Fans of classic literature and gothic romance, mark your calendars: the acclaimed biopic Emily is finally making its streaming debut on Netflix this October. The film, which offers a deeply imaginative take on the life of Emily Brontë, will be available to stream starting October 21, 2026—exactly four years after its initial theatrical run began.
Directed by Australian actress Frances O'Connor in her feature directorial debut, Emily first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022. It then enjoyed a theatrical release in the UK via Warner Bros. Pictures the following month, with Bleecker Street handling the U.S. rollout in 2023. Now, after a long wait, the film is set to reach a much wider audience on Netflix.
Described by many as Little Women meets Black Swan, the film is not a straightforward biography. Instead, it offers a fictionalized and emotionally charged portrait of Emily Brontë, the fiercely private writer who poured her intensity into her only novel, Wuthering Heights. The story explores her relationships with her siblings—particularly her rebellious sister Anne and her troubled brother Branwell—and her simmering defiance of the strict social norms of 19th-century Yorkshire.
What sets Emily apart is its willingness to dive into darker psychological territory. Much like the unsettling transformation in Black Swan, the film depicts the heavy toll that raw creativity and genius can take on a person's mind. Viewers are given a window into Emily's anxious, passionate inner world, where her imagination and mental struggles blur the lines between reality and fiction.
The timing of this Netflix release couldn't be better. With the 2026 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi already generating buzz—and now streaming on Prime Video—interest in Brontë's life and work is at an all-time high. This new audience will now have the perfect companion piece to explore the mind behind the masterpiece.
Is 'Emily' Worth Watching?
Absolutely. Upon its release, Emily earned widespread critical acclaim. The film holds a Certified Fresh 87% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, along with an 83% audience rating. Critics and viewers alike praised the film's bold vision and the central performance by Emma Mackey.
Mackey, best known for her role in Sex Education, delivers a career-defining performance as the titular author. Her portrayal earned her the Best Performance Award at the Dinard British Film Festival and a nomination for Best Lead Performance at the 2022 British Independent Film Awards. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Amelia Gething as Emily's younger sister Anne, Alexandra Dowling as her older sister Charlotte, Fionn Whitehead as her brother Branwell, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen as William Weightman, Emily's love interest.
For those who have been waiting to see this modern classic, the Netflix release is the perfect opportunity. And if you're in the mood for more literary adaptations, be sure to check out Netflix's take on East of Eden or explore other top-rated Netflix miniseries to keep the binge going.
So, whether you're a longtime Brontë devotee or a newcomer curious about the woman behind one of literature's most passionate novels, Emily promises to be a haunting, beautiful, and unforgettable experience. Don't miss it when it arrives on Netflix on October 21.
