Emerald Fennell’s take on Wuthering Heights hit theaters on February 13. Critics and moviegoers wasted no time writing reviews and voicing their opinions on the adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi stepped into the roles of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff in a story full of torture, lust, affairs, and heartbreak.

Many people are calling the film visually stunning and praising its cinematography, but some dislike its 2-hour-plus runtime and a few changes from the original story.

Actor, Producer MARGOT ROBBIE as Catherine Earnshaw in “Wuthering Heights,” a Warner Bros. Pictures Release.(Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.)

The tomato-meter sits at 59% from more than 250 reviews, while the popcorn-meter, which reflects the audience score from movie watchers, is at 77% with over 1,000 reviews. I’ve always believed that critics and regular moviegoers see things differently, and this big gap in scores shows it.

What’s different in the movie?

(L-R) JACOB ELORDI as Heathcliff and Actor, Producer MARGOT ROBBIE as Catherine Earnshaw in “Wuthering Heights,” a Warner Bros. Pictures Release.

I haven’t seen the film yet, but I read a summary that differs from the book summary I read a couple of weeks ago. According to USA Today, one of the main differences between the movie and the book is Catherine’s brother.

The character Hindley Earnshaw is not present in the movie. I’m curious to see how this works, as I thought a main part of the book was that Hindley hated Heathcliff because his father treated the boy better.

What is the audience saying?

Again, the audience is praising Wuthering Heights’ filming style; almost every other RT review mentions this. They’re also clapping for Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s performances.

The words “emotionally devastating” came up often when describing the plot, too. Some reviewers said they didn’t read the book, so they felt no attachment to the original story. Those who did read it were mostly okay with the changes, though a few did not approve.

Header image credit: Actor, Producer MARGOT ROBBIE as Catherine Earnshaw in “Wuthering Heights,” a Warner Bros. Pictures Release.