in multiple positions. Voyeurism is also depicted.
Catherine at one point masturbates, and Heathcliff performs oral sex on her under her skirt — though nothing explicit is actually shown in either scene.
Here’s the surprising part, though: there is no explicit nudity in Wuthering Heights. All of the sex scenes are performed clothed, with corsets remaining intact throughout.The most bare skin you’ll see is a shirtless Jacob Elordi shoveling hay. The intimacy is more suggested and implied than graphically shown, but the intent and content of those scenes is unmistakably adult. Even clothed, leads Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi put on quite a steamy show.
There is also an extended sex montage of Heathcliff and Catherine making love in a variety of locations, and Heathcliff and Catherine are prone to licking each other’s faces and necks in the throes of passion. He also shoves his fingers in her mouth mid-foreplay. The film is saturated with erotic imagery — dripping egg yolks, flesh-toned walls, and plump kneaded dough all serve as visual metaphors throughout.
Female breast cleavage is featured prominently throughout, and early in the film the outline of a male erection is visible through clothing.
Bottom line on sex: this film is aggressively sensual. The lack of full nudity doesn’t soften the impact of what’s being depicted.
Violence and Gore
Wuthering Heights begins with a hanging and ends in a pool of blood — but the bulk of the wounds in between are emotional. That said, there are several scenes of physical violence and disturbing imagery that parents should know about.
A man dies slowly and visibly dangling from a noose at a public hanging. A man is heard beating a child off-screen, and blood is later seen on the child’s bedsheets — the scars from that beating are visible on his back later in the film. A woman repeatedly punches a man in the chest and slaps his face. A person kicks the corpse of a family member. A woman dies from pregnancy-induced septicemia and is seen lying in a pool of blood.
The film takes a significant departure from the book in how Catherine’s pregnancy ends — in this version, her poor choices result in a miscarriage, and she dies from sepsis shortly after. Unwitting viewers will be treated to a graphic and horrifying miscarriage scene.
A man puts his wife in a dog collar and chains her to the fireplace. A young woman twists a sewing needle into her own hand. A doll is seen with a miniature knife through its chest and simulated bloody injuries. A pig is slaughtered on screen, splashing blood across the walls and leaving a woman’s skirts bloodstained.
A woman is seen with the skin on her back tightening and bleeding as her wedding dress is ordered to be laced increasingly tight. There is also bloody detail surrounding a dead body shown in the film.
Violence in this film isn’t constant — but when it arrives, it tends to be disturbing and psychologically heavy rather than action-movie style.
Language
Characters occasionally use strong profanity throughout the film, including the F-word, “bastard,” “bitch,” and “a**hole.” Emily Brontë and her sisters never once used the F-word in their novels, but Fennell’s adaptation includes it multiple times — particularly during emotionally heightened scenes. Language is consistent with what you’d expect from an R-rated drama, though it’s not the film’s primary concern.
Alcohol and Substance Use
Cathy’s father is portrayed as a gambling alcoholic whose weaknesses have drained the family’s finances. Alcohol use is woven throughout the film as a theme of weakness, escape, and decline. It’s not glorified — if anything, it’s depicted as destructive — but it is present and recurring. A man dying from alcoholism is shown over the course of the story.
Themes Parents Should Talk About
This is arguably the most important section of this entire guide. The explicit content in Wuthering Heights is one thing, but the ideas the film normalizes — or at least presents without critique — are what make it most complicated for younger audiences.
Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship involves coercive control, emotional manipulation, and BDSM-influenced power dynamics that are framed as passionate and desirable. The story is largely about obsession and emotional abuse — you’ll want to make sure your teen is mature and comfortable enough to engage with those themes critically before seeing the film.
Heathcliff and Catherine frequently insult each other even as they carry on their affair. Catherine is portrayed as immature and self-centered, making choices driven more by ego than love. Neither character is a role model, and the film doesn’t pretend they are — but teens absorbing this story without context may walk out thinking that all-consuming, boundary-crossing obsession is what real love looks like.
It isn’t.
Is Wuthering Heights Suitable for Teens?
Here’s the honest breakdown by age:
Under 13: Absolutely not. This film was not made with children in mind in any capacity.
Ages 13–14: Not recommended. The sexual content, BDSM elements, miscarriage scene, and disturbing violence are all too mature for this age group, regardless of how much they love the book in school.
Ages 15–17: Possibly, with careful parental consideration. The lack of full nudity makes the sexual content less explicit than it could be, and mature high schoolers who can engage critically with the relationship dynamics on screen may find genuine value in the film. However, the BDSM sequences, self-harm imagery, and miscarriage scene should be previewed and discussed. Don’t let your teenager go into this one blind.
Ages 18+: This film is designed for adults. Watch it freely, but go in knowing it’s darker and stranger than the trailers suggest.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Wuthering Heights (2026)?
A: The film is rated R for sexual content, some violent content, and language.
Q: Is Wuthering Heights (2026) appropriate for kids?
A: No. This adaptation is strictly for adult audiences.
Q: Are there violent or disturbing scenes?
A: Yes. The film includes emotional cruelty, revenge, and some physical violence.
Q: Does the movie contain strong language?
A: Yes. Strong profanity is used throughout intense scenes.
Q: Is there sexual content or nudity?
A: Yes. Sexual content and erotic themes are a major focus of this adaptation.
Q: Where can I watch Wuthering Heights (2026)?
A: The film will release theatrically on February 13, 2026, worldwide, including IMAX, through Warner Bros. Pictures.