I love Wuthering Heights but loathed the film – fans should watch one adaptation instead

Wuthering Heights has been adapted countless times, but there’s one version that’s arguably the best.

Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights has divided fans of the novel (Image: Warner Bros)

Wuthering Heights is one of those stories that always seems to be getting a new adaptation, with many proving somewhat divisive for fans of the original novel. Earlier this year, Emerald Fennell’s take on the classic tale was released in cinemas, and, like many adaptations before it, left fans divided.

As a huge fan of the original novel, I knew I just had to see the film; although, having seen some reviews ahead of time, I was rather sceptical. I was a little shocked, though, as the film actually ended up being worse than I had predicted – and felt more like bad fan-fiction than an adaptation of Emily Brontë’s writing. From bizarre casting, to out-of-character storylines and cutting out half of the story, the film was ultimately rather disappointing.

And while there are certainly plenty of other bad adaptations of Wuthering Heights out there (MTV’s version, anyone?), there are some that are actually quite good.

One that has remained popular since its release, at least among fans of the Brontës, is the 2009 mini-series starring Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley as Heathcliff and Cathy – a pairing whose chemistry was so good that they’ve since married in real life and welcomed two children together.

True to the story, however, the pair’s on-screen counterparts didn’t quite get a happy ending. Unlike the 2026 adaptation, and many others too, the 2009 version opted against stopping halfway through the story.

While the 2009 mini-series isn’t without its issues, Heathcliff being white-washed being one inaccuracy that both adaptations are guilty of, the heart of the story itself is still there.

I was not a fan of the newest Wuthering Heights adaptation (Image: Warner Bros)

And I’m not the only one who’s a fan of the 2009 adaptation, taking to IMDb, one fan wrote: “I am a confessed middle-aged Wuthering Heights tragic – have studied the book at at university level, read it many times, and seen all of the major movie and TV versions – I consider this film version to be the best I have seen.

“Though it departs from the plot a number of times it still comes closest to the the themes and tone of Emily Brontë’s work.”

While another added: “I wasn’t expecting to like this version because I actually dislike all the other adaptations, but my, God! This is absolutely fantastic! It’s the sexiest and most entertaining Wuthering Heights I’ve seen. I’ve watched this film over 10 times. I love it to pieces.

“I thought it was superbly cast and the characters are so perfectly portrayed. Tom Hardy as Heathcliff was just… magnificent. He nailed that psychotic, bad boy role like no other. I found myself loving and hating him all at once.

“Now I can’t imagine anyone else playing it. He’s a fantastic actor. I wish more people knew of him in the States! Also the music in this version is so beautiful.”