“Astonishing” 2011 British adaptation of Wuthering Heights is now streaming for free

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Emerald Fennell, the director of Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, has released her take on Wuthering Heights – titled with quotation marks and featuring a Charli XCX soundtrack – and it’s already sparking a lot of debate among viewers.

Reviewers are divided on whether the film’s bold visuals and the performances by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are positive or negative aspects. The movie also significantly changes the original story by Emily Brontë, which is proving to be a point of contention – even our own review called it both fascinating and frustrating.

If you’d prefer a version that’s less likely to cause disagreement, the 2011 film is now available to watch for free on Channel 4, with ads, after it was shown on Film4 last night.

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This adaptation is directed by Andrea Arnold, who also directed Big Little Lies, and features Kaya Scodelario (known from Skins), James Northcote (from The Imitation Game), and James Howson, in his final on-screen performance.

This movie marked the first time a Black actor portrayed Heathcliff in a film version of the story. Additionally, the actors playing the main roles were closer in age to their characters than in previous adaptations.

On Rotten Tomatoes, this version has a critic score of 69% positive from 112 reviews.

According to a rave review in The Daily Telegraph, this new take on Wuthering Heights is a truly remarkable adaptation. The reviewer called it one of the best costume dramas they’ve seen in years, but also noted that it breaks so many conventions of the genre that it’s hard to categorize as one.

Renowned film critic Roger Ebert admired this adaptation for its stark portrayal of life in Yorkshire during the late 1700s, describing it as a harsh and unforgiving time. The Spectator acknowledged the story loses some momentum near the finish, but still called it a uniquely captivating period drama unlike any other.

You can also watch this adaptation of Wuthering Heights on Disney+ if you have a subscription.

If you’d like to watch different adaptations, the 1939 film is on Prime Video, the 1992 version starring Ralph Fiennes is available on Paramount+, and the 2009 two-part adaptation featuring Tom Hardy is streaming on ITVX.

We’ve analyzed how previous releases have performed to estimate when this new version will become available on streaming platforms.

You can watch the 2011 film Wuthering Heights on Channel 4 and Disney+, and a brand new adaptation is currently playing in movie theaters.

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2026-02-13 15:50