Wuthering Heights is a story that has taken many different shapes and forms over the years, with several adaptations bringing it to life on screen.
With the first trailer having dropped for the new ‘Wuthering Heights’, set to stun Hollywood with stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, fans of the tale can’t help but gear up with excitement.
If February 2026 is too long to wait for a new take on this timeless story, there’s a whole catalogue out there just waiting for you to dive in. Based on real-life ratings from film fans on the review site Rotten Tomatoes, and rankings from film enthusiasts at Screen Rant, we’ve been able to rank these adaptations from best to worst, so you know what’s really worth the watch.
Wuthering Heights (1939) 96%
Starting off strong, the highest-rated film version of the novel is the 1939 release directed by William Wyler. It boasts a high score of 96% from viewers and was well-received at the time of its release, garnering eight Academy Awards.
A review claims: “A riveting tale adapted from the ever-popular Emily Brontë novel, this is done with top-par acting skills by top-par actors – Olivier and Oberon. This cannot be successfully duplicated, so no one should try. This adaptation comes very close to the subjective feeling of the book, something movies are almost never able to accomplish. This one did.”
Although, it’s worth noting that this film depicts only the first half of the novel and so eliminates the second lot of characters. Playing the leading roles as Catherine and Heathcliff in this version are Hollywood legends Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier.
Wuthering Heights (2011) 69%
Directed by Andrea Arnold, this 2011 movie has a comparatively higher score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to other versions, at 69%, as it sees Kaya Scodelario star as Catherine Earnshaw, along with James Howson as Heathcliff. This version, while following the original plotline, has a much deeper focus on the adolescence of the characters and their childhood years, which viewers loved.
An impressed fan said: “This atmospheric take on Wuthering Heights is a slow-burning masterpiece, drenched in raw emotion and strikingly interpretative cinematography. Its haunting visuals and immersive landscapes compelled me to look up director Andrea Arnold—something I rarely do—but now I’m eager to explore more of her work.”
Wuthering Heights (1970) 64%
Starring Anna Calder-Marshall and Timothy Dalton as the two leading roles, this 1970 adaptation of the classic novel boasts a 64% overall score. Directed by Robert Fuest, this film only takes hold of the first half of the original story, and while it may not be an initial fan-favourite film, movie buffs have taken it within their stride.
One viewer wrote: “No adaptation of Wuthering Heights will ever come close to the 1939 version, and while this one further proves this point, it’s also one of the better ones. It is intense in drama. Nevertheless, the characters, scenarios, and dialogue are just more convincing in the 1939 adaptation and thus more captivating.”
Wuthering Heights (1992) 31%
This is the first ever movie to adapt the book in its entirety and is considered by many period drama fans to be the best to do it. Directed by Peter Kosminsky, this 1992 version saw the feature film debut of BAFTA-winning actor Ralph Fiennes as Heathcliff, alongside Juliette Binoche as Catherine.
Although, despite its popularity amongst Wuthering Heights fans, it is not now a highly ranked film at all, boasting a mere 31% score on the review site. That doesn’t stop period drama lovers from gushing over this adaptation, as one writes: “My absolute favourite version of Wuthering Heights. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche are perfect together.
“Their love story was beyond heart-wrenching and moving. It left such an impression during my first viewing that I refused to watch any other remakes afterwards.”
The film adaptations don’t stop there; also listed are the 1958 film starring Richard Burton and Rosemary Harris, as well as what was considered a ‘modern take’ of the tale in the 2003 MTV film by Suri Krishnamma. Fans of the novel can watch the 2009 adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Tom Hardy or the 1998 film starring Robert Cavanah and Orla Brady.
Not forgetting, of course, the most recent version, ahead of the 2026 release, which was released in 2022. All of these films are yet to garner quite the same fan reaction; with few online reviews, they don’t currently hold any score.