Wuthering Heights Ending Explained: What Happens to Heathcliff in the 2026 Movie?

The 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights has finally arrived in theaters, and audiences cannot stop talking about its emotional ending. Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, this reimagining of Wuthering Heights brings a fresh yet haunting perspective to the classic gothic romance.

While the film stays true to the emotional intensity of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, it makes one major change. The story ends much earlier than the book, shifting the focus entirely to the tragic love between Cathy and Heathcliff.

If you are wondering what happens at the end of the movie and how it differs from the original novel, here is a full breakdown.

What Is the 2026 Wuthering Heights About?

This cinematic retelling centers on Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, two souls bound together by love, obsession, and heartbreak. Cathy grows up at Wuthering Heights after her father adopts a mysterious orphan she names Heathcliff. From childhood, their bond runs intense.

As they grow older, that bond transforms into a passionate romance. However, Cathy chooses to marry her wealthy and refined neighbor, Edgar Linton, instead of Heathcliff. Her decision shatters Heathcliff, who leaves the estate determined to reinvent himself.

Years later, Heathcliff returns, only to find Cathy trapped in a marriage that lacks the emotional fire she once shared with him. Their connection reignites, leading to a secret affair that ultimately impacts everyone around them.

Unlike the full novel, which continues into the next generation, this film keeps its lens tightly focused on Cathy and Heathcliff.

Do Cathy and Heathcliff End Up Together?

The short answer is no. They do not ride off into the sunset.

The film closes on a devastating note. Cathy dies, and Heathcliff arrives too late to speak to her one final time. Instead of sharing a last conversation like in the book, the film separates them physically in her final moments.

However, the movie suggests something deeper. Heathcliff visits her body after her death, and the ending hints that their connection transcends the physical world. There is a spiritual quality to their love that feels eternal.

Elordi explained this idea beautifully when speaking about the ending: “The book, obviously, continues on, but [the film] kind of leaves it open that their souls are, for me, sort of forever intertwined when you get to see them in that liminal space together.”

Fennell also addressed why she chose to end the film where she did: “When you look at not just other movie adaptations of this, but Kate Bush’s song, or Balthus’ lithographs, or a lot of the kind of contemporary illustrations, most of them tend to focus on Cathy and Heathcliff. Because I think that’s really the moment that draws to an end in the book.”

She continued, “And I think, really, I would do a mini series and encompass the whole thing over 10 hours, and it would be beautiful. But if you’re making a movie, and you’ve got to be fairly tight, you’ve got to make those kinds of hard decisions.”

The director further described the cyclical nature of the story: “It begins where it ends and ends where it begins. And that’s the thing about love, and it’s the thing about the book, right? It’s that it’s forever and it’s cyclical, and so there’s no stop — even when there’s a terrible, sad, tragic stop, it’s not really a stop — because that’s what the book feels so much about.”

And finally, “It’s about the depths of human feeling and how it exists in a profound way, not just a physical one. And so that, I don’t know, that felt like the right way to end it for me.”

Is Heathcliff the Father of Cathy’s Baby?

No. The father of Cathy’s baby is her husband, Edgar Linton.

Even though Cathy and Heathcliff resume their relationship after he returns, Cathy reveals that she discovered she was pregnant before Heathcliff came back into her life. The timeline confirms that Edgar is the father.

This revelation creates emotional distance between Cathy and Heathcliff. Their bond begins to unravel under the weight of guilt, pride, and unresolved pain.

What Happens to Cathy at the End?

Cathy’s ending is heartbreaking.

After Heathcliff marries Edgar’s sister, Isabella Linton, Cathy falls into a deep depression. She isolates herself in her room and barely leaves her bed. Her physical and emotional health declined rapidly.

She suffers a miscarriage and confides in Nelly Dean, the housekeeper, but Nelly believes she is exaggerating for attention. Meanwhile, Heathcliff has been writing letters to Cathy, though Nelly secretly burns them in an attempt to keep the two apart.

By the time Nelly realizes Cathy is truly dying, it is too late. Cathy dies from sepsis following the miscarriage. Edgar is still at her bedside when she passes. She remains married to him until her final breath.

What Happens to Heathcliff?

Heathcliff’s fate is just as tragic.

When Nelly finally tells him that Cathy is near death, he rushes to her manor. Sadly, he arrives after she has already died. In the novel, Heathcliff sees Cathy one last time before she passes. The 2026 film removes that moment, intensifying the tragedy.

The final image of Heathcliff with Cathy’s body reinforces the idea that their love story is not about happiness but about eternal longing. The film does not explore the second half of Brontë’s novel, which continues for many more chapters after Cathy’s death. Instead, it closes on their unfinished and haunting romance.

Is Cathy Still Married at the End?

Yes. Cathy is still legally married to Edgar Linton when she dies. Despite her passionate connection to Heathcliff, she never leaves her husband. Edgar is present during her final moments and wakes to discover she has bled to death.

Her marriage remains intact on paper, but emotionally, her heart always belonged to Heathcliff.

Final Thoughts on the 2026 Ending

The 2026 Wuthering Heights adaptation chooses emotional impact over narrative completion. By ending the story with Cathy’s death, the film keeps the spotlight firmly on the intense and destructive love between Cathy and Heathcliff.

It may not cover the entire novel, but it captures the essence of Brontë’s gothic romance. The result is a cinematic experience that feels raw, intimate, and devastating.

For viewers leaving the theater in tears, that was exactly the point.

Summary:

• The 2026 Wuthering Heights is directed by Emerald Fennell and stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff.
• The film is based on Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, but does not adapt the entire novel.
• The story focuses only on Cathy and Heathcliff’s passionate and tragic love story.
• Cathy marries Edgar Linton instead of Heathcliff, which sets off years of heartbreak and revenge.
• Cathy and Heathcliff resume their relationship after he returns, but they do not end up together.
• Heathcliff is not the father of Cathy’s baby. Edgar is confirmed as the father.
• Cathy suffers a miscarriage and later dies from sepsis.
• Heathcliff arrives too late to see Cathy alive in the film version.
• The movie ends with a spiritual suggestion that their souls remain forever intertwined.
• Cathy is still legally married to Edgar at the time of her death.

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