Margot Robbie’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ Is Dominating Streaming Charts

While critics have been divided and book purists express their outrage, streaming audiences have made their preferences clear. Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’, featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, debuted on HBO Max on May 1 and quickly ascended to the number one position on the platform, demonstrating that controversy often enhances a film’s long-term appeal.

By May 3, the romantic drama had claimed the top spot on HBO Max’s U.S. movie charts, pushing ‘Marty Supreme’ out of the number one slot it held for the previous week. Remarkably, the film also secured the sixth position on the same chart, achieving two spots simultaneously. On a global scale, ‘Wuthering Heights’ topped HBO Max charts in 32 countries within just one day of its streaming launch.

The film arrived on the platform after grossing approximately $242 million worldwide following its theatrical release on Valentine’s Day weekend, where it opened to $37.5 million domestically. Produced by Warner Bros. on an $80 million budget, the theatrical run was sufficient to ensure profitability, though it encountered its share of challenges.

The critical reception has been notably mixed from the outset. The film holds a 58% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated it significantly higher at 76%, indicating the passionate division it stirred during its theatrical run.

On Letterboxd, the film has an average rating of 2.8 out of 5, with ongoing debates not only about the film itself but also regarding the responsibilities of an adaptation to its source material.

Much of the criticism has focused on casting decisions and fidelity to the novel, particularly as Heathcliff is described in the original text as dark-skinned and Romani, a detail that many adaptations have historically overlooked. Others have criticized the film for prioritizing physical desire over emotional depth, although some critics have defended it, with the Daily Telegraph’s Robbie Collin awarding the film a perfect five stars and describing it as “resplendently lurid, oozy and wild.”

For Fennell, ‘Wuthering Heights’ represents her third directorial feature, following ‘Promising Young Woman’ and ‘Saltburn’, both of which sparked similarly polarized reactions that ultimately contributed to their cultural impact. Robbie also produced the film alongside Fennell and Josey McNamara, continuing a creative collaboration that began with ‘Saltburn’.

In interviews leading up to the release, Robbie characterized the film as a sweeping romantic epic reminiscent of ‘The Notebook’ and ‘The English Patient’, aiming to attract audiences seeking emotionally charged, classic storytelling. The streaming figures suggest that those viewers found precisely what they were looking for, regardless of the opinions of critics or literary enthusiasts.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.