All 3 Emerald Fennell Motion pictures, Ranked

For those who have been solely allowed one phrase, and also you needed to summarize Emerald Fennell’s directorial work so far, it could in all probability be “controversial.” “Divisive” is the runner-up phrase, however “controversial” feels extra acceptable as a result of her movies actually get underneath the pores and skin of sure viewers. While you dig by what she’s directed, and attempt to break down what she’s going for with every film, the entire pushing buttons factor is normally carried out in a very good or purposeful means, however typically carried out in a extra haphazard method. After which going again to the phrase “divisive,” some detractors will argue she’s truly being surprising for the sake of it most of the time, however this is not being written by a detractor. That is somebody who thought she was two for 2, for some time, then is likely to be two-and-a-half for 3 after her third movie, however that’s not the worst factor on the earth, and issues may certainly go in attention-grabbing instructions from right here. That’s additionally making a gift of that yep, of her first three motion pictures, Wuthering Heights is sort of comfortably the weakest. It is likely to be poor type to wreck a rating within the introduction normally, however for as divisive as Fennell’s movies have been, there actually is just one technique to rank her first three motion pictures.

You may not be optimistic on the opposite two, however you are in all probability least detrimental on the one that the majority detractors are least detrimental on, and most conflicted in regards to the one which most individuals are most conflicted about. However high quality apart, Emerald Fennell could be very a lot doing her personal factor, as a filmmaker, and has established a recognizable fashion with simply three motion pictures (hell, after her first two, actually), and to have that sort of voice be so absolutely shaped so quickly, even when you don’t notably like that voice, is one thing that may be admired. She’d carried out some film and TV work earlier than changing into a director, like performing some supporting roles in movies like Anna Karenina (2012) and The Danish Woman (2015), and writing the second season of Killing Evehowever it’s simply her directorial work that’s targeted on under. You received’t be as stunned by the order of such a rating as you’ll in all probability be with the content material of the movies themselves (once more, it wouldn’t be shocking if Fennell’s favourite Prince album was his fourth one), however such is the character of a brief rating, and so too is the character of this explicit filmography so far.

3

‘Wuthering Heights’ (2026)

Wuthering Heights (2026) could be very a lot a flawed adaptation of the novel of the identical title, written virtually 180 years in the past by Emily Brontëhowever it’s a pretty good film (there’s one other Wuthering Heights from 2011 that’s in all probability higher if you need one thing extra immediately consistent with the guide). And sure, that’s positivity a couple of film folks have been already up in arms about earlier than it got here out. You’ll be able to sort of method this with as open a thoughts as doable and discover a whole lot to love. At the same time as an adaptation, it actually solely lets itself down close to the tip, and extra by way of what it leaves out, reasonably than what it adjustments or provides. Folks have already been focusing extra on what’s there reasonably than what is not there, however the large difficulty right here, which makes it much less attention-grabbing than the novel, is that it ends a lot sooner than the guide does. Additional, it doesn’t even try to get what’s virtually the final half of the novel crammed into an epilogue or one thing. The ending is sudden and unusual sufficient that it’s sufficient to make you activate the entire film. For a lot of Wuthering Heightsit does really feel like Fennell will get the textual content, and the way depressing and intense all of it is (timelessly so, which is why the guide’s a basic), however then by selecting to finish it the place it does finish, it’s like… wait, did she truly not get it?

For those who really feel blindsided, you in all probability went in with an open thoughts. For those who went in eager to hate this, you will really feel it was untrue to the textual content all through. However there’s a discomfort to a lot of Wuthering Heights and an actual visceral feeling as a bit of cinema that does line up with the novel. There must be extra credit score given to the components which might be very a lot Wuthering Heights. What’s coated right here doesn’t a lot fail to go deep, however extra fails to go the entire distance, and the stuff that feels subversive and notably forward of its time, within the novel, is not actually coated, or it’s shaken up a bit within the chronology of the story to combined impact. It’s a fascinating try at an adaptation, and in the end irritating. However once more… the nice. There’s good. Margot Robbie feels miscast at first, as a result of whereas Robbie can go as somebody possibly 10 or so years youthful than she actually is (spectacular, contemplating she performed somebody older than herself in actual life extremely properly again in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Road), however not somebody who’s an adolescent, and Cathy right here does really feel like an adolescent within the earliest post-childhood scenes within the film. However she does impress in a while, and Jacob Elordi (essentially the most controversial casting alternative) is great. Many of the supporting performances are good, the movie appears spectacular and stylized, and the use of music all through can also be attention-grabbing; takes a little bit of time getting used to, however the Charli XCX songs sort of work. And no Kate Bushwhich is actually sort of shocking, as a result of Fennell used some very on-the-nose needle drops in her different motion pictures, and so the restraint at not having Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” present up (presumably paradoxically) sooner or later is sort of shocking. Anyway, discourse about this will likely be inescapable for some time, so when you’re studying this across the time this text was revealed, buckle the f**kle up. Would possibly result in a very good field workplace haulif folks wish to see what the fuss was all about. And talking of Emerald Fennell motion pictures that have been watched by many as a result of folks needed to see what the fuss was all about…

2

‘Saltburn’ (2023)

…Right here’s Saltburnwhich had lots of discourse round it again in 2023, however now it stands to be overtaken hysteria-wise with Wuthering Heights. I’m gonna break the entire goal reporting factor and simply say it. I don’t get why folks don’t like Saltburn. I feel Saltburn’s nice. It’s child’s first transgressive movie, which is to say that if Saltburn actually freaked you out or made you too uncomfortable, then it’s good to watch extra motion pictures, ideally non-English-language ones which might be making an attempt to be boundary-pushing. Saltburn is a consolation film in comparison with lots of real exploitation movies or, like, the New French Extremity (an actual movie motion, look it up). Saltburn is meant to make you’re feeling uneasy, and components are certainly gross, however that folks appeared to get so shocked was bizarre.

And it was a misunderstood film. Folks both thought it was overly sophisticated or too simplistic, however I believed it hit the candy spot. Once more, a very good entry-level transgressive film. A bit difficult and out-there, but additionally extremely well-paced and simple to get into. It’s additionally acquired just a little extra nuance, or not less than a extra attention-grabbing angle, than among the different late 2010s or early 2020s motion pictures that tackled class battle, in all probability doing a greater job at it than The Menu or Glass Onion (it’s no Parasiteif you wish to spotlight the most effective inside that sub-genre, however that’s a excessive bar to clear). Saltburn in all probability benefited from dropping on a streaming service that plenty of folks had, as a result of everybody checked it out, and a few folks weren’t prepared for it. After which some individuals who have seen extra surprising motion pictures in all probability checked it out and located all of it a bit gentle. So you’ve gotten two main teams of individuals disliking Saltburn for various causes, and possibly meaning it’s objectively messy, however it labored for me. I discovered it to be a blastwith a very good mixture of inevitability and shock discovered within the story that was advised, and aesthetically, it scratched an itch so completely, simply the way in which it appeared and sounded. Additionally, Barry Keoghan may properly have given the efficiency of 2023. Within the curiosity of offending folks whereas speaking a couple of film like this, Keoghan deserved the Greatest Actor Oscar over Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimerand it wasn’t even shut, although he wasn’t nominated. If that makes you offended, GOOD. It’s spiritually consistent with Saltburn or no matter.

1

‘Promising Younger Girl’ (2020)

Nonetheless controversial in some methods (largely concerning the ending), however to not the identical extent as Wuthering Heights or Saltburnright here’s Promising Younger Girl. It was Fennell’s first movie, it nonetheless stands as her most direct/easy, and it’s additionally in all probability – as of 2026, not less than – her greatest movie. It’s a couple of girl who has a novel method towards being a vigilante of types, focusing on males who goal or attempt to make the most of her sexually, after which there are some additional reveals about what’s pushed her to do this stuff. Additionally, the entire endeavor turns into riskier the deeper she goes with what she’s in the end making an attempt to do, and Promising Younger Girl actually will get unnerving, because of this. That’s an understatement, but additionally, overstating issues feels prefer it runs the danger of ruining what’s in all probability Fennell’s least-discussed movie.

And Promising Younger Girl does profit immensely from stepping into with out understanding an excessive amount of, which is the case for an important many thrillers, after all. It may not be an ideal film, and folks have introduced up legitimate criticisms of components of ithowever it’s extremely well-written and distinctiveall of the whereas additionally having what may properly be a career-best efficiency by Carey Mulligan within the central position. Of all of the Emerald Fennell movies, it does essentially the most issues proper and the fewest issues fallacious, all of the whereas nonetheless managing to impress and unsettle in largely acceptable/justified methods. It feels bizarre to name one thing the proper of boundary-pushing, since that’s subjective and onerous to essentially clarify a technique or one other, however that’s the sensation I assume I get from Promising Younger Girl.