Here’s why everyone is fuming about Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s Wuthering Heights film

The teaser trailer for new Wuthering Heights film has finally dropped, and the people are not pleased.

The movie is based on Emily Brontë’s 1847 book, is directed by Emerald Fennell (who is responsible for Saltburn) and stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. Oh, and Charli XCX has written some songs. Of course she has.

Now, I’m sure there are people out there who are hyped for the film. But after viewing the trailer, plenty of people are really riled up over this take on Wuthering Heights. Here’s a proper, easy-to-read explanation of why.

The trailer is being compared to 50 Shades of Grey

Yes, the book Wuthering Heights has some (very messed-up) romance in it. But that’s not the only thing going on in the novel. There aren’t any explicitly spicy scenes. But the vibe of the film’s trailer is very, very… erm… erotically-charged, shall we say.

The trailer features close-ups of Margot Robbie’s chest, plenty of gasping, strangely sensual baking, and… a finger in a fish’s mouth (???)

Babes, put a jumper on. It’s cold on those windswept Yorkshire moors
(Credit: Warner Bros)

Early reviews suggest the actual film has plenty of Saltburn-esque adult content. Viewers have witnessed some very strange stuff with corpses, horses’ reins, and egg yolks.

Plenty of people are unimpressed that this is the tone of a Wuthering Heights film. Someone commented under the teaser on YouTube: “I didn’t know Wuthering Heights was the fourth instalment in the 50 Shades of Grey franchise!”

i wish i did not live to see the day wuthering heights, a beautiful gothic novel about the cycle of generational trauma with themes of race, class, religion, mental illness, abuse, etc., was adapted into a white washed dark romance booktok bodice ripper with a hyperpop soundtrack

— aurora 🎠 (@lynchianbush) September 3, 2025

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Another added: “Why call it ‘Wuthering Heights’ and not just make a period romance with spicy scenes, Insta-colour grading and ready-to-go material for TikTok edits?? Nothing wrong with all of the above, it’s just, you know, not Wuthering Heights.”

the way this didn't need to be a wuthering heights adaptation, like girl if you wanted to make a horny period piece then do that. no need to terrorise emily bronte https://t.co/XGVpi9QWFP

— shania♡ (@sshxniaa) September 3, 2025

Readers have called out the casting for ‘whitewashing’ the book

Okay, so in the actual book, Heathcliff definitely isn’t white. The other characters are uncertain of his ethnicity, and constantly judge him for this. Various characters describe him as “a dark skinned gypsy, in aspect”, “a little Lascar, or an American or Spanish castaway” and as having a “black face”. One character tells him, “You’re fit for a prince in disguise. Who knows but your father was Emperor of China, and your mother an Indian queen.”

A really interesting aspect of the novel is how Emily Brontë attempts to explore Victorian concepts of “otherness”. The book tells us a lot about people’s attitudes in the 1840s. Think of the (very limited, and very undiverse) English novels that tend to get taught lots in schools – Heathcliff is one of very few main characters who isn’t white and upper class.

not to be that one friend who is too woke but bleaching the class and racial otherness out of wuthering heights to sell a horny whitewashed romance genuinely pisses me off https://t.co/sh9cvwm4vv

— daphne (@defneorsomethin) September 3, 2025

However, in most adaptations of Wuthering Heights (apart from the 2011 British film), Heathcliff has been portrayed by a white actor. Many people were pretty disappointed when Jacob Elordi (who is white) was then cast as Heathcliff in this film.

i wish i did not live to see the day wuthering heights, a beautiful gothic novel about the cycle of generational trauma with themes of race, class, religion, mental illness, abuse, etc., was adapted into a white washed dark romance booktok bodice ripper with a hyperpop soundtrack

— aurora 🎠 (@lynchianbush) September 3, 2025

Other people have pointed out that the actors are way older than the characters in the book. For most of Wuthering Heights, Cathy is 18 (or younger) and Heathcliff is in his late teens or early 20s. Margot Robbie is 35 and Jacob Elordi is 28. Obviously, they’re both amazing actors. But a lot of the novel’s events happen because of the characters’ youthful naïvety and generally daft decision-making skills. If the main characters are older, the plot might not make as much sense.

The costumes are in no way historically accurate and it’s upsetting

Corsets aren’t always like this I promise x
(Credit: Warner Bros)

Obviously, this gripe is a lot pettier than lots of other issues people are raising about the film. But lots of avid period drama viewers are getting pretty riled up about the historical accuracy of the clothing. Like, Margot Robbie’s fits are really not giving 1840s.

Wow a corset tightening scene in the new Wuthering Heights trailers. So riveting and original and unique. pic.twitter.com/o2yI34hPHU

— Belladonna (@belladonna80713) September 4, 2025

The trailer also features a maid yanking at strings to force Cathy into a corset, with no chemise underneath. I know this is a very familiar image from period dramas. But plenty of fashion historians will tell you that most women in 19th century Britain did not actually wear corsets like this. The cliché image we all have of corsets doesn’t really come from real women’s experiences, but from years of male filmmakers not understanding how women’s underwear works.

I knew the Wuthering Heights adaptation was going to be a mess from the first frame of that trailer, but the corset laces on bare skin REALLY seal the cliche. Get this lady a chemise and a corset fitted by a person that doesn't need a seeing eye dog and call them when you're…

— space guardian Jane 🇺🇸 (@cruelechoes) September 4, 2025

Complaining about the corsets might seem like petty nit-picking, but when virtually every historical film or TV show misrepresents corsets, they can mess up people’s understanding of what women’s lives were really like.

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Featured image credit: Warner Bros.