Emerald Fennell to Open ‘Wuthering Heights’ in IMAX at BFI With Curated Film Season

The filmmaker will open her adaptation of Wuthering Heights in IMAX at the BFI alongside a wider curated programme of films that inspired her take on Emily Brontë’s iconic novel. The special run will spotlight titles that Fennell says shaped the tone, style, and emotional intensity of her upcoming project. The screenings will take place at the BFI IMAX in London, offering audiences a chance to experience the new adaptation in a premium large-format setting.

‘Wuthering Heights’ Set to Screen From February 13

According to details shared with the BFI, Wuthering Heights will begin screening at BFI IMAX from February 13. The film will screen from laser prints, highlighting the premium presentation format planned for the event. The IMAX opening also marks a major moment for the release, as audiences get an early chance to watch the adaptation in a venue known for immersive screenings.

Emerald Fennell Curates 13 Films That Inspired Her Adaptation

Alongside the IMAX screenings, Fennell has curated a list of 13 influential films that she says help complement and add context to her version of Wuthering Heights. The collection includes a mix of romantic tragedies, genre-bending relationship stories, and films known for pushing emotional boundaries—an approach that aligns with the darker themes of Brontë’s novel.

Four Major Titles Will Screen at BFI IMAX in February

Out of the 13 curated films, four will screen at BFI IMAX alongside Wuthering Heights.

Those films are:

• Crash (David Cronenberg)

• Romeo + Juliet (Baz Luhrmann)

• The Handmaiden (Director’s Cut) (Park Chan-wook)

• The Beguiled (Sofia Coppola)

These titles will screen from digital prints every Sunday throughout February, giving film fans a structured mini-season to explore the influences behind Fennell’s adaptation.

Full List of Films Selected for the Programme

Fennell’s full list of 13 films includes:

• Random Harvest (1942)

• A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

• Far From the Madding Crowd (1967)

• Peau d’âne (1970)

• The Night Porter (1974)

• Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

• Crash (1996)

• Romeo + Juliet (1996)

• The End of the Affair (1999)

• Romance (1999)

• Bluebeard (2009)

• The Handmaiden (Director’s Cut) (2016)

• The Beguiled (2017)

“Too Cruel” for Romance — But a Love Story All the Same

Fennell described Wuthering Heights as a love story that has long challenged expectations. She noted that critics have often questioned its place within the romance genre due to its cruelty, shock, and unusual storytelling. But she argues that its power comes from the way it shows love in extreme conditions. Fennell said she revisited her favorite love stories that “challenge, subvert, even obliterate” romantic conventions while researching the project.

Fennell to Speak at BFI Southbank Before Release

Ahead of the film’s opening, Fennell will also participate in an in-conversation session at BFI Southbank on February 4, where she is expected to discuss the shoot and creative choices behind the adaptation.