The new film adaptation of Emily Brontë‘s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, has finally arrived in theaters, bringing with it the stormy romance between Margot Robbie‘s Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi‘s Heathcliff. Directed by Emerald Fennell, this version has audiences reaching for tissues, not just because of the tragic love story, but because of a major, unexpected change to the book’s ending that leaves no room for a traditional happy ending.
For those walking out of the cinema with questions about what happened to Cathy and what it means for the future of these characters, we have broken down the final moments of the film. Director Emerald Fennell has made a bold choice that sets this adaptation apart from every version that has come before, focusing entirely on the destructive passion of its central pair.
The Tragic Final Moments of Margot Robbie’s Cathy
In the closing act of Wuthering Heights, the already complicated relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff reaches its devastating peak. After years of separation and revenge, Heathcliff returns to find Cathy married to the wealthy Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif). What follows is an intense and destructive affair. The situation becomes even more strained when Cathy reveals she is pregnant with Edgar’s child .
Devastated by her circumstances and consumed by her love for Heathcliff, Cathy’s mental and physical health rapidly declines. In a fit of despair, she locks herself in her room and stops eating. In a particularly cruel twist, Heathcliff sends her letters through Isabella, but Nelly (Hong Chau), who plays a more sinister role in this version, intercepts and burns them .
The film makes a significant departure from the novel here. Instead of giving birth to a daughter, Cathy suffers a miscarriage . Her condition worsens dramatically, leading to sepsis. As her husband Edgar watches helplessly by her side, Margot Robbie‘s Cathy takes her last breath. Jacob Elordi‘s Heathcliff rushes to be with her, but he arrives just moments too late, finding only her lifeless body to hold and weep over .
Why Emerald Fennell Removed Cathy’s Daughter From the Story
This is the most significant change in the 2026 version. In Emily Brontë‘s original book, Cathy dies shortly after giving birth to her daughter, also named Catherine (often called Cathy Linton). This second generation goes on to form the entire second half of the novel, eventually finding a sense of peace and breaking the cycle of abuse with Hareton Earnshaw.
Emerald Fennell chose to remove this character entirely. In an interview, Fennell explained that adapting the dense novel meant making tough choices. “I had to kill a lot of my own darlings in order to make the story work in two hours,” she said . The director clarified that her connection to the material was always with the primary duo. “For me, the thing I connected to as a reader was always (Catherine and Heathcliff)” . By ending the film with Cathy’s death and the implied miscarriage, Fennell keeps the focus laser-locked on the destructive romance, refusing to soften the blow with the hope that the next generation represents.
The Fate of Jacob Elordi’s Heathcliff
Following Cathy’s death, the film delivers a haunting final scene. Heathcliff is shown cradling her body, delivering a desperate plea. He begs her ghost to haunt him, to drive him mad, and to never leave him in peace . This moment is crucial for understanding his fate. For this version of Heathcliff, his greatest fear is not death, but an empty existence without Cathy.
The film strongly implies that Heathcliff feels an immense, murderous guilt. By returning and igniting their affair, he directly triggered the events that led to her physical and mental breakdown. His request to be haunted is not just a plea for company; it is a self-sentenced punishment, a lifetime of psychological torture for the role he played in “killing” the only thing he ever loved . The film ends with a flashback to their childhood, showing young Cathy comforting Heathcliff after a beating and promising to never leave his side, cruelly contrasting the innocence of their past with the tragedy of their present .
Is There a Sequel or Part 2 Planned?
Given this major change, many viewers are wondering if a sequel is possible to tell the rest of the story. Technically, there are about 200 pages of the novel left that deal with the next generation. However, because Emerald Fennell‘s version kills off the second generation before it can begin (by not having Cathy give birth), a direct sequel following the book’s plot is narratively impossible .
Fennell herself has confirmed that she views this as a standalone film. “I think of this as a one-off, and I’m not alone in that when you look at other adaptations,” she stated, pointing out that most film versions of Wuthering Heights, including the classic 1939 version, only cover the first half of the book . She admitted that while a miniseries could get into the “deep, deep detail” of everything, she isn’t sure she “would be very good at sequels” . Therefore, audiences should not expect to see a Part 2 focusing on Cathy Linton and Hareton.
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How the Public Reacted to the 2026 Movie Ending
As the film rolls out across the United States, UK, Canada, and Australia, the reaction to the ending is mixed but passionate. Many viewers are taken aback by the film’s unrelenting darkness, especially since it removes the hopeful subplot of the younger Cathy and Hareton. The IMDb rating sits at 6.3/10 with a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a divisive reception .
Fans of the book have pointed out that by removing the second generation, the film strips away the novel’s nuanced conclusion that breaking cycles of trauma is possible. However, others appreciate Emerald Fennell‘s fearless focus on the raw, ugly, and obsessive nature of the central romance. The performances of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi have been widely praised for bringing a “primal and sexual” energy to the screen, even as the story descends into tragedy .
Wuthering Heights is currently playing exclusively in theaters. Given its box office performance, a streaming release on platforms like Netflix or Max is expected in the coming months, though no official streaming date has been announced yet for global audiences.
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