Feb 18, 2026 12:41pm IST
Margot Robbie Says She Makes Films for Audiences, Not Critics, Amid Backlash For ‘Wuthering Heights’
Like the rest of Emerald Fennell’s films, “Wuthering Heights” has sparked a conversation that has left audiences divided. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the lead, the adaptation of the classic novel by Emily Brontë has become a talking point ever since it was first announced. Now that the film opened in theaters last week, it did not receive strong reviews. Critics across the world have taken issue with this version of the story. Amid this, Robbie’s recent comment on whether she thinks about critics or the audience before making a film has gone viral.
Margot Robbie, who has produced “Wuthering Heights” and two other films (“Promising Young Woman” (2020) and “Saltburn” (2023)) Emerald Fennell has made, spoke in an interview with GQ Australia, moderated by Australian actor Joel Edgerton, about how she considers only the audience that buys a ticket whenever she is performing on a film set — never the critics.
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“I consider the audience always. I’ve never, ever been on set and thought, ‘What are the critics going to think of this?’” Robbie told Edgerton. “I’m like, ‘What’s an audience going to feel right now? What’s their emotional response going to be?’ I believe you should make movies for the people who are going to buy tickets to see the movies. It’s as simple as that,” Robbie said.
Margot Robbie, adding why she is fond of Emerald Fennell, said, “I love working with Emerald because she always prioritizes an emotional experience over a heady idea. She’s very smart. She’s got great ideas, but she’ll let a cool idea fall by the wayside to offer the option that’s going to be most exciting for the audience. I really appreciate that about her.”
“Wuthering Heights” has been receiving a mixed response from audiences across the world, but the film has still managed to stay viral, leading to a decent box-office run so far.
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